Police act early to ensure safety

Early intervention will be key in tackling troublemakers at this weekend’s Scottish League Cup semi-finals, police have said.

Additional officers will be in and around Glasgow’s Hampden Park to deter and deal with any trouble as Morton take on Aberdeen tomorrow and then Celtic play Rangers on Sunday.

It comes as police continue to investigate disorder and vandalism at the Old Firm game on September 10.

Two blow-up dolls, one wearing a Rangers scarf, were hung in the home section at Celtic Park during the game while officers are investigating vandalism of toilets in away end.

Anyone who has had too much to drink will not be allowed into the stadium this weekend, and police will also focus on licensed premises and buses and coaches to ensure fans do not arrive drunk.

Chief Superintendent Brian McInulty, event commander for both fixtures, said people have had enough of bad behaviour marring their enjoyment of football.

Speaking at Hampden, he said: “The policing style will absolutely be about early engagement, about the notion that most people coming to these games want to enjoy the game for what it is. We are very fortunate in Scotland that the vast majority of football fans are well behaved, but you do have often a small minority of people who can tarnish an event.”