Rangers v Celtic: ‘Disgraceful scenes as toxicity spills over in Old Firm cup tie’

As if the ugliness of the 120 minutes wasn’t enough – the grisly battle, the hair-on-fire panic, the abysmal lack of anything resembling coherence or even competence – there was the disgrace of the post-match.

Celtic had made it through to the Scottish Cup semi-finals after one shot on goal and no shot on target.

They had survived their way through the day despite their own awful shortcomings, winning on penalties because Rangers were an abomination in reply.

On a day of blocks, misplaced passes, crosses flying out of play, free-kicks wasted, aerial duels, hoofball, head tennis, punts downfield, unending fouls and a chronic lack of accuracy, the last act was Tomas Cvancara beating Jack Butland.

Or, at least, we hoped it was the last act.

It wasn’t, of course. The finale to the day involved a pitch invasion from many, many Celtic supporters at the Broomloan Road end. There were 7,500 of them at Ibrox. A return to the way things were pre-2018. Mistake. Big, big mistake.

Initially, the Rangers fans in the Copland Stand reacted, a tiny number threatening to pile on to the pitch and head into the fray. They were shoved back in quick order.

More Celtic people streamed on, dancing and waving and cajoling. Red rags to Rangers’ bulls. Celtic staff beseeched them to clear off but their pleas were ignored.