Police Scotland Issues Warning to Celtic Ahead of Old Firm Clash
Martin O’Neill has revealed Police Scotland delivered a “general behaviour” warning to Celtic ahead of Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Rangers at Ibrox.
The message was blunt. So is the backdrop.
No Celtic supporters will be inside the 50,000-seat stadium after the authorities stepped in amid the long-running ticket allocation row between the Glasgow rivals. The fallout stems in part from the last Old Firm meeting in Govan in March, when crowd disorder scarred a Scottish Gas Scottish Cup quarter-final that Celtic edged on penalties after 120 goalless minutes.
Both clubs have since been ordered to play their next home Scottish Cup ties behind closed doors. They have also been hit with a £100,000 compensation bill, to be paid to whichever side is drawn away in their next fixture in that competition.
Police warning sets tone for Old Firm without away fans
O’Neill, now 74 and back in charge of the Hoops, admitted the occasion will feel different.
“It’ll be a bit strange not having the (Celtic) fans in but I’m nervously and excitedly looking forward to it, it’s a great fixture,” he said, before outlining the visit from officers.
“We had the police come in today, just a little 15 minute meeting with us, just reminders of our behaviour, which I think is actually a timely reminder. It a good thing as well.
“I think it’s the overall picture. Gosh, it’d be nice to have something to celebrate. I think it’s just general behaviour from us.
“They didn’t mention this but I would have assumed that one of the things that they considered is what happens on the field of play, because these things can be taken further.
“You don’t want any sort of punch-ups for a start; secondly, you don’t want too excessive celebrations, stuff like that, if that was the case.
“I mean, I’d be delighted to be celebrating something in the game. But it’s the behaviour in the light of what has happened in recent fixtures.”
The message is clear: emotions can run high, but they cannot spill over. Not on the pitch. Not in the stands. Not this time.
Selection calls and a goalkeeping dilemma
Amid the off-field tension, O’Neill still has a team to pick.
He confirmed midfielder Mika Baur will train on Saturday after missing Friday’s session with a knock, offering a timely boost before the trip across the city.
The bigger question sits between the posts. Does Sam Johnstone keep the gloves, or does Viljami Sinisalo return?
Johnstone, the experienced England international on loan from EFL Championship side Wolves, made his Celtic debut in Wednesday’s 1-0 William Hill Premiership win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park. It gave O’Neill a first live look at a goalkeeper whose pedigree is not in doubt, but whose current level still needs judging.
“I haven’t made my mind up at all. It was a matter of getting a look at what Sam can do,” O’Neill said.
“It’s great to have the two of them. Big Viljami has done exceptionally well for us and it was just, again, an opportunity to see what Sam can do now.
“What he could do a couple of years ago was fantastic, what he can do now might be a totally different picture. I will let them know first.”
So Celtic head to Ibrox without their own fans, under the watchful eye of the authorities, and with a major call to make in goal. In a fixture where every decision is magnified, O’Neill knows the margin for error – in temperament and in selection – has rarely been smaller.
