Key Points
- Marc Spence, 48, from Lanark, South Lanarkshire, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for assaulting Celtic first-team masseur Allan Baird and committing a breach of the peace.
- The attack took place on March 8, 2026, during a post-match pitch invasion at Ibrox Stadium following Celtic’s Scottish Cup quarter-final penalty shootout victory over Rangers.
- Spence, a Bacardi warehouse operative and former Scottish Football Association (SFA) accredited youth football coach, ran aggressively across the turf before grabbing Mr Baird around the head and neck and pulling him to the ground.
- Upon being handcuffed and removed by police officers, Spence stated that he was trying to get past Mr Baird and “just took him out”.
- Sheriff Owen Mullan imposed a seven-and-a-half-year football banning order on Spence, alongside a lifetime ban from Ibrox Stadium issued by Rangers.
- The sentencing follows an independent review into the March 8 disorder, which concluded that life-threatening violence and crushing were narrowly avoided, prompting disciplinary charges against both clubs.
Rngers FC (Glasgow Express) November 12, 2026 – A Rangers supporter and former youth football coach has been jailed for 18 months after invading the pitch at Ibrox Stadium and attacking a Celtic backroom staff member following an Old Firm Scottish Cup tie.
Marc Spence, 48, of Lanark, South Lanarkshire, was sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court today after previously pleading guilty to assaulting Hoops first-team masseur Allan Baird and committing a breach of the peace during the disorder on March 8, 2026.
In addition to the custodial term handed down by Sheriff Owen Mullan, the first offender has been issued with a seven-and-a-half-year football banning order and has received a lifetime ban from Ibrox Stadium.
How did the Ibrox pitch invasion and assault unfold?
The court heard that the incident occurred immediately after Rangers hosted Celtic in a Scottish Cup quarter-final tie on March 8, 2026, which Celtic won 4-2 on penalties following a goalless draw after 120 minutes. As reported by Connor Gordon of the Daily Record, police officers observed Spence invading the playing surface from the south stand after supporters entered the turf at full-time.
During the proceedings, prosecutor Abbas Ali detailed the sequence of events on the pitch. As reported by Connor Gordon of the Daily Record, prosecutor Abbas Ali stated that
“Spence was running in an aggressive manner towards Celtic fans who had entered the pitch.”
Mr Baird noticed Spence sprinting across the grass and intervened to protect the visiting personnel. As reported by Connor Gordon of the Daily Record, prosecutor Abbas Ali told the court:
“Mr Baird, a Celtic member of staff, saw Spence running on the pitch. He was concerned that Spence was running in the direction of the Celtic team and staff so he stood in his path. Spence collided with Mr Baird who then grabbed him on the neck and pulled him to the ground.”
Two police officers swiftly intervened, taking hold of Spence and escorting him from the field of play in handcuffs. While being led away from the pitch, Spence made an admission to the arresting officers regarding his actions. As reported by Connor Gordon of the Daily Record, Spence stated:
“I was trying to get past the guy – he stood in my way and I just took him out.”
What did the defence and sheriff say at Glasgow Sheriff Court?
Spence, who works full-time as a warehouse operative for Bacardi, had initially pleaded guilty to the charges on October 22, 2026, at which point Sheriff Owen Mullan remanded him in custody pending background reports. At that earlier hearing, as reported by Connor Gordon of the Daily Record, defence lawyer Michael Stewart noted:
“He is in full time employment with Bacardi as a warehouse operative. He is also a first offender with no matters outstanding.”
Returning to the dock from custody for sentencing on November 12, Spence was represented by defence solicitor Darren Fleming, who explained that his client had initially been leaving the ground before deciding to turn back. As reported by Connor Gordon of the Daily Record and Motherwell & Wishaw Today, defence lawyer Darren Fleming told the sentencing hearing:
“He was heading to the turnstiles at the conclusion of the game when he became aware of a pitch invasion. He made the stupid decision to turn around. He was not an instigator but accepts that he made a conscious decision to get involved.”
