An inquiry into the Scottish Cup final pitch invasion at Hampden has found a minority of fans of both Hibs and Rangers were behind violent clashes.

The report commissioned by the Scottish FA into the disorder at the national stadium in Glasgow in May found a group of around 200 Hibernian fans who ran on to the pitch sparked the violent scenes.

Around 200 rival Rangers fans then ran onto the pitch, some of whom became involved in "physical confrontation" with rival supporters.

Twelve mounted police officers were among the many deployed in a bid to break up the pockets of fighting among fans

Sheriff principal Edward Bowen QC, who led the probe, said in his report, released on Friday, that around 200 Hibernian fans out of the thousands involved "behaved in a manner which went well beyond a manifestation of high spirits".

The inquiry found there were incidents involving "direct physical confrontation" with Rangers players which included the "hurling of obscene language and sectarian abuse".

Rangers officials were also targeted and there was "chaos and confusion" in the team's dugout, the report states.

The pitch invasion could only have been prevented by physical barriers or very large numbers of police officers being deployed in the stadium, it found.

The report said it was not possible to determine the exact number of officers needed to prevent a pitch invasion but a deployment on such a scale would have been "wholly disproportionate to the overall risk".

The sheriff said in hindsight there should "certainly" have been a reserve of police officers available to deploy across the centre of the pitch to deal with an invasion.

He also called for discussions to take place with the Scottish Government as to whether or not it should be made a "specific statutory offence" to go onto the pitch at a football stadium.

Sheriff Bowen added: "The fans who proceeded to the west end of the stadium engaged in abusive taunting of Rangers supporters, with a view to generating a hostile reaction.

"There were incidents of wilful, direct and abusive defiance of lawful instructions given by police officers at the time of the pitch invasion. None of this can be justified on the basis of high spirits."

Sheriff Bowen added in his report: "The number of Rangers fans on the pitch had increased to about 200, and clashes with Hibs fans continued."

A total of 58 supporters have been arrested to date over the trouble and a full investigation was launched by the Scottish FA after the match.

The report also said if the Hibs fans who invaded the pitch had stopped at the halfway line and "confined themselves to celebrating their team's victory, there would have been little need for this inquiry".

Sheriff Bowen said: "I acknowledge that this is a matter which requires full debate. It could be argued that the existing provisions of both common and statute law are sufficient, and that fear of conviction of a statutory offence would not have affected the actions of the large numbers who invaded the pitch on May 21.

"On the other hand, the very existence of a statutory prohibition might serve to send home the message that proceeding on to the field of play is likely to result in automatic sanction under the criminal law."

It has been also been recommended in the report that "more specific warnings" should be given to football supporters that it is unacceptable to run on to the pitch and it "should be specifically described as "unacceptable conduct" in the SFA Unacceptable Conduct Policy."

Rangers said they are seeking an "urgent meeting" with Sheriff Bowen, SFA chief executive Stewart Regan and compliance officer Tony McGlennan on the back of the inquiry's findings.

In a statement released on the club's website, they said: "It is imperative that we gain insight into the underlying basis for the findings in the report given that we consider it contains a number of factual inaccuracies and contradictions.

"It is right that the club gives the author and requisitioner of the report the opportunity to comment on our concerns prior to making a conclusive statement.

"It is to be hoped that the Scottish FA, as they begin considering this report and the appropriate punishments, remember vividly what actually occurred on Saturday, May 21, 2016, at the national stadium when Hibernian fans were allowed to invade the field of play and attack Rangers players and staff, who were offered little protection."

Rangers did not specify the sections of the report it felt were inaccurate.

However, STV News understands that Rangers believe the report is flawed because it has failed to meet even its basic terms of reference.

That is with regards to answering questions over police deployment time, and deployment of security to protect players.

Sheriff Bowen stated that before the pitch invasion, police attention had been more focused on the supporters of the Ibrox club inside Hampden.

He wrote: "There was evidence that in the course of the match sections of the crowd in west stand merited greater police attention than those in the east. This was because of the discharge of pyrotechnics and the singing of sectarian songs.

"That said, when the pitch invasion occurred the overwhelming majority of Rangers supporters behaved properly and many simply left the stadium.

"A small number allowed themselves to be taunted by the Hibs fans to the point of invading the pitch for the purpose of physical confrontation."

Among the recommendations made in the report, the sheriff said the Scottish Government should look into creating a new offence separate from existing legislation to prosecute pitch invaders.

He said the "very existence of a statutory prohibition might serve to send home the message that proceeding onto the field of play is likely to result in automatic sanction under the criminal law".

In response to the publication of the findings, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "The disorder that marred the Scottish Cup final was unacceptable and sheriff principal Bowen's report builds on the significant amount of work being done to stop scenes like this happening again.

"Independent research shows that fans overwhelmingly support the goal of eradicating offensive behaviour from matches and we will continue to work with our partners to deliver this.

"Rule changes agreed last month have given football authorities and clubs the powers to take further action but there is more work to do and we have been clear that we will take steps if the progress we need to see isn't being made.

"We will continue to work closely with the football authorities, clubs, supporters organisations, Police Scotland and other partners to carefully consider the report and its recommendations - including the most effective and efficient way to prevent a repeat of the disorder."