Police Criticise Celtic Over Title Party Planning Ahead of Hearts Match Glasgow News

Police Scotland has criticised Celtic for not having plans ready for an official title party ahead of Saturday’s match against Hearts, with glasgow news now focused on crowd control in central Glasgow. Celtic need to beat Hearts at Parkhead at 12:30 to win the Scottish Premiership for the fifth year in a row.

Alan Waddell's warning

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell said the force already has a comprehensive plan in place, focused on “minimising disruption to local communities” and avoiding “widespread disorder.” He also urged clubs to establish an organised event or fanzone to “celebrate safely and reduce the impact on the local community.”

Police Scotland has been working with Glasgow City Council, Celtic and Rangers during the closest title race in years. Celtic supporters have previously gathered in their thousands in the Merchant City and Trongate, and police have already taken precautionary measures including removing glass from bus stop shelters on Friday.

Glasgow and George Square

The concern is not theoretical. Last year’s Celtic celebrations brought mass street drinking, pyrotechnics and 20 arrests, while the 2024 event led to 19 arrests and left four officers injured. Rangers fans also assembled in huge numbers in George Square when the club last won the title in 2021, giving police a recent template for how quickly a title celebration can spill into the streets.

Celtic have already urged supporters to avoid mass gatherings that have a high impact on the city, but the club still has no official party plan on record for Saturday if it gets the result it needs. Derek McInnes called the match “box office,” and that is exactly the problem for public order: a single result now carries the kind of pressure that can turn Parkhead into a flashpoint by mid-afternoon.

Hearts and Sunday in Edinburgh

Hearts will stage an open-top bus parade through Edinburgh on Sunday if they secure the point needed to win their first title since 1960. For Glasgow, the immediate task is simpler: get through Saturday’s 12:30 kick-off without a repeat of the disorder police saw in 2024 and during last year’s celebrations.