John Swinney has urged Celtic supporters to avoid a repeat of last weekend’s disorder ahead of Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final at Hampden.
Supporters entered the pitch after Callum Osmand’s stoppage-time goal secured the Premiership on the final day of the season. Disorder later spread into Glasgow city centre, particularly around the Trongate area, where police made several arrests.
The football itself has almost become secondary during parts of this week.
Martin O’Neill’s side completed one of the most dramatic title comebacks in recent Scottish football history after looking completely out of the race earlier in the campaign. Yet much of the discussion since Saturday has centred around crowd behaviour rather than Celtic’s run of results during the closing weeks.
Now Swinney has publicly addressed Celtic supporters directly ahead of another huge crowd descending on Hampden this weekend for the Scottish Cup Final against Dunfermline.
He said: (The Press Association), “There is absolutely no justification for any form of disorder or violence in and around a football match, or in any other circumstance in our society,” he said.
“So the events of last weekend were appalling and they can not be repeated.
“So I simply say to the minority of Celtic fans that were involved in the disorder last weekend to desist in being involved in that violence, to act like all the other Celtic fans who simply celebrated the football and to ensure that there is not the disorder that took place last week.
“Of course, we will engage as a government with the city council and the football authorities in trying to take whatever steps can be taken to try to avoid a repeat of last Saturday’s unacceptable events.
“Ministers will be in contact with the football authorities to try and advance some of these issues.”
There will now be extra focus on crowd control and policing arrangements around Saturday’s final.
Celtic are expected to take another enormous support to Hampden after the emotional release of last weekend’s title win. The club themselves have already condemned the disorder seen after the Hearts game while urging supporters to celebrate responsibly moving forward.
Inside the football department though, the focus has shifted completely onto trying to complete the domestic double against Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline side.
