SCOTLAND’S First Minister John Swinney vowed to work with Rangers, Celtic and the football authorities to address the trouble that followed Sunday’s Scottish Cup tie.

Supporters clashed on the Ibrox pitch after Celtic knocked Rangers out on penalties.

About 200 Rangers fans charged towards the Broomloan Stand housing the visiting fans after dozens of them had spilled on to the pitch to celebrate as Tomas Cvancara sealed a shoot-out win.

Police and stewards formed a barrier but missiles, including a lit flare, were thrown and there were some isolated skirmishes.

A Rangers fan was arrested by police after an incident involving a Celtic member of staff and one fan aimed a kick at Hoops full-back Julian Araujo before another pushed the Mexico international.

Police stated that officers and stewards were faced with “extreme hostility and violence” and that officers and members of the public were injured.

Swinney told PA: “The violence after the Old Firm game at Ibrox was completely and utterly unacceptable – there is no justification for it whatsoever.

“There was severe danger applied to fans and to police officers and to stewards, it was completely unacceptable in every respect.

“What I want to make clear is the police have my full support in pursuing everyone involved in this incident, also that we will work constructively with the clubs – who must be horrified by the scenes that they witnessed – as well to address the situation, to work with the Scottish Football Association, to make sure that collaboratively and collectively, we do all that we can to make sure that these types of incidents have no place in Scottish football.”

The First Minister added that the use of pyrotechnics “exaggerates and escalates that level of danger,” declaring his government would work with authorities to ensure they are not brought into grounds.

The SFA quickly announced after Sunday’s game that it would be investigating the events in line with its disciplinary procedures.

The scenes have led to calls for a ban on away fans at the fixture. There was an absence in recent years before the two clubs reached agreement to allow about 2,500 travelling fans to attend.

However, Scottish Cup rules state that away teams can claim up to 20 per cent of tickets and that saw Celtic occupy the full Broomloan Stand, which houses about 7,500 people.

Former SFA and Rangers chief executive Gordon Smith told BBC Radio Scotland: “I think that might be one of the rules that comes in now, when Rangers and Celtic are playing at home, there will be no away fans allowed in.

“I definitely would be looking at that and saying what causes the trouble is when away fans are there.”

Former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan told Covers.Com: “I was personally happy when there was just one set of supporters in the stadium during the Old Firm. I know I’m in the minority – and people will argue that the atmosphere is not the same – but is it worth it given what we saw?

“You’re putting police and staff at risk and you’ve got fans running onto the pitch to attack people working there.

“The world has become a nastier place in the past 30 years.”