Police in talks with Celtic and Rangers over future title celebrations

Police Scotland are in talks with Celtic and Rangers over possible celebrations as the Scottish Premiership’s tight title race sparks fears of a “powder keg situation”.

Chief superintendent Emma Croft, divisional commander for Greater Glasgow, said the force has been working with the clubs and the council on “what celebrations could look like in the city moving forward”.

Previous years have seen fans celebrate in the city centre, with streets left covered in rubbish and reports of disorder. On those occasions, the league winner has been known in advance, which aids police planning.

This season, the Scottish Premiership title could go down to the final day, with Celtic and Rangers currently attempting to chase down league leaders Hearts.

Police officers and fans were injured earlier this month when supporters invaded the pitch after Celtic beat Rangers on penalties in a Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox. Ch Supt Croft said there had been ten arrests so far, with a “significant” number still to come.

At a Safe Glasgow partnership meeting on Thursday, Cllr Greg Hepburn, SNP, said: “Every year there has been a tradition now when one of the Glasgow teams wins the league, city centre mass parties is the kind way to put it.

“This season, maybe a team from Edinburgh will win, maybe not. It could come down to something like an Old Firm game that decides it.

“It could come down to all these various high emotional things, and again, a big party in the city centre. I think we’ve actually got a bit of a powderkeg situation there.”

He asked what Police Scotland had planned to deal with any celebrations.

The police chief said: “This time last year, we knew one club had won the league, and we could plan accordingly to a point.

“This year we don’t know that, so one of the things has been what does contingency planning look like for the city? What does contingency planning look like if we go to the final day of the league and we still don’t have a winner? Because mathematically that’s quite likely.”

She said there has been “really good engagement” with the clubs, which the force wants to “positively” influence their fans to “undertake sensible celebrations”.

“Is it because there is nothing else, so they navigate to certain parts of the city? Or is there a focal point elsewhere where those genuine fans would want to go and see the players, a trophy, a group celebration on known land, whether it be at the stadiums, or an event?

“That’s the type of thing that we’re talking about at the moment.”

She added that the discussions have been led by Glasgow City Council.

In previous years, fan zones or other official events have been suggested as a possible solution.