GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 15: Rangers fans are seen with pyro during the Premier Sports Cup Final between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden Park on December 15, 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Last night, during podcast number five, I got to make a point I haven’t yet made in any of the blogs, but one I’ve been wanting to and intending to. It’s because of that point that I’m writing this article today.
A few weeks ago, the Ibrox club made a successful application to allow alcohol to be served around the ground in the run-up to their games against Spurs and Celtic. At the time, they were in a bit of trouble, but not in the complete turmoil they’re in now. Even then, I thought that letting large numbers of fans drink around the stadium wasn’t the best idea—especially for the Celtic game.
As I write this today, the situation is markedly worse.
The atmosphere among their fans is truly toxic, in a way that feels as if it could get extremely ugly extremely fast. If I were a Celtic player or official, I’d be extremely wary of being in that ground on Thursday. This isn’t just because of the hostility that always lingers in the air at Ibrox, where Celtic players and officials have been subjected to attacks and objects thrown from the stands. It’s because that toxicity will now be amplified and enhanced by alcohol in a way we haven’t seen in years.
Whoever agreed to a 3:00 PM New Year’s kickoff clearly wasn’t playing with a full deck. I can’t believe the police and authorities gave the go-ahead for both the kickoff time and the drinking surrounding the match.
It creates an environment that can’t be anything but dangerous. I’m genuinely worried for the safety of everyone connected to Celtic who’ll be there. The only small consolation is that 700 of our fans won’t have to face that risk as well.
There’s no question that Ibrox is a dangerous environment at the best of times, and their club is certainly not living through those right now. The level of danger will be greatly increased by the kickoff time, the alcohol, and the situation at their club compared to ours. The sense of grievance their fans feel after the Cup final—fanned by a media which behaved scandalously in attempting to push the pro-Ibrox conspiracy theory that the SFA had done them out of the trophy—adds to my feeling that this could get ugly in a way that puts people in real jeopardy.
The irresponsibility shown by a number of parties here is absolutely off the charts.
I hope our security staff are fully prepared. I hope we don’t rely on Ibrox’s security team because they’ve shown in the past they aren’t up to the job—or worse, that they just don’t care. This was one of the sticking points when it came to resolving the ticket standoff situation. Celtic never believed that our security concerns were taken seriously, even when our fans, staff and players were being injured.
A lot is at stake for their club.
If we lose, we’ll shake it off and move forward with confidence. If they lose, though, the turmoil surrounding their club could turn into a full-blown meltdown. The manager’s sacking would become inevitable, driven in no small part by anger from the stands. But before their fans turn on their own board and manager, our people will be the ones standing in front of them to bear the brunt of their frustration.
We’ve had hostile encounters at Ibrox before, but this one feels different. This one feels worse because the whole day could prove to be destructive to their club in a way others haven’t been. That’s what worries me most, and it’s been on my mind for weeks—even before their form collapsed and they fell even deeper into the hole they’re in now.
Everyone at Celtic will conduct themselves with the utmost professionalism and respect. I can’t say the same about their club or their fans. The footage of their supporters’ behaviour in parts of the city centre a few weeks ago shows just how much potential there is for something ugly to happen inside that ground.
I hope I’m wrong. I hope the match goes off without a hitch. But I’m worried, and last night on the podcast, I expressed that concern for the first time. This article probably should have been written sooner. I just hope it’s not one I look back on and think, “Well, you saw that coming.”
Our fifth podcast episode, The Back Of The Net, is out tonight. Please like, share and enjoy.
At the first instance of any Celtic employee being injured, the team should walk off the pitch pack up their stuff and leave the stadium, based on the risk assessment that Celtic employees are in a situation of clear and present danger, and their safety cannot be guaranteed.
Then let the SFA try and deduct 3 points. The lot of them would be shown up for the incompetent hypocrites they are, including Scotland’s shameless and shameful media.
Firstly – Let’s hope that it obviously doesn’t come to that – But Yep it could indeed do…
That would be the only answer Tony to walk off the field of play and ‘sacrifice’ the three points –
Over to The SFA then – And for once Maxwell couldn’t act like The Invisible Man…
But the damage – Goodness only knows what level – would be done to Celtic players and staff…
It could be Scotland’s Belfast Celtic moment in football…
Which would very very much suit a helluva lot of peepil and their – shall we say – “partner agencies”
It would just be the usual pish pot jerker you’d have to listen to in Scotland…
Lessons will be learned – We’ll be prepared next time – Lessons will be learned – it’s The SNP’s fault – Lessons will be learned – Blah. Blah, Fuckin Blah, Lessons will be learned…
Only they Fuckin well WON’T be !
the disgrace of the two george square riots during the lockdown when no one was held accountable just summed up the incompetence of a police force not fit for purpose when it comes to applying the law with these morons. you are correct about the kick off and the granting of a licence to serve alcohol i just hope the doctors and nurses in the hospitals do not have extra work to deal with.
