A senior police officer criticised Celtic on Friday for failing to put plans in place for an official title party if the club retain the Scottish Premiership on Saturday. The warning comes with Celtic set to meet Hearts at Parkhead at 12:30 in a winner-takes-all match that could deliver a fifth league title in a row.
Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell said the force already had a comprehensive plan aimed at minimising disruption to local communities and avoiding widespread disorder, but he said officers were keen to explore options with the clubs so supporters could celebrate safely and reduce the impact on the local community. Celtic urged fans to avoid mass gatherings that have a high impact on the city.
The stakes are high in Glasgow because the final day showdown was confirmed on Wednesday after Celtic beat Motherwell with a controversial VAR-awarded penalty in the 99th minute. Hearts, meanwhile, will stage an open-top bus parade through Edinburgh on Sunday if they secure the point needed to win their first title since 1960. The contrast underlines how a single afternoon could reshape both ends of the title race.
The police warning also reflects what has happened before. Celtic fans have gathered in their thousands in the Merchant City and Trongate areas in recent years, and last year’s celebrations featured mass street drinking and the use of pyrotechnics, leading to 20 arrests. The 2024 event brought 19 arrests and left four officers injured, while this year’s gatherings appeared smaller in scale than the 2024 event. Rangers fans assembled in huge numbers in George Square when the Ibrox side last won the title in 2021.
Precautionary measures on Friday included the removal of glass from bus stop shelters. Police have also backed Glasgow City Council in talks with Celtic and Rangers during what has become the closest title race in years, a contest that has already stretched planning across the city.
There is another tension running through the title day build-up. On Friday, the Scottish Football Association said referee John Beaton and his family spent the previous night at home under police surveillance after a leak of personal details online. Police Scotland said separately that a 19-year-old man had been arrested and charged in connection with a data protection offence, and he is due to appear at Hamilton Sheriff Court at a later date. The public focus may be on trophies and parades, but the week has already exposed how quickly the pressure around this race can spill beyond the pitch.
For Celtic, Saturday is about finishing the job at home. For police, it is about keeping a huge crowd from turning celebration into disorder before the final whistle has even blown.