Mr Fleming further outlined Spence’s rationale for entering the field of play despite the presence of stadium security. As reported by Connor Gordon of the Daily Record, Darren Fleming stated:
He witnessed fans of the opposition damaging seats in the stadium and felt that he could perhaps assist. In hindsight, he knows that it was a reckless decision.”
Sheriff Owen Mullan rejected the suggestion that Spence’s background as a first offender or his stated intentions warranted a non-custodial disposal, ruling that a prison sentence was merited. As reported by STV News and the Daily Record, Sheriff Owen Mullan told Spence:
“By your own admission, several stewards tried to stop you from entering the pitch and you were determined to do so. You travelled some distance across the pitch and assaulted a member of staff and in your own words ‘took him out’. You grabbed him around the head and neck and dragged him to the ground.”
The sheriff also highlighted Spence’s prior involvement in grassroots football and the public visibility of the offence, which was broadcast live across the country. As reported by STV News and Connor Gordon of the Daily Record, Sheriff Owen Mullan said:
“As an SFA-accredited youth football coach you will be aware of the standards of professionalism and responsibility expected at football. As a football fan you will know the standards expected. Your behaviour was appalling and witnessed in the stadium and on national television. There is little doubt that there were children who saw your actions across Scotland.”
Addressing the social work background report prepared ahead of sentencing, Sheriff Mullan noted discrepancies between the report’s findings and the defence’s submissions, as well as the absence of remorse directed towards Mr Baird. As reported by STV News and Connor Gordon of the Daily Record, Sheriff Owen Mullan stated:
“Despite your plea of guilty and matters caught on CCTV, the author of your background report says you continue to minimise your behaviour and the serious nature of the charges. I am told this is not the case [by Mr Fleming] and that you do accept the extent of your actions – I am willing to accept that is the case. What is noteworthy, is nowhere in the background report do you seek to expressly apologise to your victim.”
Background: What happened during the March 2026 Old Firm disorder?
The assault on Allan Baird formed part of wider post-match disorder at Ibrox Stadium on March 8, 2026, which marked the return of a larger away ticket allocation for an Old Firm fixture. After Tomas Cvancara converted the decisive spot-kick to send Celtic into the Scottish Cup semi-finals, Celtic supporters spilled onto the pitch in celebration, prompting groups of Rangers fans to breach barriers and confront them. Flares and pyrotechnics were launched across the stadium, forcing Police Scotland officers and stewards to form a human barricade to separate rival supporters while players and coaching staff retreated down the tunnel. Several police officers, stewards, and members of the public sustained injuries during the clashes inside and outside the ground.
Following the match, Police Scotland launched a major investigation resulting in numerous arrests and custodial sentences for supporters involved in instigating and participating in the violence. In July 2026, an independent review commissioned into the events concluded that the chaotic pitch incursion constituted a “near miss” in which crushing and life-threatening violence were narrowly avoided. Consequently, the Scottish Football Association charged both Rangers and Celtic under Rule 37, which governs club policies and procedures for identifying and dealing with supporters who engage in unacceptable conduct.
Prediction: How will this sentencing affect football supporters and club security?
The 18-month custodial sentence handed to a first-time offender with no prior criminal record signals an uncompromising judicial stance towards pitch incursions and assaults on matchday personnel in Scottish football. For football supporters attending high-profile fixtures, particularly Old Firm derbies, the ruling demonstrates that entering the playing surface—even without being the initial instigator of disorder—carries a high probability of immediate imprisonment alongside multi-year UK-wide football banning orders and permanent club exclusions.
For clubs, stadium operators, and governing bodies, the combination of strict court penalties and SFA disciplinary proceedings is expected to accelerate tighter crowd-control measures. Clubs face heightened scrutiny over physical perimeter security, stewarding deployment, and away ticket allocations, as authorities seek to prevent unauthorised pitch access and protect players and backroom staff from physical harm during volatile fixtures.
