On a day of reflection after the incidents that marred the Old Firm clash on Sunday Celtic's chief executive, Allan MacDonald, was so horrified that he sent an open letter to the club's supporters, claiming: "If you wear the name, you wear the reputation in your words and actions."

Rangers vice-chairman Donald Findlay also called for a removal of the 6.05 p.m. kick-off time for televised Scottish Premier League games which he believes was the root cause of Sunday's violence at Celtic Park.

Celtic have already promised to ban the trouble makers for life and are to conduct their own investigation alongside that of the Scottish Football Association and the Premier League.

MacDonald said: "As the dust settles on yesterday's events, it is time for serious reflection and inspection for all of us.

"Celtic is staging its own investigation into yesterday's events and will also co-operate fully with the SFA and SPL.

"I would like to thank the vast majority of Celtic supporters, for their exemplary behaviour at the recent minute's silence in memory of the people of Hillsborough.

"That also applies to the many thousands of Celtic and Rangers supporters who represented their clubs with pride and dignity yesterday."

MacDonald says he will also make sure that the coaching staff take a tough line with Stephane Mahe and Vidar Riseth, who were both sent off.

"The players have to recognise their responsibilities to the supporters, their team-mates, the club, the media and the general public.

"The price of fame is responsibility, Celtic will not accept anything less than the highest standards."

MacDonald congratulated Rangers who regained the title from Celtic after a year.

"Everyone at Celtic congratulates Rangers on winning the championship. Last season the league was ours and this season Rangers have proved to be worthy champions," he said.

Rangers vice-chairman Findlay believes attention should now be paid to the early evening kick-off agreed with Sky for live broadcasts as supporters are given the opportunity to drink all day ahead of games.

He said: "They need to look again at the issue of 6.05 p.m. because it does give supporters all day to drink in the pub.

"You don't want to take the passion out of the game, but the violence we saw yesterday is unacceptable, and no-one wants to see that.

"We condemn violence in any form. It has no part to play in Scottish football - or anybody else's football. I would appeal to Celtic supporters and ask them to accept defeat with dignity as I know most of them will.

"Along with the authorities, we will sit down calmly and look if there is anything ourselves or Celtic can do, not just for the Scottish Cup final (also between Rangers and Celtic) but for the future."

A Sky spokesman said: "The early evening kick-off was suggested to us last summer in negotiations with our Scottish football contract.

"We have shown 30 or so matches at 6.05, including two Old Firm matches, and all passed off without the type of incidents that occurred last night."

Meanwhile, Rangers coach Dick Advocaat yesterday insisted they deserved the right to an automatic Champions' League qualification.

Because of Scotland's poor record over the years, the championship-winning side have been forced to participate in the preliminary and qualifying rounds of Europe's premier club competition.

But Advocaat believes the system is unfair and called for change.

"If you allow teams who finish second and third in the leagues to be included in the Champions' League, then surely we must also be involved."