Scottish Labour MSP Paul Sweeney has voiced his astonishment at the “lack of leadership” in addressing disorder caused by Celtic fans in Glasgow, urging authorities to establish a dedicated fan zone to prevent future incidents. Speaking on BBC’s Radio Breakfast Scotland, Sweeney criticised the failure to anticipate the gatherings, which saw 3,000 supporters converge on Trongate to celebrate the team’s victory over Hearts.
Arrests and Missiles Thrown
Police reported 14 arrests on the day, with 10 occurring at Trongate and four at the stadium. Officers faced missiles, including glass bottles, while responding to a medical emergency. Sweeney described the “disorganised hemming in” of fans in the city centre as unacceptable, proposing a properly organised fan zone at a location like Glasgow Green, which offers easy access, large spillover areas, and minimal risk of vandalism.
Call for Legislative Changes
Sweeney urged Scotland to follow England’s lead by introducing legislation to ban pitch invasions and tailgating, where individuals without tickets enter stadiums by closely following ticketed fans. He suggested that football clubs should face sanctions if necessary, noting that “young team culture” has shifted from local territorial identities to football affiliations, leading to delinquent behaviour. Gordon Smith, former chief executive of the Scottish Football Association, described the scenes as “horrendous” and advocated for point deductions as a deterrent, emphasising that fans must understand the consequences for their team’s success.
