Fears grow over potential flashpoint with Celtic’s title celebrations set to clash with Orange Walk in Glasgow city centre

By CALUM CROWE

Fears are growing that some areas of Glasgow city centre could descend into chaos on Saturday due to a clash between Celtic’s title celebrations and an Orange Walk.

Thousands of Celtic supporters will once again gather in the Trongate and Merchant City areas to celebrate winning the league.

Prominent supporters’ groups have already publicised their intention on social media to hold a ‘title party’ following Saturday’s final Premiership match with St Mirren.

But there is a risk of disorder due to an Orange Walk passing by just a few hundred yards from where fans have tended to congregate in recent years. Police Scotland have already spoken out and criticised Celtic and Glasgow City Council for failing to organise a designated fan area nearer the stadium.

Linked to celebrations around the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the Orange Walk had been planned months in advance of Celtic’s trophy presentation.

Around 2,500 Loyalists are expected to be marching through the streets, a situation which has the potential for ‘inflammatory’ consequences according to council chiefs.

Celtic supporters take over the Trongate area of Glasgow to celebrate title glory last year

Fans of the Parkhead club have made city centre celebrations a feature of recent successes

A planned Orange Walk is set to pass ominously close to the same area Celtic fans will gather

A spokesperson for Merchant City Community Council said: ‘Residents and businesses around Glasgow Cross are already concerned about serious disruption following the Celtic v St Mirren match.

‘Police are likely to have their hands full just dealing with that. The presence of tens of thousands of Celtic and Orange Lodge supporters in the city on the same day is an unwelcome and possibly inflammatory mix.

‘We call on the city council and the County Grand Lodge to get together to arrange for the parade to take place on a different date.’

This will now be the fourth year in succession that Celtic fans have mobbed areas of the city centre to celebrate their team’s title triumph.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘We work closely with a range of partners to address concerns and ensure appropriate policing plans are in place to maintain public safety and minimise any disruption to the wider community.’

Just a few days ago, assistant chief constable Mark Sutherland of Police Scotland had said: ‘Our preference was for an organised event or fanzone which would cause far less disruption, reduce levels of antisocial behaviour and improve public safety.

‘Police Scotland requested this be considered with our partners, including Celtic FC and Glasgow City Council, as part of planning discussions.

‘Unfortunately, this option wasn’t progressed. We’re now working on the assumption that supporters will gather in the Trongate area.

‘We’ll do all we can to deal with anti-social behaviour. I’d urge supporters not to gather in large numbers and to respect the residents, businesses and wider public using the city centre.’

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Fears grow over potential flashpoint with Celtic’s title celebrations set to clash with Orange Walk in Glasgow city centre

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