Police Scotland Issues Warning Ahead of Celtic vs Rangers Cup 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 – a derby that will be played without a single away supporter in the ground.

The 50,000-capacity stadium will be filled exclusively by home fans after the authorities stepped in amid the ongoing ticket allocation row between the Glasgow rivals. The fallout stretches back to March, when the last Old Firm clash in Govan descended into disorder in the stands as Celtic edged a Scottish Gas Scottish Cup quarter-final on penalties after 120 goalless minutes.

That afternoon has carried a heavy price. Both clubs must play their next home Scottish Cup ties behind closed doors and have been hit with a £100,000 compensation bill, to be paid to whichever club is drawn away in those fixtures.

Police reminder before fan-less Old Firm

O’Neill, now 74 and back in the eye of the Old Firm storm, admitted the absence of Celtic supporters will jar.

“It’ll be a bit strange not having the fans in,” he said, before quickly switching to the competitive edge that has defined his career. He described himself as “nervously and excitedly” looking forward to what he still calls “a great fixture”.

The build-up included an unusual visitors’ briefing.

“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 explained.

For him, the message stretched beyond the stands.

“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: emotion, yes; flashpoints, no.

Selection calls and a goalkeeping dilemma

On the football side, O’Neill has decisions to make.

Midfielder Mika Baur is expected to train on Saturday after missing Friday’s session with a knock, easing one concern ahead of the trip across the city.

In goal, though, the Celtic manager is still weighing up his options. Late summer signing Sam Johnstone, 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. That outing has thrown the battle with Viljami Sinisalo wide open again.

“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.”

No away fans. A police warning ringing in players’ ears. A manager juggling big calls in goal. For all the restrictions and reminders, the stakes at Ibrox on Sunday remain exactly what they always are: enormous.