The Old Firm derby at Celtic Park on January 3, 2026, will be remembered not just for Rangers’ emphatic 3-1 victory over their b...
The game itself was a tale of two halves. Celtic, under pressure with manager Wilfried Nancy facing intense scrutiny after a difficult start to his tenure, struck first. Yang Hyun-jun’s clinical finish in the 19th minute gave the hosts a deserved lead, capitalizing on early dominance and silencing the visiting supporters.
Celtic Park erupted, the atmosphere electric as the Hoops looked poised to deliver a much-needed statement win in their pursuit of league leaders Hearts.
But Rangers, managed by Danny Rohl and buoyed by recent form, refused to capitulate. The second half belonged to the visitors. Youssef Chermiti, the towering striker, haunted Celtic’s defense with a quickfire brace—equalizing in the 50th minute and putting Rangers ahead just nine minutes later.
Both goals exposed vulnerabilities in the home side’s backline, with Kasper Schmeichel left exposed on more than one occasion. Then, in the 71st minute, young winger Mikey Moore sealed the victory with a composed finish, sending the traveling Gers fans into raptures and leaving the majority of the 60,000-strong crowd in stunned silence.
As the final whistle blew, however, the focus shifted from the pitch to the stands and tunnels. Reports emerged of objects being thrown from sections of the home support, with one incident allegedly seeing a coin strike Rangers midfielder Arne Engels as he celebrated near the touchline. Tensions boiled over as players from both sides became involved in heated exchanges, leading to a melee that spilled toward the tunnel area. Police officers, already on high alert for this high-risk fixture, rushed onto the field to separate the groups and restore order. Several individuals—players, staff, and even officers—sustained minor injuries in the scuffles, though no serious harm was reported.
Eyewitness accounts described “carnage” as frustrated Celtic fans vented their anger at the defeat, which saw their team slip further behind in the title race. Rangers players, jubilant after a crucial away win that brought them level on points with their rivals, were targeted amid the fallout. Stewards and police formed human barriers to escort the visiting team off the pitch safely, while flares and chants added to the volatile mix.
This was not the first time the Old Firm has spilled into disorder, but the post-match scenes felt particularly poignant given the fixture’s global spotlight. Scottish football authorities are likely to launch investigations, with potential bans, fines, or even partial stadium closures looming for Celtic. Critics argue that recurring incidents like these tarnish the game’s reputation, eroding the passion that makes the derby unique while highlighting failures in crowd management and player protection.
Rangers’ triumph on the scoreboard was undeniable, breathing new life into their campaign under Rohl. For Celtic, the loss compounded an already turbulent period, piling more pressure on Nancy and the board. Yet the real loser was the beautiful game itself. When one of world football’s greatest rivalries ends in police interventions and injuries rather than mutual respect, it’s clear something fundamental is broken. The Old Firm remains unparalleled in intensity, but incidents like these serve as a stark reminder: the game is far from gone, but it risks losing its soul if such disgraceful episodes continue unchecked.
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