'Celtic can't control them': Furious locals hit out over unofficial title party

Glasgow Times

17-05-2025

A group representing the local community has claimed that the club 'cannot control' its fans and slated the '11th hour' statement they made on Friday.
A spokesperson for Merchant City and Trongate Community Council (MCTCC) said: 'Once more, streets in the centre of Glasgow were taken over by thousands and thousands of Celtic supporters and turned into a No Go area for residents, businesses, and traffic, including emergency services and public transport.
'An historic monument, traffic lights and a subway station roof were climbed upon. Flares and firecrackers were set off. Normal life in and around Glasgow Cross and Trongate was brought to a standstill.
"Several hundred police did their duty at great cost to the public purse. Glasgow City Council cleansing staff faced the massive task of clearing up the mess - yet another expense to taxpayers.
Furious Glasgow locals hit out over unofficial Celtic title party (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) 'At the 11th hour, Celtic Football Club issued a statement the previous day asking their fans not to congregate en masse, noting it would be an unauthorised gathering.
"While we are grateful that, at long last, the Club spoke out, at least 15,000 fans ignored the belated appeal.
READ MORE: LIVE: Hundreds of Celtic fans take over Glasgow cross for title party
'It is clear Celtic cannot control its supporters when they take to the streets. We repeat our request, made two years ago, that should there be another such occasion the Club organises - at its cost - its own celebration at Parkhead, the Emirates across the road from the stadium, Glasgow Green or any other venue of its choice.
'This cannot be allowed to happen for a fourth successive year. We shall be reviewing Saturday's events with Glasgow City Council, the police and our Scottish Parliamentary representatives, and will continue to press for urgent actions by all parties involved."
READ MORE: 34 pictures from Glasgow Celtic title party celebrations
Today, May 17, thousands of revellers gathered as Police closed off roads and the historic Mercat Cross building was breached with people climbing on the roof.
'It is clear Celtic cannot control its supporters. (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
Police chiefs previously hit out at Celtic and council bosses for 'failing to organise a title party fan zone'.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland said: 'Our preference was for an organised event or fanzone which would cause far less disruption, reduce levels of antisocial behaviour and improve public safety.
READ MORE: Glasgow roads closed by cops as Celtic title party starts in Trongate
'Police Scotland requested this be considered with our partners, including Celtic FC and Glasgow City Council, as part of planning discussions.
'Unfortunately, this option wasn't progressed."
'This cannot be allowed to happen. (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) However, Glasgow City Council claimed that police chiefs had never asked the local authority to organise an event.
A council spokesperson said: 'We have been clear, this season and in previous years, that we would support any effort made by our football clubs to organise safe, sustainable celebration events for their supporters.
READ MORE: Measures taken to prevent bus shelter incidents at Celtic Trongate title party
'We know from our discussions that an organised event is also the strong preference of Police Scotland. However, there has been no request from them for the council to organise or host such an event.'
In 2024, the local authority was forced to fork out a whopping £73,032 to repair Mercat Cross after the unofficial Celtic title party took place.
The historic Mercat Cross building has been breached with revellers climbing on the roof (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) At the event, attendees were pictured climbing buildings, bus shelters, and traffic lights.
Some were also spotted setting off pyrotechnics and drinking. After crowds left the event in the Merchant City area, stickers, graffiti, flags, and litter were left behind.
The entire cost of the clean-up mission was expected to amount to over £100,000.
Locals living in the city centre called on Celtic's top boss to urge the club's supporters not to repeat 'disgraceful anti-social behaviour' at the event this year.
In April, Calton and Merchant City, and Trongate community councils wrote to Hoops CEO Michael Nicholson, saying while they understand fans want to celebrate the occasion, at the end of the last two football seasons, they have "created havoc for people, businesses and visitors in and around Glasgow Cross".