Celtic Receives Police Reminder Ahead of High-Stakes Old Firm Clash

Martin O’Neill knows all about the chaos an Old Firm derby can unleash. On Friday, he watched Police Scotland walk into Celtic’s training base and spell it out.

A 15-minute meeting. No nonsense, no grey areas. Behave yourselves.

The message was clear: Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Rangers at Ibrox cannot descend into the kind of disorder that scarred last season’s Scottish Cup tie.

Police step in after fan disorder fallout

Both Glasgow giants are already paying for that night. Last month they were ordered to play their next home Scottish Cup matches behind closed doors after fan trouble overshadowed Celtic’s penalty shootout win at Ibrox.

This weekend marks Celtic’s first return there since that fractious quarter-final. They did face Rangers in May, but that was on Celtic turf, a 3-1 Premiership win that underlined their domestic dominance.

The wider picture has grown even starker. The SPFL has ruled there will be no away supporters at any Old Firm derbies in the league or League Cup this season, stripping the fixture of one of its most volatile ingredients – and one of its safety valves.

So when the police turned up, Celtic listened.

“We had the police come in today, just a little 15-minute meeting to remind us of our behaviour, which I think is a timely reminder,” O’Neill said.

They didn’t need to spell out every detail for him to join the dots.

“They didn't mention this, but I would have assumed that one of the things that would be considered is what happens in the field of play, because these things can be taken further,” the Celtic manager explained.

“You don't want any sort of punch-ups for a start. Secondly, you don't want excessive celebrations, stuff like that.”

The warning stretched beyond tackles and touchline melees. It was about everything – reactions, flashpoints, how players carry themselves in a stadium already on edge.

“I think it's just the behaviour in the light of what has happened in recent fixtures. I think that the conversation with the police wouldn't have taken place had not recent events been brought up to us.”

A derby without away fans – and Celtic in control

On the pitch, Celtic arrive with the upper hand. They have won the last three derbies since Rangers’ 3-1 victory at Celtic Park in January and already sit five points clear at the top of the Premiership after only six games.

Momentum, for now, is green and white.

Yet this will be an Old Firm like few others. No away fans, no pocket of visiting noise to cling to when the home crowd roars for blood.

Asked how that might shape the contest, O’Neill paused on the human side of it.

“I think the games themselves almost take care of themselves in that sense,” he said. “It'll be strange in many aspects not to have any away fans in our area. I always felt as if it would give you a crumb of comfort in some description.

“Nervously looking forward to it, excitedly looking forward to it.”

The contradiction fits the occasion. Derbies live on nerves and adrenaline; this one just happens to be played under a microscope.

Rangers under scrutiny, Celtic eye the first blow

Across the city, Rangers are still trying to convince their own support that the season is on track. Derek McInnes has faced criticism for a stuttering start to his tenure, yet his team come into the tie on a run of four straight wins.

The tension sits just below the surface. Get in front early and it could explode.

“I suppose if you get in front in the game, that makes them anxious,” O’Neill suggested.

But he knows the difference between talking about it and doing it.

“Talking about getting in front and getting in front are two different things. The crowd will be right behind their team, which you would expect.”

Celtic’s task is simple in theory, brutal in practice: manage the storm, win the moments, keep their discipline while the noise swirls around them.

“We just do our best. We know that we're up against a very fine side. We're up against a crowd that can make a difference. I'd be delighted to be celebrating something in the game.”

If Celtic walk out of Ibrox with that celebration and without controversy, they won’t just have taken another step in this season’s hunt for silverware. They’ll have passed a test that now stretches far beyond the scoreline.