Two men have received five-year bans from every football ground in the United Kingdom after being convicted of their roles in disorder that erupted during a Scottish Cup Quarter Final between Rangers and Celtic on 8 March 2026.
Mackenzie Graham, 21, from Glasgow, was captured on video jumping over a fence and leading a group of supporters onto the pitch, repeatedly encouraging others to follow. John Smith, 19, from Peterhead, threw a bottle towards Celtic supporters in the stand. Both men admitted their charges.
The chaotic scenes unfolded at the end of the match and continued as supporters, including children and disabled fans, were evacuated to safety. According to reports on the incident, injuries were sustained by both spectators and police officers during the pitch invasion, with several arrests made for abusive behaviour, culpable and reckless conduct, and assault-related offences.
What sentences did the men receive?
Graham was sentenced on Friday to a two-year Community Payback Order and an Electronic Monitoring Order in addition to his five-year Football Banning Order. Smith received his sentence last month, comprising a 12-month Community Payback Order, a four-month Restriction of Liberty Order, and the same five-year Football Banning Order.
The banning orders prevent both men from attending any football ground in the UK and from travelling to support any team. Police Scotland reported that nine people were arrested in connection with the disorder, including a 47-year-old and a 54-year-old charged over separate alleged assaults after the game.
How did authorities respond to the disorder?
Fraser Gibson, procurator fiscal for Glasgow and Strathkelvin, stated that the behaviour of the two men contributed to serious disruption at a major sporting event. He emphasised that the conduct caused fear and distress among football supporters and members of the public, with peaceful spectators, children and disabled people forced to be shepherded to safety amid the chaos.
Football-related crime is a blight on Scotland's communities. It will not be tolerated. It should be understood that anyone who chooses to contribute to football-related disorder can expect to be held accountable by COPFS (Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service), Police Scotland and the courts.
A dedicated policing team continued the investigation after the match, with an online portal established for the public to submit images and video evidence. The Scottish Football Association launched an immediate investigation into the pitch invasion and related disorder.
What is the broader context for these bans?
These convictions form part of a wider crackdown on football-related violence in Scotland. The incident at Ibrox prompted Rangers and Celtic to face SFA disciplinary charges, with hearings scheduled for 13 August 2026. An independent review of the March disorder concluded that football authorities must impose tougher sanctions and criticised the handling of the situation by Rangers, Celtic, police and the management of ultras groups.
The enforcement action reflects growing concern among authorities about football disorder. A police watchdog had previously urged the use of live facial recognition technology to tackle such incidents, signalling that authorities were exploring stronger enforcement tools. The Scottish government has also been considering whether football banning powers should be expanded beyond current limits.
Historically, football banning orders have been relatively uncommon in Scotland, with only five issued between August 2024 and February 2025, making the current convictions part of a notable shift in enforcement.
What happens next?
Further court proceedings are expected for other individuals arrested over the same disorder, as all those detained are due to appear in court. The 2026-27 Scottish football season continues under heightened scrutiny, with clubs and police under pressure to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
Key Facts
- Mackenzie Graham, 21, and John Smith, 19, received five-year bans from all UK football grounds for their roles in disorder at the Rangers vs Celtic Scottish Cup Quarter Final on 8 March 2026
- Graham led a pitch invasion and repeatedly incited others to join; Smith threw a bottle at Celtic supporters
- Nine people were arrested in total in connection with the disorder, with further court proceedings expected
- The convictions follow an independent review that called for tougher sanctions on football-related violence in Scotland
- Police established a dedicated investigation team and public portal for evidence submission following the incident
