A Scottish FA investigation, led by sports event consultant Mark Blackbourne, has yet to report to the governing body on the Scottish Cup tie.

The Ibrox club stressed they had “been clear in condemning the actions of certain individuals on 8 March” and had been “attempting to work with Celtic to mitigate any security concerns for the upcoming match”.

Rangers added that, for the forthcoming match that will help decide who wins a three-pronged title race involving leaders Hearts and the two Old Firm sides, “the removal of away supporters from one of the defining fixtures of the competition would introduce a clear and material sporting imbalance”.

Celtic had demanded the exclusion of a section of the Rangers support they say “identifiably engaged in serious violence and disorder”. The club expressed “surprise and disappointment” that Rangers had not agreed to the request and that they were happy to hold discussions with their rivals and the league body.

The defending champions added their “priority will always be the safety of those attending Celtic Park and, following a detailed risk assessment with regards to the forthcoming match, the club has made a reasonable request of Rangers FC that tickets are not distributed to a section of supporters which very recently and identifiably engaged in serious violence and disorder involving Celtic supporters, staff, police and stewards”.

Five members of a gang who were sent to prison for illegally streaming Premier League games have been ordered by the court to return their profits, worth £3.75m.

In May 2023, Mark Gould, described by the judge as the driving force behind the illegal streaming service Flawless TV, and four other members, were sentenced to more than 30 years in prison between them, in what was the world’s largest piracy sentencing.

Their business involved more than 50,000 customers and resellers, as well as 30 employees, with the operation generating in excess of £7m between 2016 and 2021.

Gould, originally sentenced to 11 years in prison, was this week ordered by Derby Crown Court to forfeit the proceeds of his criminal activities and return £2.35m within three months or face a further prison sentence of 10 years.

Similar proceedings have been instigated against four other defendants from the case who were ordered to pay back a total of more than £1.4m or also risk longer prison sentences.

The total sum of £3.75m is the second largest figure ordered in the UK against the operators of an illegal streaming service.

The money will be distributed back into the public purse with 50% to the Treasury and 50% to bodies involved in the prosecution, including the courts, the prosecuting authority and the financial investigators.

The sentencing and the subsequent confiscation proceeding came about after a rare private prosecution by the Premier League, supported by a number of organisations including Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s Trading Standards team and the intellectual property protection organisation, FACT.