Disorder, arrests and disruption after Celtic fans flood city centre sparks fresh push for regulated events
Scotland’s top police official has called for formal, organised football title celebrations in the wake of chaotic scenes across Glasgow, where thousands of Celtic fans gathered for an unofficial party following their club’s Scottish Premiership victory.
Despite repeated warnings from Police Scotland, local authorities, and even Celtic FC itself, supporters descended on the city centre over the weekend to mark the club’s 55th league title win. The resulting disorder left 20 people arrested, several injured, and significant disruption to residents, businesses and transport in the Trongate and Glasgow Cross areas.
Chief Constable Jo Farrell described the scenes as “unacceptable” and urged the Scottish footballing establishment to help establish a safe and structured alternative to these annual street gatherings.
“The Ideal Scenario Is an Organised Event”
Farrell, addressing a Scottish Police Authority board meeting on Thursday, said future title celebrations should not be left to unfold spontaneously in public areas. She said Police Scotland is seeking cooperation from football clubs, the Scottish Football Association, and local authorities to create officially sanctioned events that can be properly controlled.
“We need to bring some control and some safety controls to these celebrations,” she said.
“The ideal is that we move to a position, in due course, where there is some organisation around these celebrations so that we can put in the right controls around safety and security.”
Farrell noted that 320 officers were redeployed to manage the weekend’s event—resources she argued could have been directed toward other critical duties across Scotland.
Public Disorder and Public Costs
The celebrations began in earnest after Celtic’s 1–1 draw with St Mirren on Saturday, officially sealing the league title. Although the club had urged fans to stay away, large crowds gathered with flags, smoke bombs, and alcohol, blocking streets and overwhelming the Trongate area.
The aftermath included:
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20 arrests for offences including assault and illegal pyrotechnic use
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Widespread reports of public intoxication and suspected drug misuse
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Damage to public infrastructure, including traffic lights, bus shelters, and street furniture
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Rubbish-strewn streets and an estimated five-figure clean-up cost to Glasgow City Council
Police said many in the crowd were “highly intoxicated” and some were taken to hospital. Bus shelters were preemptively dismantled to prevent fans climbing on them, but that did little to stop supporters from scaling other urban fixtures—including traffic lights and the historic Mercat Cross.
Political Pressure Builds
First Minister John Swinney condemned the disorder as “completely unacceptable” and confirmed the Scottish Government will hold a multi-agency meeting next month to examine how such events can be handled better in future.
“The impact on residents, businesses, tourism and cost to the taxpayer cannot be ignored,” Farrell added.
“We’ve received feedback from all of those groups.”
MSP Paul Sweeney, who previously raised the issue after last year’s post-title disruption, said the recurring disorder shows the need for a managed solution.
“We need to stop treating this as inevitable,” he posted on social media. “It’s not fair on local businesses or the emergency services.”
Balancing Celebration and Safety
While Farrell and political leaders were clear that most fans were not involved in the violence, she stressed the need to distinguish between spontaneous, unregulated celebrations and officially approved civic events.
She said organised festivities would:
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Enable better crowd control and public safety
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Reduce the impact on uninvolved residents and businesses
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Allow emergency services to plan resourcing in advance
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Open up potential economic opportunities, such as licensed fan zones and local vendor engagement
Farrell said Police Scotland is not seeking to suppress celebration but to ensure that it doesn’t come at the expense of public order or the city’s economy.
Resistance from Fans, Uncertainty from Clubs
Despite police efforts to engage clubs in recent years, there has been limited progress toward creating formal celebration models similar to those seen in continental Europe or North America, where winning teams often hold parades or stadium-based festivities under official supervision.
There is also concern among some supporters that formal events could dampen the spontaneity or authenticity of title celebrations—an attitude which, critics say, has allowed chaos to become normalised.
Celtic FC has not yet issued a statement responding to Farrell’s remarks. However, ahead of the weekend, the club had publicly advised supporters to celebrate safely and consider the impact on the wider community.
The Scottish FA has also not commented on whether it would back proposals for structured celebrations.
Looking Ahead
With Rangers likely to remain a strong contender for future titles, and Euro 2024 looming, authorities are under pressure to act swiftly. The proposed Scottish Government meeting next month is expected to bring together police, football officials, city representatives and business stakeholders to consider viable models for safe, regulated fan gatherings.
“This is a challenge we face every year,” said one senior police source. “But what happened at the weekend shows we can’t keep relying on hope. It’s time for a better plan.”
