Dad tells how he and daughter were 'terrified' amid ugly scenes at Ibrox clash

A dad has told how his daughter was left terrified at her first Rangers and Celtic match when chaos broke out in the ground after the Scottish Cup clash.

The Rangers fan said he would think twice about taking the youngster back to Ibrox Stadium after rival fans clashed on the pitch and in the streets outside the ground

And he said he told her she had to stay close to him as he was fearful something could happen as they tried to leave the stadium following Celtic's win on penalties.

He also said the atmosphere was the worst of any game he had ever been to.

The dad, named Jamie, appeared on the football phone in on BBC Radio 5 Live yesterday and spoke to former Celtic striker Chris Sutton about the events at Ibrox Stadium.

Celtic fans had flooded onto the pitch after Czech forward Tomáš Čvančara's decisive spot kick earned Celtic a place in the semi final, after their 0-0 draw.

But Rangers fans also descended on the park, sparking ugly scenes as fans fought on the pitch and threw flares at each other.

He said: "I brought my daughter to her first Old Firm game. Building this up for her.

"She's really been looking forward to it and her first chance to see an Old Firm game. 

"Those scenes at the end, when we were trying to get out of the ground, she was terrified. 

"She was pretty terrified. And even I was scared. These aren't football fans, they're just troublemakers. 

"To leave with that kind of feeling is... pretty devastated actually. You know, that, you know, that I've been building this up for her and that's what we leave with.

"I said, 'would you want to go back?'. I think she would be hesitant to do so. And I would think twice about taking her again, Chris.

"Not even the fact that she wanted to go, I would think twice about taking her, because there were points when we were trying to get out of that ground where I didnt feel safe.

"I'm saying to her, 'you need to be close to me, here, because this is kicking off big time'.

"The atmosphere changed very quickly and it wasn't a pleasant place to be at all.

"Would I want to expose her to that again? No. Never at a football match have I felt like that before.

"It wasn't very pleasant. It wasn't very pleasant at all. I get it, I get the rivalry. 

"I've grown up, my dad's a lifelong Rangers supporter, his dad's the same, at the end of the day it's a football match and people behaving in that way, they're not real fans.

In a statement after the game, the Scottish Football Association said: "The Scottish FA condemns the behaviour from supporters entering the field of play following today's Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Quarter-Final at Ibrox Stadium.

"An investigation will be carried out immediately in line with the Judicial Panel Protocol."

Chief Superintendent Kate Stephen, of Police Scotland, also released a statement on the incidents yesterday.

She said: "The behaviour of a number of supporters at the Scottish Cup quarter final between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox today was shameful. 

"It must be condemned by everyone involved in football and wider society.

"A number of arrests have already been made, and Police Scotland will now work with both clubs and the Scottish Football Association to carry out a robust investigation following the scenes on the pitch at the conclusion of the match.

"Officers and stewards were faced with extreme hostility and violence over a sustained period, with many individuals having armed themselves with items clearly intended to cause harm. 

"Officers and members of the public have been injured in this despicable display and I want to express my thanks to all officers and staff deployed."

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101.