Rangers are seeking an urgent meeting with the Scottish Football Association following the publication of the report in trouble at May’s Scottish Cup Final. The Ibrox club believes the report is flawed, and contains ‘factual inaccuracies and contradictions’.
The SFA appointed Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen to investigate May’s pitch invasion, and his findings were published yesterday (see below).
Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen makes nine recommendations following his investigation, including government legislation to make it a criminal offence to run onto a football pitch. However the independent report has concluded that the number of stewards and police deployed on the day was adequate and found that neither club was to blame for post-match incidents.
In his 52-page report, the sheriff principal said the pitch invasion was caused by ‘an exceptionally high degree of excitement’ sparked by Hibs’ captain David Gray’s last-minute winning goal and that the ‘vast majority’ of fans who ran onto the field did so ‘in a spirit of jubilation’.
Welcoming the report, Scottish FA Chief Executive Stuart Regan said: “The Scottish FA is grateful to Sheriff Principal Bowen for producing such a comprehensive independent review of the circumstances immediately following the William Hill Scottish Cup final. The Board received first sighting at its meeting yesterday and we will consider the report in greater detail in early course.
“We are pleased SP Bowen acknowledges that the processes and procedures of the match operation were robust. Nevertheless, we will work closely with the other parties involved to ensure the commission’s findings are clearly and consistently understood.
“In the meantime, the Compliance Officer will now proceed with the investigation into the cup final from the perspective of the Judicial Panel Protocol.
“We are committed to ensuring that there is no repeat of the scenes that detracted from this showpiece occasion and will give full consideration to the recommendations set out by SP Bowen in respect of the Scottish FA’s future planning of major sporting events under our jurisdiction.”
While Hibernian FC have yet to comment on the report, Rangers FC have expressed concerns over ‘factual inaccuracies and contradictions’ and are seeking an ‘urgent’ meeting with the report’s author and the SFA.
In a statement, the Ibrox club said: “Rangers will take time to consider fully the findings of the report into the pitch invasion by Hibernian supporters at the end of the Scottish Cup final and make further comment at the appropriate time.
“At present we wish to do nothing that might detract from the team’s first match back in Scottish football’s top flight. We can state however that we will be seeking an urgent meeting with the author of the report, Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen, the Scottish FA’s Chief Executive Stewart Regan and his Compliance Officer, Tony McGlennan.
“It is imperative that we gain insight into the underlying basis for the findings in the report given that we consider it contains a number of factual inaccuracies and contradictions. It is right that the Club gives the author and requisitioner of the report the opportunity to comment on our concerns prior to making a conclusive statement.
“It is to be hoped that the Scottish FA, as they begin considering this report and the appropriate punishments, remember vividly what actually occurred on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at the National Stadium when Hibernian fans were allowed to invade the field of play and attack Rangers players and staff, who were offered little protection.”
Fifty-eight people have been arrested so far in connection with incidents of alleged violence and disorder at the Scottish Cup Final.
Scottish Cup Final 2016 Commission of Enquiry – Report of SP Bowen
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