FANS guilty of assault in the wake of the Scottish Cup final violence would be jailed for up to 27 months if found guilty of the offences, criminal law experts say.

Lawyer Ian Moir said they can expect stiff sentences as sheriffs are likely to make an example of them following Saturday's disturbances which tarnished Scotland's showpiece cup final between Rangers and Hibs.

The more serious offenders faced prison sentences of between nine and 27 months, he added.

Read more: SFA urged to kick Hibs out of Europe as Rangers demand full inquiry into cup final violence

Rangers said its players and backroom staff were assaulted, said to include captain Lee Wallace, when fans invaded the national stadium after the Edinburgh club's historic 3-2 victory on Saturday.

Police have set up a special incident room to examine any criminal behaviour at Hampden while Hibs pledged to do “everything in its power” to find those involved in the violence.

And while there has only been 11 arrests made so far for minor offences, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams has said that they expect more to be apprehended in the coming days as they sift through CCTV and other video footage.

The Herald:

Mr Moir said: “In reality most of them won’t see the inside of a courtroom. Anyone who is charged with an assault on a summary complaint is in serious danger of going to jail, given the circumstances.

“Pretty much most of the sheriffs at Glasgow Sheriff Court would be saying that this cannot and will not be tolerated and that I am going to make an example of you and you will go to jail whether you have previous or not.

“If someone is charged with an assault on the captain of the opposing team, which is at the start of what became a fairly significant disorder, going on for about half an hour, then you’d have to say to them bring a toothbrush.”

Read more: What really happened when the Scottish Cup Final descended into mayhem

Assistant Chief Constable Williams said the police response to what happened was immediate, measured, proportionate and professional”.

He added: “In a short period of time, we deployed mounted officers, public order and conventional officers to separate the opposing supporters.

“It’s important to take time and reflect on Saturday’s match and we will now work with [security firm] G4S, Scottish Football Association, Hampden Park PLC, both clubs and of course with our staff to review the full circumstances of the game. If there’s lessons to be learned then we will do that together with other partners so we can ensure that scenes like those witnessed on Saturday don’t happen again.”

The Herald:

Over 14,000 have signed a petition directed at the calling for Hibs to be banned from European competition and Scottish Cup competition next season.

Scottish Football Association sources say that they do not have the power to ban Hibs from Europe over what happened, but it is understood a Scottish Cup ban for next season is within the remit of penalties available to them.

Former chief executive Gordon Smith, said the category of seriousness for Scottish football’s governing body around Saturday’s events was potentially greater than the riots after the Old Firm 1980 Scottish Cup final which led to alcohol being banned from football grounds in the country. That is because on this occasion, players were attacked.

Read more: Scottish Cup Final - more arrests likely as police probe begins

“What I am thinking realistically is that fans coming on the pitch is a number one category, that breaks the rules, a stronger category is fans coming on and fighting with opposition fans, but the most severe category happened on Saturday where participants in the sport were attacked. It is one of the most severe incidents to happen,” he said.

The SFA has said it would set up an Independent Commission to investigate the Hampden disturbances, a day after Rangers called for an independent investigation into what it described as “shameful scenes”.

Rangers have criticised the response of the the SFA, Hibernian, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the BBC to the incident.

The Herald:

Over 3,000 have signed a separate petition calling for Hibs chairman Rod Petrie to stand down from his position as SFA vice president with immediate effect.

Mr Petrie said: “It is now clear from various sources that supporters being on the pitch at the end of the match led to acts of violence and disorder.

“I condemn and the club condemns all of the violence and unacceptable conduct perpetrated on the pitch and elsewhere and in the margins of the match at Hampden. There is absolutely no place for it in the game of football.”

Hibs said it will take the “strongest possible sanctions” against any supporters involved in criminal activity or unacceptable behaviour.

Security firm G4S has said the cup final was “appropriately staffed” and Calum Steele, of the Scottish Police Federation has said the police response was “nothing short of remarkable”.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said the government was “liaising closely” with the organisations involved with the inquiry.

Nicola Sturgeon described as “nonsense” the perception that she was taking sides, adding: “I condemn unreservedly... congratulating a team for winning a cup after 114 years cannot be equated to excusing the behaviour of any fans who behaved unacceptably.”

The BBC said it was “concerned” Rangers singled out two members of their sports team for what it called “unwarranted criticism”.

“We stand by our journalists. Should anyone have concerns about our output there are appropriate mechanisms by which complaints can be raised,” said a BBC spokesman.