Police warn fans ahead of season’s first Old Firm clash
RANGERS fans will be held inside Parkhead for 15 minutes after full time this Sunday as the light blues meet Celtic in the first Old Firm clash of the new season.
Specialist police resources from across Scotland will be in force as thousands turn out at Celtic Park.
Police said the move has been implemented in the past and aims to ensure both sets of fans will be able to leave the stadium safely.
However, there will be an opportunity to leave early, which will be broadcast at the match.
Police will continue to monitor the situation ahead of the match to combat any trouble.
The message comes as police urged fans attending the match to behave themselves – which includes drinking responsibly and a zero-tolerance approach flares or pyrotechnics.
Superintendent Simon Jeacocke told the Evening Times: “There’s always a real sense of anticipation for these matches.
“It is something that we look forward to, but there’s going to be a significant policing operation in place.
“As a result we’ve called in specialist resources from all around the country, so we’ve got public order, trained officers, mounted officers and dog branch officers available to me, as well as conventional police officers that will be working at this game.”
Assistant chief constable Bernard Higgins previously voiced his fears over the potentially fatal consequences of flares and smoke bombs at games – saying it was only a matter of time before somebody was maimed or killed.
Superintendent Jeacocke said: “There will be families, young people and older people who might not be able to get out of the way quickly if a flare is thrown.
“The last thing I want is for someone to get hurt or injured as a result of that.”
Police will also run a licensing initiative on Sunday and will be visiting pubs within the city to maintain order around the match.
Superintendent Jeacocke added: “We are closely monitoring any intelligence that comes in so we’re able to react and deploy officers appropriately.
“But regardless of what happens, I’m satisfied we’ve got sufficient resources in place that we can respond to anything that happens, whether it be at Celtic Park or elsewhere in the city.”