Scottish football could be on the verge of a landmark legal change, and disorder involving Rangers at Ibrox is among the incidents that have pushed officials into action.
The SPFL has condemned scenes at Celtic Park on Saturday, where hundreds of supporters encroached onto the pitch following Celtic’s dramatic title-winning victory over Hearts.
Hearts have also released a statement describing the scenes as “shameful”, with Police Scotland now investigating allegations of assault on their players and staff during the disorder.
It is not the first time Scottish football has been rocked by such incidents this season. In March, the Scottish Cup quarter-final tie between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox descended into chaos when fans from both sides took to the field of play.
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SPFL seeking Scottish government talks over landmark new laws
According to The Herald, SPFL officials are now seeking discussions with the Scottish government over the introduction of new legislation tackling pitch invasions and tailgating.
Introduction of such laws would see Scottish football following in the footsteps of its counterparts south of the border, where entering the field of play has been a criminal offence since 1991.
They also introduced the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act ahead of the 2026 EFL Cup final, thus making tailgating punishable by a fine and a Football Banning Order.
In April, two supporters became the first to receive convictions under the act after being handed three-year banning orders after tailgating at Wembley.
The Scottish FA is keen to crack down on such offences after what transpired this season.
They are already conducting an independent investigation into the Ibrox disorder involving Rangers and Celtic from March, with recommendations expected to include a crackdown on both pitch invasions and tailgating.
What this means for Rangers
For Rangers, the implications of any new legislation are significant.
The club have already found themselves at the centre of one of the most high-profile disorder incidents of the season, and a formal Scottish government investigation into the broader issue means Ibrox may remain under scrutiny for some time yet.
Should new laws be introduced mirroring those in England, both clubs and supporters could face far greater consequences for future disorder, including criminal records and banning orders.
