Conor McGregor has been criticised by police figures for suggesting a bare-knuckle boxing match between Celtic and Rangers fans, days after a mass brawl broke out on the streets of Glasgow.
The mixed martial artist, a co-owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), was at the OVO Hydro event headlined by former Rangers hooligan Sean Weir. Speaking afterwards, McGregor, 38, said: "Tonight is the night of the Scots. Tonight of Rangers, maybe. I don't know what's the situation with Celtic. Who can fight Sean Weir? We can make it a Celtic versus Rangers."
He added: "Okay we want Ibrox and Ibrox wants us and this crowd. Leave that with me in the next day or two and I will have some names for you."
Violence Erupts Outside the Hydro
Weir, 34, beat Leigh Cohoon in the opening round to win the British light heavyweight title, but street violence broke out among departing spectators after the event. More than 20 police vehicles and a police helicopter were deployed to the area. Three officers were hurt, two requiring medical treatment.
Police Scotland said two men, aged 32 and 27, were arrested and charged with offences including assault, obstructing police, and threatening and abusive behaviour.
Police Condemn Fight Proposal
David Kennedy, General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, condemned the proposal for an Old Firm fight night. He said: "The scenes witnessed outside the Hydro on Saturday night were utterly disgraceful. Police officers were subjected to violence simply for doing their jobs, and that is completely unacceptable.
"Against that backdrop, the suggestion from Conor McGregor of promoting a 'Celtic versus Rangers' bare-knuckle boxing contest is, at best, irresponsible and, at worst, dangerously provocative. Glasgow has spent decades dealing with the consequences of football-related violence and sectarian tensions."
Former police chief Martin Gallagher also voiced concern. Gallagher, who retired as Superintendent and now works as a security consultant, said: "The scenes outside the Hydro at the weekend show that the last thing Glasgow needs is bare knuckle fighting." He added that a billed event would attract "the worst individual's society has to offer" and predicted "chaos for the city and carnage for the cops".
Official Reactions and Future Events
Arena bosses are said to be unlikely to stage another bare-knuckle event after the violence. A spokesperson for the SEC, which manages the OVO Hydro, said: "Saturday's event was attended by around 9,000 people and was delivered safely within the venue, following extensive planning with the promoter, Police Scotland and other relevant parties."
Scottish First Minister John Swinney condemned the violence, saying: "There is absolutely no place for violence on the streets of Scotland, on any occasion, and the events at the weekend outside the Hydro were completely and utterly unacceptable." Scottish Labour Shadow Justice Secretary Pauline McNeill and Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Stephen Kerr MSP also criticised the disorder.
A BKFC spokesperson said: "BKFC is aware of an incident outside the OVO Hydro following Saturday night's sold-out event. BKFC strongly condemns these scenes and will continue to work closely with Police Scotland and our venue partners on the safety and security for future events in Scotland."
