Rangers have pledged to identify the troublemakers who caused chaos during Sunday’s Old Firm pitch invasion and condemned the individuals who mocked the Ibrox Disaster. The Gers ended their silence on Thursday evening as they denounced the appalling scenes that erupted between both sets of supporters following Celtic’s Scottish Cup penalty shootout victory.

They have backed calls for a full independent inquiry after a violent pitch invasion saw fans brawl and left police officers and stewards wounded. Projectiles, including a lit flare, were also hurled into the stands, whilst ticketless away fans broke through turnstiles and pushed past security personnel.

Significant damage was also recorded in the Broomloan Stand, which held over 7,500 Celtic supporters, as numerous seats were vandalised and despicable graffiti mocking the tragic incident of 1971, where 66 fans died, was scrawled across the walls.

Now, Rangers have finally issued a response and maintained “they will not accept a narrative that ignores the full context of what happened.”

A club statement read: “Following the events of Sunday’s Scottish Cup fixture at Ibrox, we have spent the past few days in discussions with our staff, supporter groups and the relevant authorities, and we will continue to work closely with Police Scotland, Glasgow City Council, the Scottish FA and the Safety Advisory Group in the weeks ahead.

“The disorder that occurred on Sunday was unacceptable and we condemn it unequivocally. Safety must always come first in football, for supporters, players and everyone working in and around the game. We also want to recognise the efforts of the many staff, stewards and emergency services who operated in extremely difficult circumstances on the day.

“There are now a number of serious issues which require proper examination. For that reason, we agree that there should be a fully independent review into the events surrounding the match. That review must be thorough and wide-ranging, examining the decisions and actions of all relevant parties.

“Its scope must include the broader context around this fixture, from the initial decisions on ticket allocations through to the sequence of incidents that followed the match. All parties must be prepared to have their actions and decision-making subjected to proper scrutiny.”

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Scotland’s most senior police officer, Jo Farrell, this week criticised the chaos and urged clubs to “eliminate” ultra groups like the Union Bears and Green Brigade as investigations continue into their involvement in the violent clashes.

Rangers say they will impose stadium bans on those responsible but vowed to safeguard the reputation of the club’s supporters by insisting on a fair process.

The statement went on to say: “Where individuals are identified and convicted of offences connected to the match, the club will take action and impose appropriate sanctions, including the potential withdrawal of ticketing privileges and stadium bans.

“We will approach all regulatory engagement responsibly and cooperate fully with the authorities as the facts are established. At the same time, we will represent the club and our supporters robustly. We recognise that many fans want the club to say more at this stage, and supporters should be assured that we are across the detail of the issues being discussed and the questions being raised.

“However, it is important that we respect any ongoing investigative or judicial processes and do nothing that could prejudice them. There will be an appropriate time to address those matters fully.

“What we can say now is that issues of stadium safety and the legacy of the Ibrox Disaster are deeply personal to this club. We were appalled to discover graffiti within the stadium referencing that tragedy. The memory of the 66 supporters who lost their lives in January 1971 deserves dignity and respect. To desecrate their memory is vile. It is cowardly. It is shameful. This is not football rivalry and it is not banter. It is the abuse of a tragedy that claimed 66 lives.

“Finally, it is important that the reputation of Rangers supporters is treated fairly in this discussion. Tens of thousands of people attended Ibrox on Sunday simply to support their team with pride and to watch a football match. We will not accept a narrative that ignores the full context of what happened. For now it would not be appropriate to comment further.”

Celtic have yet to comment.

A SFA spokesperson added: “The Scottish FA can confirm that the Compliance Officer is collating evidence from the weekend’s derby match at Ibrox Stadium. Any alleged breaches will be notified to relevant parties in line with the Judicial Panel Protocol.

“Furthermore, following discussions with relevant stakeholders, the Scottish FA will commission an independent review of the matchday safety and security operations for this Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Quarter-Final fixture.

“This review will seek to provide recommendations for all parties to ensure no repeat of the events that have tarnished the image and reputation of the game.”