Police Scotland have slammed the “simply unacceptable” hostility directed at officers during post-match celebrations in Glasgow, demanding urgent talks with Celtic Football Club and Scottish football authorities.
The chaos unfolded in the city’s Trongate area on Saturday after thousands of Celtic fans gathered to celebrate a 3-1 victory over Hearts. The win secured the club’s fifth consecutive Premiership title.
While Celtic had urged supporters before the match to celebrate responsibly, the event was overshadowed by widespread disorder. The controversy began inside the stadium, where Hearts officials claimed their players were assaulted on the pitch at full-time. The trouble then spilled out into the city center.
Officers Attacked During Medical Emergency
According to a strongly worded statement from law enforcement, around 3,000 people converged on the Trongate. Violence escalated to the point where glass bottles and other missiles were hurled at police officers who were attempting to assist with a medical emergency.
Specialist public order units were deployed to disperse the crowd and restore order. Multiple arrests were made at the scene, and police confirmed that a large quantity of alcohol and pyrotechnics was confiscated throughout the day.
An investigation is also underway in cooperation with Heart of Midlothian FC to determine the validity of the pitch assault claims.
Authorities Call for Accountability
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland condemned the behavior, noting that several officers sustained injuries during the unrest.
“The levels of criminal behaviour witnessed, in particular the hostility directed towards our officers, is simply unacceptable and cannot be tolerated,” Sutherland stated. He warned that extensive enquiries are ongoing to identify and arrest further offenders.
The mass gathering caused major disruptions for local residents, public transport, and businesses in Glasgow’s city center. Senior police officials expressed frustration over a perceived lack of accountability, pointing to earlier statements from Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell, who noted that Celtic had failed to present a viable plan to manage supporter conduct outside the stadium.
Police Scotland are now calling for immediate meetings involving Celtic FC, Glasgow City Council, and Scottish football governing bodies to find a permanent solution to prevent future public safety crises.