Celtic's Behaviour Warning Ahead of Premier Sports Cup Clash with Rangers

Martin O’Neill has revealed Celtic were handed a “general behaviour” warning by Police Scotland ahead of Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Rangers at Ibrox.

The latest Old Firm meeting will be played in front of 50,000 Rangers supporters only, with no Celtic fans allowed inside the stadium after the authorities stepped in amid the ongoing ticket allocation row between the clubs.

That dispute has its roots in March’s Scottish Gas Scottish Cup quarter-final in Govan, a goalless, bad-tempered affair that Celtic edged on penalties but which was scarred by disorder in the stands. The fallout has been heavy: both clubs must play their next home Scottish Cup ties behind closed doors and have been hit with a £100,000 compensation bill, payable to the away side in those future fixtures.

Against that backdrop, Police Scotland visited Celtic’s training base this week for what O’Neill described as a short, sharp reminder.

“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,” the 74-year-old said. “It’s 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.”

No away support, a city on edge and a semi-final place at stake. O’Neill knows the stage is unique.

“It’ll be a bit strange not having the (Celtic) fans in,” he admitted, “but I’m nervously and excitedly looking forward to it, it’s a great fixture.”

On the pitch, the Celtic manager still has a major call to make in goal.

Sam Johnstone, the experienced England international on loan from EFL Championship side Wolves, made his Hoops debut in Wednesday’s 1-0 William Hill Premiership win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park. He replaced Viljami Sinisalo, who began the season as number one and has impressed.

O’Neill is not yet ready to reveal whether Johnstone keeps the gloves for the trip to Govan.

“I haven’t made my mind up at all. It was a matter of getting a look at what Sam can do,” he 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.”

Midfielder Mika Baur, who missed training on Friday with a knock, is expected to return to the pitch on Saturday, giving O’Neill another option as he fine-tunes his plans for a tie that will be played under strict scrutiny, on and off the ball.