UEFA has sanctioned FC Porto following the treatment of Rangers fans during their Europa League meeting last season.
The Scottish Premiership club faced Porto in their final league phase fixture on January 29, falling to a 3-1 defeat at Estadio do Dragao.
Rangers had taken an early lead through a Djeidi Gassama header, but three first-half goals from Porto secured comfortable passage into the last 16 for the Portuguese side.
The on-pitch result was not the only concern for Rangers that evening, with serious issues reported among travelling supporters after the final whistle.
Reports emerged that visiting fans were held inside Estadio do Dragao for up to two hours following the conclusion of the match.
UEFA have now formally acted against Porto, issuing the club a warning for the “retention of supporters in the stadium” and for breaching “Art. 46.01(e) UEFA Safety and Security Regulations.”
The Rangers Fan Advisory Board responded to the ruling, expressing measured satisfaction while making clear they believed the punishment did not go far enough.
“We are pleased to see that today UEFA have sanctioned FC Porto for their treatment of the Rangers support after the game in January,” the Fan Advisory Board said.
“Whilst we think the sanction of a warning doesn’t go nearly far enough, at least the feedback of the Rangers support has been listened to,” the statement continued.
The Board also noted that supporter testimony played a direct role in prompting UEFA to examine the incident, stating “feedback from our fans was central to UEFA considering the matter.”
The group pledged to continue pushing for stronger protections for travelling fans across European competition, signalling this case would not be the end of the conversation.
Rangers themselves had addressed the situation publicly at the time, releasing a statement shortly after the January fixture that acknowledged widespread complaints from those who made the trip to Portugal.
“Following the match in Porto, we’ve received multiple reports from supporters and staff about issues in and around the stadium,” Rangers said in that January statement.
“That’s not what anyone who travelled to support Rangers should have had to deal with, and we share the concern, anger and frustration felt by those affected,” the club added.
The case highlights ongoing tensions around the safety and welfare of away supporters attending European fixtures, an issue fan groups across the continent continue to raise with governing bodies.
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