Celtic v Rangers: Footage emerges as chaos ensues, police get involved
Celtic took on Rangers at Parkhead on 16 March and there was chaos that ensued ahead of the Old Firm derby.
The incident unfolded as around 100 masked and hooded Union Bears arrived under police escort but were kettled outside the stadium for over two hours, surrounded by scores of officers.
This occurred while 2400 other Gers fans were permitted entry for the 12:30 pm kickoff which Gers won 3-2.
Union Bears were led away from Celtic Park as they were denied entry
Tensions arose, per the Scottish Sun, due to a dispute over the ultras’ face coverings and hoods, leading to their exclusion.
Hundreds of police officers, supported by mounted units, formed a human cordon along London Road to segregate rival fans, who jeered at each other across the divide.
| Stat | Celtic | Rangers |
| Possession | 72% | 28% |
| Big chances | 4 | 2 |
| Goalkeeper saves | 3 | 3 |
| Passes | 551 | 215 |
| Yellow cards | 0 | 3 |
| Fouls | 10 | 13 |
Eventually, the Union Bears were marched away from the ground, escorted by a heavy police presence, including vans, cars, and a helicopter, just minutes before the match began.
The Scottish Sun shared footage of them being escorted away from the stadium ahead of the game with police on horseback as well.
Police operation well co-ordinated ahead of Celtic v Rangers
The police operation appeared well-coordinated before the game between Celtic and Rangers, maintaining order in a volatile situation despite the prolonged containment and lack of clear explanation as one officer only stated: “There is a plan in place.”
While the strategy prevented potential violence in a historically tense derby, the extended kettling and refusal to admit the ultras drew criticism for lack of transparency and possible overreach.
Before the game, the police had made it clear that the use of powers under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 has been authorised.
Overall, the police effectively managed crowd control and ensured the safety of most attendees, but their handling of the Union Bears could be seen as heavy-handed, depending on perspectives regarding fan rights versus public order.