Legendary singer and devoted Celtic supporter Rod Stewart has issued a public plea for Rangers and Celtic fans to remain peaceful during the upcoming Scottish Premiership title race. His comments come in the wake of a chaotic pitch invasion at Ibrox during a Scottish Cup match in March, which drew widespread condemnation from authorities and the public alike.
A Call for Unity and Atmosphere
Stewart, who plans to attend Celtic’s final three matches against Rangers, Motherwell, and Hearts, shared his thoughts via Instagram. Sporting green nail polish applied by his wife to celebrate a recent win, the “Maggie May” singer described the violent scenes from March as “archaic.”
He noted that during his global tours, fans often ask him to explain the trouble at Ibrox. His response is blunt: there are no excuses for such behavior. Stewart expressed a desire to see a return to the days when massive blocks of away fans were permitted at these fixtures, noting that the absence of rival supporters has damaged the legendary atmosphere of the Old Firm.
The Consequences of Past Chaos
The March 8 disorder was particularly severe. It involved:
- Flares being launched into seating areas.
- Physical attacks on police officers, stewards, and stadium staff.
- A pitch invasion by the Union Bears ultras group to confront Hoops fans.
- Violence spilling out into the streets surrounding the stadium.
In response to these events, Police Scotland launched “Operation Moonglint,” which has resulted in 20 arrests so far. Additionally, Celtic chose to withhold the 2,200 tickets typically allocated to Rangers fans for the upcoming clash after Rangers refused a request to ban the ultras group from purchasing them.
A High-Stakes Title Race
The plea for peace arrives at a critical moment for Scottish football. Celtic, Rangers, and Hearts are currently locked in a tense three-way battle for the league title. Following Celtic’s recent 2-1 victory over Hibs, the stage is set for a pivotal showdown at Parkhead this Sunday.
Because of the previous safety breaches, only home fans will be allowed in the stadium for this potentially season-defining match. Stewart’s message remains clear: if fans want the privilege of attending away games again, they must prove they can behave and put the reputation of Scottish football first.