Injured Celtic fan taken to hospital before friendly

A FOOTBALL fan was taken to hospital after suffering a head injury as trouble flared before Sunderland’s clash with Celtic at the Stadium of Light.

Police were called to Fletcher’s Off Licence in the Hendon area of Sunderland at around 1.40pm yesterday in the build-up to the two sides’ pre-season friendly.

Footage posted online appeared to show a Celtic fan lying on the ground with blood pouring from a head wound as emergency services arrived to tend to the man at the scene.

Police have confirmed one man was taken to hospital with a head injury and inquiries are still ongoing.

Assistant chief constable Helen McMillan of Northumbria Police said: “Fans come here to enjoy the football; many with young children and we here at Northumbria Police do all we can to ensure they enjoy the day whichever team they support.

“Unfortunately we did have some incidents of disorder in and around Sunderland between Sunderland and Celtic fans and, while police dealt with them quickly, it is a shame these types of incidents happen at all.”

The pre-season friendly celebrated 20 years since the Stadium of Light first opened its doors and 50 years since Celtic won the European Cup.

The game finished 5-0 to the Scottish champions, whose huge travelling contingent sang a heartfelt version of ‘One Bradley Lowery’ as the action progressed.