Rangers V Celtic decided on penalties as fallout from pitch incursions remains unclear

As of Sunday at 5: 30 p. m. ET, Celtic advanced to the Scottish Cup semi-finals after a 0-0 rangers v celtic at Ibrox was settled by a penalty shootout. What remains unresolved is the aftermath of late crowd incursions and pyrotechnics; clarity will come from any official post-match updates and the semi-final draw scheduled for Sunday night (ET).

Celtic progress on penalties after 0-0 at Ibrox

Full-time finished Rangers 0-0 Celtic, with Celtic winning the shootout after misses by Tavernier and Gassama. Cvancara converted the decisive kick to send Celtic through.

Across regulation and extra time, both sides had pivotal moments. Daizen Maeda found the net with a header, but the goal was disallowed due to Liam Scales being offside in the build-up.

Rangers threatened as Youssef Chermiti had a first-half effort cleared off the line, while Fernandez saw an extra-time strike ruled out for handball. The rivals had drawn 2-2 in the Premiership the previous weekend at the same venue.

First-half balance favored Rangers by the interval, with seven shots to Celtic’s one and 53 percent possession, yet the match remained goalless through 120 minutes before penalties decided it.

Rangers V Celtic penalty call backed by Bobby Madden and Neil Lennon

The game’s first major flashpoint arrived in the seventh minute when Chermiti’s shot struck Auston Trusty inside the area. Rangers appealed for a penalty, but referee Don Robertson allowed play to continue after a VAR review.

Former top-flight referee Bobby Madden publicly described the no-penalty decision as a “great call. ” He reasoned that the ball hit Trusty’s right arm, which was tucked into his body; had it struck the left arm, extended away from the body, he said a penalty would have been appropriate.

Neil Lennon, commenting from the stands at Ibrox, initially thought the ball had hit Trusty’s left arm but later agreed the correct decision was reached once replays showed contact with the right arm that was tight to the defender.

While initial reactions from some co-commentators leaned toward awarding a spot kick, later assessments aligned around Robertson’s decision after reviewing the different camera angles. That alignment reduces the likelihood of further dispute over this specific incident, though discussion around handball interpretations is expected to continue within the sport more broadly.

Ibrox pitch incursions and the police–steward response

Post-match, hundreds of fans from both Rangers and Celtic entered the field amid ugly scenes. Pyrotechnics were thrown from end to end as groups faced off toward the away stand.

Police and stewards formed a barricade between the sets of supporters, and many fans retreated toward their respective ends. The ground gradually cleared, with Celtic supporters seen in celebratory mood as order was restored.

Any formal disciplinary outcomes or stadium sanctions related to the pitch incursions were unconfirmed as of 5: 30 p. m. ET. If match or competition authorities issue statements later Sunday, those will determine whether further action follows.

Scottish Cup semi-final draw with Falkirk and Dunfermline

Celtic’s shootout win places them in the last four, joining Falkirk and Dunfermline, who were already set for the semi-final draw on Sunday night. The precise ET time of the draw was not confirmed as of 5: 30 p. m. ET.

The draw will resolve the next competitive milestone for this rangers v celtic narrative by confirming Celtic’s opponent and the bracket configuration for the semi-finals. That, in turn, frames the immediate stakes for the remaining contenders as attention shifts from today’s officiating debates to on-pitch matchups.

Several on-field adjudications shaped the tie even before penalties. Maeda’s ruled-out header for offside against Scales and Fernandez’s disallowed extra-time effort for handball both preserved the 0-0 scoreline, while Chermiti’s chance cleared off the line underscored how fine the margins were heading into the shootout.

Next, the confirmed step is the semi-final draw on Sunday night (ET). If the draw proceeds as scheduled, Celtic’s semi-final opponent will be confirmed then, finalizing the last-four bracket for the Scottish Cup.