STRETCHED TO BREAKING POINT: Scotland's top cop says deploying hundreds of officers to police title parties is causing a major concern ... and she urges clubs to organise official events in future

Daily Mail​

22-05-2025

Football fans should be given a dedicated area to celebrate their team's sporting success in a bid to prevent city centre disorder, Scotland's top police officer has said.
Chief Constable Jo Farrell said 320 officers were deployed after thousands of Celtic supporters descended on Glasgow's Merchant City and Trongate on Saturday.
A total of 20 people have been arrested after Celtic fans celebrated their team lifting the Premiership trophy, following a 1-1 draw with St Mirren.
An additional 17 people have been charged and four have been reported in connection with offences, including being in possession of pyrotechnics or offensive weapons, assault and public order.
On Thursday, Farrell told a public board meeting of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) in Glasgow that the 320 officers involved in policing the disorder were 'not available to communities for other duties'.
She said: 'For me, the ideal scenario would be an agreed and organised event that ensures safety and security, minimises wider disruption, and which could also create economic opportunities.
'Of course, we have another high-profile fixture this weekend [the Scottish Cup final between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden on Saturday], and nobody wants to see disorder or violence associated with it.
'As you would expect, we have an appropriate policing plan in place and will respond as required.'
Commenting on last weekend's disorder, Farrell said the 'impact on businesses, tourism, and the cost to the taxpayer cannot be ignored and we received feedback from all of those groups'.
She called for 'some safety controls to these celebrations - that's going to need co-operation from the clubs, and from the Football Associations'.
Farrell added: 'Moving forward, I don't want to be in a position where we're deploying 320 officers in order to try and allow people to go about their business safely, and at the same time deal with the violence, disorder and pyrotechnics.'
The arrests in Glasgow came after thousands of fans flooded to the Trongate area despite calls from the club, Glasgow City Council and police to stay away.
Videos online showed fights breaking out in the gathering crowds as fans were spotted scaling traffic lights and the famous Mercat Cross, as well as Merchant City signs in the area.
A heated altercation also unfolded in George Square in the city centre last Saturday morning as Celtic fans heading to Celtic Park clashed with people taking part in the Orange Order's VE Day 80th anniversary parade.
Footage emerged showing objects being thrown between the crowds.
Earlier this week, First Minister John Swinney condemned Saturday's events in Scottish football, which included Aberdeen player Jack MacKenzie being struck by a chair allegedly thrown from a stand at Tannadice.
Swinney said: 'I am very concerned by what I saw over the weekend.
'I understand football supporters want to celebrate the performance of their team.
'I don't doubt that, or say I don't understand it.
'Of course, I understand it, but it shouldn't be at expense of other people.
'Whether it's a supporter, it appears, from the Aberdeen end throwing a chair that injures an Aberdeen player, a quite serious injury from what I can see.
'Nor the disruption in the centre of Glasgow, where the city was damaged and disrupted. Lives were disrupted, and there's a lot of cleaning up that's got to fall on the city council.
'I'm all for people celebrating, I quite understand it, but not at the expense of others.'
A spokesman for Merchant City and Trongate Community Council said: '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.'