EXASPERATION
Supporters defy pleas amid pandemic fears as thousands gather at stadium and in Glasgow to celebrate club winning Premiership title
Police and politicians criticise fans as 10,000 mob city streets despite new Covid crisis
More than 10,000 Rangers supporters gathered outside the club’s stadium in Glasgow yesterday despite warnings about the rapid spread of the new Indian variant of coronavirus in the city.
The crowd of supporters, the majority who were not wearing masks, began arriving before their team’s match kicked off at 12.30pm.
When the squad arrived by coach the players gave the thumbs up, punched the air and applauded fans who sang, cheered and let off pyrotechnic flares and smoke bombs.
After the team lifted the Scottish Premiership trophy in an empty stadium following a 4- 0 win over Aberdeen, supporters flanked by police walked from Ibrox to George Square in the city centre.
Police Scotland said they had made arrests in relation to antisocial behaviour, but a senior officer said it would not have been proportionate to disperse the crowd at George Square by force.
The fans in George Square were fringed by about two dozen police officers, some of whom were seen confiscating alcohol and pouring it away.
It comes as Scotland recorded an additional 413 new cases of coronavirus in the daily figures, including 133 in Glasgow, although the numbers were affected by a data issue that meant Friday’s reported figures were lower than they should have been.
No new deaths were reported in the latest statistics from the Scottish Government, while the test positivity rate stood at 1.6%.
Glasgow remains in level three of coronavirus restrictions, along with Moray, because the number of cases per 100,000 in both areas is above 50, a key benchmark for deciding the appropriate tier of restrictions.
The Glasgow cases are concentrated mainly in the south of the city, not far from Rangers’ Ibrox Stadium, and are being driven by the Indian variant, which is believed to be 50% more transmissible.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had said people should not travel in or out of Glasgow and Moray for the coming week. However, many Rangers fans arrived from outside the city.
Police Scotland and Justice Minister Humza Yousaf had called on Rangers fans to disperse and take personal responsibility before yesterday’s match.
Yousaf said: “While there is a significant police presence at Ibrox and across [ the] city, this is ultimately about personal responsibility. If you have gathered you should disperse, particularly given yesterday’s announcement about Covid in Glasgow.”
However, a huge crowd gathered at the Copland Road end of the Rangers ground, with dozens of fans scaling the gates at the south-east corner of the stadium.
Johanna Turnbull, 37, and son Ethan, 12, travelled to the stadium with friend Lesley Ann Lawrie, 38, and her son Konnor, 12, from their home town of Alloa.
Johanna said: “We came in by train and the atmosphere here is absolutely unbelievable. We are thinking about Covid but we are wearing our masks and we wouldn’t miss this for anything.”
Darren Hastie, 26, of Easterhouse, Glasgow, said: “This
is a great day for all the fans and we wanted to be here. Of course we are concerned about Covid but there is always a risk in life. We wanted to see this party.”
Many thousands of fans marched towards the city centre along Paisley Road West after the game, eventually making their way over the Tradeston footbridge where they were joined by thousands more who had walked in via the Broomielaw. A minimal police presence was observed along the routes.
By 4pm, huge numbers were in George Square with further fireworks let off as a police helicopter buzzed overhead.
On Friday night, scores of Rangers fans lit red flares simultaneously along the Clyde close to the Clyde Arc, known as the “squinty bridge”.
The Scottish Government previously criticised Rangers’ response after thousands of fans gathered outside Ibrox and in George Square on the weekend they clinched the title in early March.
Chief Superintendent Mark Sutherland, divisional commander for Greater Glasgow division, said: “Throughout the day we have seen crowds gather and antisocial behaviour, including the use of pyrotechnics and drinking in public. Our officers are dealing with such offences where possible and have made arrests.
“A request to facilitate a fan procession to Glasgow city centre was declined and officers moved to the procession location to intervene. A short time later large crowds gathered at separate locations and began to move off. Due to the size of the crowd, the supporters were escorted to George Square to ensure public safety and minimise disruption to the community.
“Given the largely peaceful nature of the crowd, it would not be proportionate for our resources to use a high level of force through public order policing to disperse those gathering. We have seen some disruption to traffic, but no long-lasting disruption to our communities.
“Like all citizens of Glasgow, we remain concerned about public health and the ongoing response to the pandemic, especially given the decision to keep Glasgow in Level 3 restrictions. The Chief Constable has made it clear that people should take personal responsibility and do the right thing. Everyone should follow the rules to keep transmission down and I would again urge those gathered to disperse immediately.
“We will continue to police these events in a proportionate manner and officers are engaging with those who have gathered and are encouraging dispersal while tackling any antisocial behaviour.”
After the match, Rangers tweeted “We are the champions” and repeated an earlier call for fans to celebrate “in a safe and sensible manner” and disperse from Ibrox.