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A senior police official has expressed criticism towards Celtic Football Club for not arranging an official celebration event, should the team secure the Scottish Premiership title this weekend. Celtic, managed by Martin O’Neill, faces a crucial match on Saturday at Parkhead against league leaders Hearts, aiming to clinch their fifth consecutive league championship.
In previous years, large crowds of Celtic supporters gathered in Glasgow’s Merchant City and Trongate, resulting in incidents of anti-social behaviour. As a precaution this time, authorities have taken measures such as removing the glass from bus stop shelters, aiming to prevent damage during any spontaneous celebrations. Meanwhile, Celtic has asked fans to refrain from mass gatherings that could heavily impact the city.
Contrastingly, if Hearts manage to earn the point they need for their first league title since 1960, they plan to hold an open-top bus parade through Edinburgh on Sunday. The match itself, a winner-takes-all contest kicking off at 12:30, has been described by Derek McInnes, manager of Hearts, as “box office.” However, concerns remain that a Celtic victory could spark celebrations similar to last year’s, which saw extensive street drinking, pyrotechnic use, and led to 20 arrests.
Police Scotland’s Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell emphasized that a detailed operational plan is in place to minimize disruption and avoid large-scale disorder. He also revealed efforts to encourage the clubs to organize formal celebrations or fan zones to allow supporters to enjoy the occasion safely and reduce community impact. Despite these initiatives, Waddell lamented Celtic’s failure to propose or take responsibility for managing supporter conduct outside the stadium. He warned that the police stand ready to enforce the law against any anti-social behaviour and reiterated that officers had to cancel rest days to ensure adequate cover for the event
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