Groups of Rangers and Aberdeen supporters clashed in the middle of Aberdeen city centre on Sunday afternoon, just hours before the two sides met on the pitch at Pittodrie.
Footage captured by the Record in Scotland showed both groups of fans pushing towards each other with police intervention required to prevent serious casualties in what was a throwback to the scenes frequently seen in the 1970s and 80s.
The incident is the latest in a long line of similar squirmishes involving Rangers supporters, who continue to cause problems for the authorities in Scotland.
Rangers fans and Aberdeen fans clash
In scenes that are most commonly seen during Old Firm weekends in Glasgow, the footage captured by the Record shows around 50 Rangers, all dressed in black with balaclavas, walking towards a police line.
Behind this police line is a group of Aberdeen fans in what looks like it could be an organised meet up between the two firms.
At one moment, the ten police officers standing in the middle of the two groups are forced to intervene as the two groups temporarily come to blows. It is at this point that more officers come charging into the scene to provide much-needed assistance to the officers in between the two groups.
The footage ends with Rangers fans being marched down a side street in the general direction of Pittodrie around one hour before the match was due to kick off.
The latest incident in a heated rivalry
To many people outside of Scotland, this incident between Rangers and Aberdeen supporters may come as a surprise. However, there are more rivalries up north than the Old Firm, and this is one that has been heated for a number of years.
Most of the hatred comes from the Aberdeen side, and their supporters are known for singing ‘We hate Rangers more than you' to Celtic whenever the Bhoys are in town.
In a recent clash between the two clubs in 2023, the police were forced to make 18 arrests following violence and missile-throwing in the stands.
Rangers and Aberdeen fans clashing in town before the game today 🏴 pic.twitter.com/ocIjGJ5LIH
— 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 (@thecasualultra) January 11, 2026
FGG says: An incident that was in danger of spilling over
At one point, it looked as if the police line in the middle of the two groups wasn't going to be nearly big or strong enough to combat the imminent fighting, but the officers coped well in the end. While Rangers fans looked like the antagonists in this incident, it is important to remember that most of the hatred in the rivalry comes from the Dons' side.