Mascot blamed for derby riot: Broxi Bear warned against inciting hatred

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FT Desk

One of the most dramatic games in Scottish football last season ended in chaos as riots ensued at Ibrox following an Old Firm Derby between Celtic and Rangers.

The disorder occurred after Rangers and Celtic met in the 2025/26 Scottish Cup quarter-final. After a goalless 120 minutes, Celtic won the penalty shootout 4–2. As Tomas Cvancara scored the decisive penalty, a number of Celtic supporters left the away end and ran onto the pitch to celebrate.

The pitch invasion prompted a reaction from Rangers supporters, many of whom also entered the field. Police officers and stewards formed a cordon between the rival groups, but clashes broke out. Flares, bottles and other objects were thrown, and some fans attempted to confront opposition supporters and club staff.

Players from both teams were quickly escorted off the pitch while officers worked to restore order. Several police officers and supporters were injured, including a 10-year-old boy who was struck by a coin, and multiple arrests were made. Police Scotland described the scenes as "despicable" and "shameful."

The Scottish FA has now published its independent review of the afternoon to determine blame.

Incredibly, part of the review states that Rangers' mascot, Broxi Bear, was warned about its conduct after appearing to tease the Celtic fans.

Mark Blackbourne, who conducted the review, notes that "The RFC mascot was twice observed and recorded, by the Match Delegate, provoking the away support and personally warned by the Safety Officer."

It wasn't just Broxi, of course, as both clubs are now being investigated following the behaviour of both sets of supporters.

SFA Disciplinary Rule 37: - "A club playing a match at its own ground, or allowing its ground to be used for a match in which it is not participating, or a club using a third party’s ground for the playing of a match in which it is participating must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, (i) good order and security; (ii) that policies and procedures have been adopted and are implemented to prevent instances of Unacceptable Conduct; and (iii) that any instance of Unacceptable Conduct is effectively dealt with on the occasion of a match.

"Each club participating in a match must also ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that its players, officials, supporters and any person exercising a function for or in connection with the club do not engage in Unacceptable Conduct at any ground on the occasion of a match. Each club must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that it identifies any of its supporters who engage in Unacceptable Conduct at a match take proportionate disciplinary measures in respect of such supporters."

The review concluded that "life-threatening violence was possible" for certain periods of the day and that police officers were left "petrified" of policing another game at Ibrox.

The tie took place just one week after the sides met in the league. Unlike that fixture, however, Scottish Cup rules meant Celtic received more than 8,000 tickets—around 5,600 more than they had been allocated for the previous match.

The review found that Rangers considered the risk of a pitch invasion to be low, a judgement that later drew criticism as evidence of complacency. Security measures were also questioned, with only five search lanes operating at the Broomloan Stand and no crowd-flow modelling carried out by either Rangers or Police Scotland.

The report further revealed that Celtic's safety officer was excluded from planning the away supporters' entry arrangements, despite raising concerns with Rangers' safety officer both before and during the pre-match operations meeting held three days before the game.

Ian Maxwell, Scottish FA Chief Executive said: "On behalf of the board I would like to thank the Review Lead, Mark Blackbourne, for producing such a comprehensive independent review and accompanying recommendations, which we will consider in full and seek to implement stated recommendations in conjunction with relevant stakeholders.

“Whilst this is now a live matter for an independent Judicial Panel to consider, the Scottish FA wishes to reiterate that the scenes witnessed during the cup tie, and subsequently investigated by our Review Lead, should have no place in our game.

“We will work together with the SPFL, clubs, Police Scotland and Scottish Government to ensure no repeat of the events that tarnished the image and reputation of the game. We will also seek to reassure the majority of fans who attend matches responsibly that showpiece occasions such as these should be enjoyed safely in future.”

Police Scotland has so far arrested 37 people in connection with the riots.