Celtic Receives Police Warning Ahead of Old Firm Clash

Martin O’Neill has revealed that Celtic received a formal “general behaviour” warning from Police Scotland ahead of Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Rangers at Ibrox – a fixture that will unfold without a single away supporter inside a 50,000-seat stadium.

No Celtic end. No split of colour. Just Rangers fans and an Old Firm tie played against an unusually one-sided backdrop, the result of an escalating ticket allocation dispute between the Glasgow rivals.

That row traces back to Govan in March, when the last Old Firm meeting at Ibrox descended into disorder in the stands. Celtic edged the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup quarter-final on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes, but the football was overshadowed by what happened off the pitch.

The fallout has been severe. Both clubs must play their next home Scottish Cup ties behind closed doors. Both have been hit with a £100,000 compensation bill, to be paid to whichever team is drawn away in their next fixture in that competition. The message from the authorities is unmistakable.

Into that climate stepped Police Scotland, visiting Celtic’s camp this week to lay down expectations.

“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,” O’Neill said.

He knows exactly why the knock came at the door.

“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 74-year-old admits the occasion will feel different, even to a man who has lived through some of the most intense chapters of this rivalry.

“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.

Strange or not, the stakes remain familiar: a place in the last four, momentum in a season, bragging rights in a city that feeds on them.

Behind the scenes, O’Neill still has decisions to make. Midfielder Mika Baur, who missed Friday’s session with a knock, is expected to train on Saturday, easing one concern in the build-up.

The bigger call lies in goal.

Sam 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. He delivered a first glimpse of what he might bring, but O’Neill is not yet committing to a repeat in 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.”

So the countdown to Ibrox continues: no away fans, a police warning ringing in players’ ears, and a manager weighing up which goalkeeper he trusts most on one of the most unforgiving stages in British football.