Two Community Councils have appealed to top management of Celtic to publicly urge their supporters not to repeat ‘disgraceful’ anti-social behaviour when celebrating their next Scottish Premiership victory.
In a letter to the club’s Chief Executive Officer Michael Nicholson, Calton and Merchant City and Trongate Community Councils said they understood fans wanted to celebrate the occasion but at the end of the last two football seasons they had ‘’created havoc for people, businesses and visitors in and around Glasgow Cross.”
They said: “This part of the city centre was turned into a ‘No Go’ area with widespread damage to public and private property and people left terrified. The trail of urine, faeces, vomit, graffiti and refuse was widespread. Emergency vehicles and other traffic were unable to get through the throngs.”
The club had brought great esteem to Scottish football and the city of Glasgow but scenes in 2023 and 2024 had been “disgraceful and totally unacceptable.”
Their letter to Mr Nicholson went on: “We urge you to issue a public statement firmly instructing Celtic fans not to indulge in similar disruption and anti-social behaviour as this football season draws to a close. The reputation of Celtic Football Club – and of the city of Glasgow – is again at stake.”
A high-level meeting at Hampden Park on 28 March, convened by Glasgow Kelvin MSP Kaukab Stewart, was attended by leaders of the Scottish Professional League, including Chief Executive Neil Doncaster and Operations Director Calum Beattie. Also there were representatives of Celtic and Rangers and their fans, the Scottish Government and senior police officers.
The two Community Councils proposed that a celebration Fan Zone should be set up on Glasgow Green, at The Emirates Stadium across the road from Parkhead or at a venue of Celtic’s choice. They repeated this suggestion in their letter to Celtic, also copied to Chairman Peter Lawwell and Company Secretary Joanne McNairn.
The meeting in the National Stadium’s boardroom ended without agreement on any practical measures to prevent more trouble around Glasgow Cross this time.
A spokesperson for the Community Councils, both of which were represented the Hampden meeting, commented: “We applaud the MSP for bringing all sides together at such a senior level. Many statements of good intent were uttered but so were reasons why nothing could be done.”
