Tomas Cvancara’s spot kick sent Celtic to the Scottish Cup semi-finals with a win on penalties against arch-rivals Rangers in a game that ended with police and stewards confronting fans from both sides who swarmed the pitch at Ibrox.

Rangers’ James Tavernier hit the crossbar with the first attempt of the shootout and Djeidi Gassama sent his shot over the crossbar before supporters spilled on to the pitch, some of whom appeared to tangle with players.

“It is an ugly, ugly end to what has been a superb game,” commentator Rory Hamilton said on Premier Sports.

“It is an ugly, ugly end to what has been a superb game of football”

Chaos breaks out on the pitch at Ibrox as both sets of fans end up on the pitch following Celtic’s penalty shootout win over Rangers pic.twitter.com/m8cmSHEkGM

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) March 8, 2026

“There is absolutely no need – this is lunacy. [Fans are] exchanging flares, pyrotechnics going one way and then the other.

“It’s just sad that we see these scenes. That’s something we should never see at the end of a game of football. It’s absolutely pointless.”

Reaction: Celtic ‘playing for badge’ against Rangers

Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo said the confronations would not “take away from what we’ve done here today”.

Celtic’s Daizen Maeda had a header disallowed for offside and Rangers’ Emmanauel Fernandez also had a goal ruled out.

Tomáš Čvančara sends Celtic through on penalties! 🍀

“The coolest man inside Ibrox Stadium!” 🥶#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/F2CbsCezzg

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) March 8, 2026

Hoops players Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Auston Trusty and Reo Hatate also converted penalties, as did Nedim Bajrami and Ryan Naderi for Rangers.

“We’ve come here, beaten them and we’re into the next round of the cup,” Sinisalo told Premier Sports, via BBC Sport.

Celtic thought Daizen Maeda had given them the lead at Ibrox, but the goal was overturned after a VAR review ❌

Liam Scales looks to have been just offside as he won the flick on 🍀#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/dzBKuz0VRp

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) March 8, 2026

“That’s what we’ll focus on. It’s not easy, coming here and winning. It’s not been an easy season – we can’t hide away from that.

“In times like that, you have to be a very good team-mate. It’s clear for everyone to see: we’re playing for the badge and showing a bit of heart.

Now it’s Rangers’ turn to have a goal ruled out! ❌

Emmanuel Fernandez was celebrating but hand ball on the line leads to the VAR overturn 🔵#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/2S32z1bXSK

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) March 8, 2026

“As a player, it’s so pleasing to see. Everyone is making blocks, working for each other. We’re being good team-mates to each other.”

The third-placed Gers are a league point behind Celtic, who won 2-1 at Aberdeen on Wednesday to move five shy of leaders Hearts.

James Tavernier hits the bar 😮#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/3w0Ls8izEr

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) March 8, 2026

Rangers team vs Celtic

Forwards Mikey Moore and Ryan Naderi were both doubts for Rangers but started. Defender Derek Cornelius (muscle) and midfielder Bailey Rice (knee) were injured.

Head coach Danny Rohl made two alterations from the 2-2 draw with Celtic at Ibrox a week earlier, introducing centre-back Nasser Djiga and midfielder Mohamed Diomande for John Souttar and Tochi Chukwuani.

Rangers starting XI: Jack Butland, Dujon Sterling, Nasser Djiga, Emmanuel Fernandez, Tuur Rommens, Nicolas Raskin, Mohamed Diomande, Andreas Skov Olsen, Mikey Moore, Ryan Naderi, Youssef Chermiti

Rangers substitutes: Liam Kelly, Jayden Meghoma, John Souttar, James Tavernier, Tochi Chukwuani, Nedim Bajrami, Djeidi Gassama, Thelo Aasgaard, Bojan Miovski

Celtic team vs Rangers

Celtic made five changes, bringing in defender Trusty, who was two games into a three-match league ban but available for the cup.

Luke McCowan, Sebastian Tounekti, Benjamin Arthur and Hatate also came in.

Dane Murray had been a doubt but was on the bench. Fellow defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles), Alistair Johnston (hamstring), (muscle) and Kieran Tierney (foot) were injured, as was Callum McGregor, so Liam Scales was captain.

Midfielder Arne Engels (thigh) and forwards Jota (knee) and Callum Osmand (hamstring) were also out. Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was ill.

Celtic starting XI: Viljami Sinisalo, Julian Araujo, Benjamin Arthur, Auston Trusty, Liam Scales, Reo Hatate, Luke McCowan, Benjamin Nygren, Hyun-jun Yang, Sebastian Tounekti, Daizen Maeda

Celtic substitutes: Ross Doohan, Tomas Cvancara, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Paulo Bernardo, Joel Mvuka, Marcelo Saracchi, Dane Murray, James Forrest, Colby Donovan

Rangers vs Celtic stats

• Celtic won at Rangers in the competition for the first time since 1957
• Rangers had won their previous 10 home games in all competitions by an aggregate score of 32-4 before last Sunday’s draw
• Their record of being 19-time Scottish Cup runners-up is matched only by Celtic, who lost the 2025 final on penalties to Abderdeen
• They had scored in 20 of their previous 21 games in all competitions, including an 8-0 home win over Queen’s Park in the fifth round
• Celtic have won three of their last 14 away games at Rangers in all competitions (D5 L6), although each of their last four have been drawn after 90 minutes
• The previous Sunday Sunday was Celtic head coach Martin O’Neill’s first Scottish Premiership Old Firm derby as Celtic boss since a 2-1 win at Ibrox in April 2005; the Northern Irishman has won eight of his last 11 league games against Rangers as Hoops boss (L2)
• Celtic are the most successful team in the history of the Scottish Cup (42 titles to Rangers’ 34)
• O’Neill’s side had scored in each of their previous 16 matches in all competitions, although the run started with a 3-1 home defeat to Rangers in former manager Wilfried Nancy’s final game in charge on January 3
• Yet to lose away in 2026, Celtic are on a nine-match unbeaten run (W5) and won 2-0 at non-league side Auchinleck Talbot in the fourth round