Scottish football needs leadership. The Beautiful Game should not be this ugly.

To be honest, in many places football is passion. In Glasgow, however, it has historically been something heavier than that. The rivalry between Celtic and the Ibrox club has never been just about football. It has always carried religion, politics, history and class within it.

Has that changed? No.

If anything, I would dare to say that in some ways it feels worse today.

Matches between Celtic and the Ibrox club have never been simple football matches. Anyone who truly understands Glasgow knows that. This rivalry goes far beyond the pitch. For some supporters it becomes something deeply personal.

When Celtic win games, titles and trophies, frustration among certain elements of the Ibrox support seems to turn quickly into anger and aggression. That anger is then directed at Celtic supporters, staff and players. That is exactly what we witnessed again after the match on the 8th of March. And it was disgraceful.

Watching the scenes unfold left many Celtic fans shocked and sickened. Aggression towards supporters who were simply celebrating their team’s victory should never be part of football. Yet it keeps happening.

What troubles me just as much is the reaction afterwards.

Instead of confronting what actually took place, parts of the media immediately returned to a familiar line.

They suggested that both sets of supporters should be ashamed. Some commentators even tried to suggest that Celtic fans had somehow started the disorder. That narrative simply does not match what people saw.

When I showed the footage of what happened to members of my own family, including people who are not deeply involved in Scottish football, they were stunned. They had always believed the rivalry between Celtic and the Ibrox club was simply a fierce sporting competition. Seeing those scenes changed their minds completely.

They asked a very simple question.

Why does football in Glasgow descend into this kind of hostility? It is an uncomfortable question, but it deserves an honest answer.

This rivalry carries more than a century of history behind it. Religion, identity and politics shaped the communities that built these clubs. Even though Scotland as a society has changed enormously, some of those old tensions still echo within football culture.

For some people the match becomes symbolic. It stops being about football and becomes something more. That is where the danger lies.

The media response afterwards only adds to the frustration. Whenever incidents occur around these games, the same phrases appear again and again.

“Clashes between rival supporters.”

“Trouble involving both sets of fans.”

Violence is presented as something shared equally even when the aggression clearly comes from one side. It can feel like the easiest way to report the story. Blame everyone and avoid addressing uncomfortable truths. But it’s dishonest, and every time they do it removes from them the responsibility of calling out the truly guilty.

The silence from those with real authority is equally frustrating.

Where are the governing bodies when incidents like this happen? Where are the politicians who frequently speak about respect, equality and safety in sport? After every controversial derby we hear the same statements.

“This behaviour is unacceptable. Investigations will take place. Football must be safe for everyone.”

Then the news cycle moves on and nothing really changes. The next derby arrives and the same risks appear all over again.

As a Celtic supporter it often feels as if this story simply repeats itself. Celtic was founded to support the poor Irish immigrant community in Glasgow. From the very beginning the club stood for charity, solidarity and community.

That identity still matters today.

Perhaps that is part of why Celtic continues to inspire such passionate loyalty among its supporters. Week after week they travel across the country and across Europe to follow their team, filling stadiums with colour, songs and pride.

Because for Celtic supporters, football is supposed to be joy.

The truth is that football in Glasgow could be something extraordinary. The passion in this city is unlike anywhere else. The atmosphere around these matches is famous across Europe. When the rivalry stays within the boundaries of sport it creates something unforgettable. But when anger and hatred take over, the beauty disappears.

The game becomes poisoned.

And the saddest thing of all is that it does not have to be this way.

I love Celtic. I come from Poland but I feel this club in my soul.

Going to my first real game at Celtic Park in January last year was thrilling and I have visited several times since and have never lost the feeling that it’s a special place. I love football, and the feeling of standing among thousands of supporters singing for the same club.

I love the tension, the joy, the heartbreak and the drama that come with the game.

That is what football should always be.

Yet too often in Glasgow that passion curdles into something darker. Until the media, the authorities and those with real influence confront that reality honestly, this cycle will continue repeating itself.

Football should be passion. But in Glasgow, far too often, that passion curdles into poison. Identifying where it comes from is the prerequisite to stopping it. Do the so-called authorities have the courage for it? We will soon find out.

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