Scottish Cup final 2016: Hibernian & Rangers to face SFA hearings

30 August 2016

Image caption,
Police formed an armed guard after supporters invaded the pitch

Hibernian and Rangers have been issued with notices of complaint by the Scottish FA's compliance officer in relation to the Scottish Cup final.

A pitch invasion took place after Hibs beat Rangers 3-2 on 21 May.

The clubs are alleged to have breached disciplinary rule 311, which states "damage was sustained to Hampden... as a consequence of misbehaviour by supporters".

They have until 6 September to respond to the notices of complaint.

Principal hearing dates have been set for Hibs on 4 October and Rangers on 5 October.

The compliance officer looked at the cup final incidents after the publication of Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen's independent report into the day's events.

The SFA requested that report following the pitch invasion which occurred after the match. The report, published earlier this month, concluded that the Scottish government should consider making it a criminal offence to run on to a football pitch.

Fans entered the pitch at Hampden after Hibernian won their first Scottish Cup in 114 years.

Thousands of Hibs fans jumped the barriers at the final whistle and a number of Rangers fans also came on to the pitch.

The pitch invasion delayed the presentation of the trophy and there was no lap of honour by Hibs players.

Rangers players were not able to pick up their cup final medals.

Alleged rule breach in relation to Hibernian
In that at the above match you failed to adhere to the Cup Competition Rules, specifically Rule 28 of the Rules of The Scottish Cup. That at the above match damage was sustained to Hampden Stadium, being the stadium where the Scottish Cup Final was played, as a consequence of misbehaviour by supporters of your Club. That the misbehaviour by your supporters occurred at the conclusion of the above match, whereby a number of your supporters carried out an incursion onto the pitch, and thereafter remained upon the pitch until cleared by Police Scotland and Stewards. That in the course of this misbehaviour by your supporters damage was sustained to the stadium, as follows:(i) To the surface of the pitch, portions of which were removed; and/or(ii) To a set of goal posts which were broken and had netting removed; and/or(iii) To parts of the LED advertising system situated at the perimeter of the pitch, in the vicinity of both the East Stand, and/or the North Stand; and/or(iv) To advertising hoardings situated at the perimeter of the pitch, in the vicinity of the East Stand.

Alleged rule breach in relation to Hibernian

In that at the above match you failed to adhere to the Cup Competition Rules, specifically Rule 28 of the Rules of The Scottish Cup. That at the above match damage was sustained to Hampden Stadium, being the stadium where the Scottish Cup Final was played, as a consequence of misbehaviour by supporters of your Club. That the misbehaviour by your supporters occurred at the conclusion of the above match, whereby a number of your supporters carried out an incursion onto the pitch, and thereafter remained upon the pitch until cleared by Police Scotland and Stewards. That in the course of this misbehaviour by your supporters damage was sustained to the stadium, as follows:(i) To the surface of the pitch, portions of which were removed; and/or(ii) To a set of goal posts which were broken and had netting removed; and/or(iii) To parts of the LED advertising system situated at the perimeter of the pitch, in the vicinity of both the East Stand, and/or the North Stand; and/or(iv) To advertising hoardings situated at the perimeter of the pitch, in the vicinity of the East Stand.

Alleged rule breach in relation to Rangers
In that at the above match you failed to adhere to the Cup Competition Rules, specifically Rule 28 of the Rules of The Scottish Cup. That at the above match damage was sustained to Hampden Stadium, being the stadium where the Scottish Cup Final was played, as a consequence of misbehaviour by supporters of your Club. That the misbehaviour by your supporters occurred at the conclusion of the above match whereby, following on from a pitch incursion by supporters of Hibernian FC, a number of your supporters also carried out an incursion onto the pitch. That thereafter supporters of your Club who had engaged in the pitch incursion remained upon the pitch until cleared by Police Scotland and Stewards. That in the course of this misbehaviour by your supporters damage was sustained to the stadium, as follows:(i) To parts of the LED advertising system situated at the perimeter of the pitch, in the vicinity of the North Stand, and /or the West Stand; and/or(ii) To advertising hoardings situated at the perimeter of the pitch, in the vicinity of the West Stand.

Alleged rule breach in relation to Rangers

In that at the above match you failed to adhere to the Cup Competition Rules, specifically Rule 28 of the Rules of The Scottish Cup. That at the above match damage was sustained to Hampden Stadium, being the stadium where the Scottish Cup Final was played, as a consequence of misbehaviour by supporters of your Club. That the misbehaviour by your supporters occurred at the conclusion of the above match whereby, following on from a pitch incursion by supporters of Hibernian FC, a number of your supporters also carried out an incursion onto the pitch. That thereafter supporters of your Club who had engaged in the pitch incursion remained upon the pitch until cleared by Police Scotland and Stewards. That in the course of this misbehaviour by your supporters damage was sustained to the stadium, as follows:(i) To parts of the LED advertising system situated at the perimeter of the pitch, in the vicinity of the North Stand, and /or the West Stand; and/or(ii) To advertising hoardings situated at the perimeter of the pitch, in the vicinity of the West Stand.

Scottish Cup final 2016: Hibernian & Rangers to face SFA hearings

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