Police asking Scottish cup final fans to be responsible ahead of kick-off
It's after large crowds took to Glasgow Cross last weekend following Celtic's premiership victory
Last updated 3rd Jun 2023
Football fans are being asked to celebrate responsibly at tonight's Scottish Cup final.
Inverness Caley Thistle's going head-to-head with Celtic - with thousands expected to turn out at Hampden.
Police arrested ten people when Celtic supporters gathered at Glasgow Cross last weekend to celebrate the team’s premiership victory.
The city’s council staff had to work all night to clean up smashed glass and broken bottles and at least three people were seriously assaulted.
Officers responsible for keeping the peace at tonight’s game are keen to avoid similar scenes.
David Kennedy from the Scottish Police Federation said: “Obviously later on when drink starts to sink in, this is when violence erupts, and people find themselves in difficulty.
“Be safe, enjoy the football, enjoy the celebrations and please be careful about the amount of alcohol that you drink and be mindful that the police are there to protect the fans and other members of the public.
“Policing any large-scale event has its toll on officer’s physical and mental strength when they’re trying to keep people safe.”
The clash will be the two sides’ first meeting in any competitions since 2017, when Celtic won 4-0 in a league game.