I couldn’t agree more. If it’s looking like a pumping for new club the gates of hell will open. I fear something much worse than the attack on Lennon and if it’s going to be as bad as I think then I hope our team and staff have been briefed accordingly and down tools and leave the pitch.
Serving alcohol is insanity before kick off , talk about fanning the flames to an already hyped klanbase who believe everyone is out to get them .
To be honest, I expect violence from that lot at every Glasgow derby, apart from the ones at Celtic Park when they had no fans present. I predicted trouble at the Cup Final because of the trophy count circumstances and it did not really materialise that way, but this one coming up is similarly toxic and a victory for us will, I’m sure, create a dangerous situation and, heightened their hatred and anger, could boil over into something much worse.
TonyB has got the sensible answer to that. For their own safety our players should indeed walk off the park if they are given just cause to. We can argue our case afterwards, but we cannot take chances with their well being during the game.
Was there ever any sanction for the glass that was showered across Joe Hart’s penalty area? There are morons across all supporter groups but history shows some groups have more of them than others. The licence to serve alcohol is as clear a case as you will find of putting profit before people’s safety. Sevco so desperate for cash and the authorities unwilling to stand up for common sense. The 3pm kick-off is bonkers and (presumably) driven by Sky’s desire to maximise advertising revenue.
At the first hint of trouble Celtic should get off the pitch. I also hope we are bringing our own (proper) security detail for our people.
Yep James, our players and backroom staff are going into a dangerous place on Thursday.
The 3pm KO and selling of alcohol at the ground is madness, plus the frustration and hatred of the Ibrox support towards Scottish football and Celtic in particular, is a cocktail for violence. I can’t remember when this fixture has kicked off at 3pm, other than Cup Finals at Hampden. Whoever sanctioned this better be held accountable for any violent repercussions.
Agree with Tony B, I hope the Celtic players are briefed by the club to walk off if any of them or our backroom staff are attacked or hit by a missile. This would highlight what the people employed by our club have to face every time we visit Ibrox.
The Football Authorities and Scottish Media have been silent about this over the years, if there is any threat or violence towards our employees on Thursday we will have to highlight it ourselves.
It’s very unusual for a 3pm kick off in this fixture unless it’s a cup final, don’t know why it was signed off by relevant parties like Police Scotland, SFA and GCC etc.
The now usual 12.00pm kick off has been in place for years now because of historical drink and hooliganism problems connected to this fixture,
It’s only a couple of weeks since the last match when innocent Christmas shoppers inc. women and children were caught up in running battles in the Trongate, and a Pub getting fire bombed nearby,
As for the match itself on Thursday, if Celtic can get to a 2-0 lead at half-time the stadium will empty as a protest to get rid of the Baldy Belgian, and there downward spiral to another insolvency continues
Which pub was firebombed ?
Gallaghers Pub on Howard Street
Thanks.
These smurfs are pushing it.
I don’t see why this one’s any different to all the others, with the same levels of violence out with the football ground ,but I think Sevco fans will be aiming their ire at their own team more than ours.
You’re not the only one worried about the players and staff going to that shithole.
Why don’t celtic refuse to play at crumbledome until safety is guaranteed.
Give the huns the three points, they will never catch us anyway
They are shit team in a shit stadium , shit players and an even shittier set of supporter’s.
On the other side, if players or the staff from celtic get attacked the the huns should be charged with bringing the game into disrepute and failing to control the scummy cnuts that support them.
I laughed when I realised what I had typed, of course there will be no retribution if trouble occurs.
SFA and SPFL will do fuck all , as usual
Not this time Mr Magoo.
If it kicks off and the Celtic Board don’t come out with a statement decrying their behaviour and the lunacy of the SPFL Administration sanctioning the 3 PM start including the issue of the Licensing Board allowing the consumption of alcohol prior to the game then it will be up to US to do it.
We should bombard our Councillors, MSPs, MPs with complaints. We should petition the Scottish Government to introduce the same Legislation used in England to set up a truly Independent Regulator for the Scottish Game. If any of our players, staff or Security are attacked we should make the facts known to UEFA. I hope a lot of our fans are taping the game. If there is trouble then we should be making the recordings available to Foreign Media and HIGHLIGHTING that NO Celtic fans were in attendance at the game. Let the World see what we’re up against.
That mob need to be stopped. They’ve held back our game for far too long. Expulsion should be the punishment as they will never voluntarily change.
Couldn’t agree more James. Was just speaking about it yesterday to a fellow fan. It’s a bad day when it’s not the football that you’re thinking or talking about in a derby match. Put alcohol into the equation and if something does happen I hope the book is thrown at the police as well as the board for encouraging that nonsense. I have my fingers crossed for the bhoys safety tomorrow not the game. How sad is that?