LAP OF HONOUR CRACKDOWN AT OLD FIRM GAMES
Cop report claims Celtic player celebration led to violence by Rangers fans
POLICE have called for a crackdown on players doing laps of honour at Old Firm matches.
A senior officer said Celtic’s “celebrations on the pitch” following their 1-0 home win in September had incited a violent reaction from Rangers supporters and “inflamed an already delicate situation”.
A SENIOR police officer has blamed Celtic players’ lap of honour for inciting trouble among Rangers fans at September’s Old Firm clash.
As the Hoops did their victory lap, some Gers supporters surged forward to get on the pitch, knocking over wheelchair users in the chaos that ensued.
In an internal police memo following the powderkeg match at Celtic Park on September 2, a crackdown on such “post-match celebrations on the pitch” was suggested.
The superintendent’s memo to match day officers said: “I am firmly of the view that there is a clear link between the actions of the Celtic players (which immediately inflamed an already delicate situation) and subsequent response of the Rangers fans.”
The match, which Celtic won 1-0, was also marred by a terrifying crush before kick-off that resulted in five Hoops fans being injured near the Janefield Street entrance.
Internal police documents about the game have been released under Freedom of Information laws.
The briefing paper identifies “future learning” to include “liaison with clubs regarding post-match celebrations on pitch”.
Other suggestions for policing future Old Firm clashes include: ●Staggered cordons at Janefield Street. ●A review of away support numbers and segregation arrangements. ●A review of holdback arrangements for fans.
The name of the superintendent who wrote the internal memo was redacted in the documents.
He noted that Celtic players had been briefed on safety the day before the match and a lap of honour was never discussed.
The officer also said holding Rangers fans back in the stadium after the match contributed to the disorder.
He wrote: “Had I known about the Celtic team lap of honour, I would have suggested that the plan would be to release the Rangers fans first, if we had a Celtic win.
“As it was, as the Rangers fans had already been informed of the holdback, not many were actually making concerted efforts to leave so the timings to change the cordons etc round and deliver comms and messages were too tight.”
The officer provided an extract from the command team debrief from the match, which refers to the holdback of Rangers fans.
The debrief states: “Celtic team lap of honour was not helpful as Celtic fans did not leave. The team coming to the south-east corner was a clear flashpoint for the Rangers fans.
“Apparently in direct response to player behaviour, crowd surged forward down on to the platform and over the wheelchair users. Increased aggression towards police broke through holdback at vomitories.”
The officer said that consideration should be given to restricting the number of Celtic fans in the east stand at Celtic Park if Rangers fan numbers are as low as 800 when the fixture repeats.
A sell-out 60,000 fans attended the match but Rangers’ allocation was cut to 800 after the Ibrox club slashed the Celtic allocation at a previous fixture.
In a report after the game, match commander Superintendent Carol McGuire noted that 500 Green Brigade members had marched to Celtic Park and there was a crush at Janefield Street. She added: “At the end of the match, Rangers supporters were held back.
“Celtic players did a lap of the pitch before stopping in front of the Rangers supporters and celebrating, which incensed Rangers supporters.
“Public order officers intervened to prevent disorder and them entering the pitch.
“Celtic supporters tried to engage with Rangers supporters leaving the stadium but were prevented by police officers.”
Glasgow MSP James Kelly said: “Whether it is the celebration of a goal or winning a match, players should be respectful of opposition fans.”
Celtic are considering turning down their allocation of tickets for next month’s derby tie at Ibrox if Rangers can’t guarantee the safety of their 800 fans.
The club are understood to be looking for guarantees from Rangers and police that visiting supporters will have a safe passage as they make their way to the corner section between the stands on December 29.
Last night, Celtic declined to comment on a possible crackdown on laps of honour.
No one from Rangers was available to respond.
Police Scotland said it was not possible to provide a response when contacted yesterday.
The team coming to the south-east corner was a flashpoint for Rangers fans POLICE SUPERINTENDENT