Martin O'Neill disclosed that Police Scotland issued a "general behaviour" advisory to Celtic ahead of the upcoming League Cup quarter‑final at Ibrox, where they will face arch‑rivals Rangers on Sunday. The police directive means that, under the current orders, no Celtic supporters will be permitted inside the 50,000‑seat arena, a decision that stems from a lingering dispute over ticket allocations between the two Glasgow powerhouses.
The tension over tickets is partly a fallout from the previous Old Firm encounter in March, which took place in Govan and was tarnished by crowd disorder. That match ended dramatically, with Celtic clinching a Scottish Gas Cup quarter‑final victory on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes of play.
In the aftermath, both clubs were instructed to hold their next home Scottish Cup fixtures behind closed doors and were each handed a £100,000 compensation charge. The fine is to be paid to whichever side is drawn as the away team in their respective next Scottish Cup games. At 74 years old, the Celtic manager admitted that the prospect of playing without his own fans would feel "a bit strange," yet he also expressed a mixture of nerves and excitement, describing the fixture as "a great match" that he is looking forward to.
He also spoke about the brief police visit that took place earlier in the day. O'Neill explained: "The police came in for a short, about fifteen‑minute meeting. They gave us a reminder about our conduct, which I think is timely and useful. It's a good thing, really.
The overall picture is that we need to keep things under control. It would be nice to have something positive to celebrate, but we have to focus on general behaviour on our part." He continued, noting that while the police did not explicitly detail every concern, he assumed that their considerations extended beyond the stands to the pitch itself: "You don't want any punches or brawls to start, and you certainly don't want overly exuberant celebrations that could be misinterpreted. If the situation calls for it, I would be happy to celebrate a victory, but we must be mindful of the recent incidents and keep our conduct appropriate." The manager also addressed a separate squad matter. He confirmed that midfielder Mika Baur would be back in training on Saturday after missing Friday's session due to a minor knock.
However, O'Neill has not yet decided whether the newly signed Sam Johnstone will retain the starting goalkeeper role or if Viljami Sinisalo, who began the season as Celtic's first‑choice keeper, will keep his place. Johnstone, an experienced England international currently on loan from Wolves, made his Celtic debut in a 1‑0 Scottish Premiership win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday. O'Neill remained non‑committal about the upcoming Govan clash, stating: "I haven't made my mind up at all. It's a matter of assessing what Sam can offer.
It's great to have both options. Viljami has performed exceptionally well for us, and now we have the chance to see what Sam can do.
What he was capable of a couple of years ago was fantastic; his current abilities might present a completely different picture. I will let them know soon." The broader context of the Old Firm rivalry cannot be ignored.
The March match in Govan saw a significant number of police officers deployed, and there were numerous reports of clashes between supporters, prompting the authorities to tighten security measures for future meetings. Both clubs have been urged to work collaboratively with law enforcement to ensure that fan behaviour remains peaceful, especially given the historical intensity of the rivalry, which often spills over into the streets of Glasgow.
In addition to the Celtic‑Rangers narrative, the article briefly referenced other football news items, such as Bournemouth's 2‑1 victory over Real Sociedad in the Europa League, where Justin Kluivert and Rayan scored, marking Bournemouth's first ever win in European competition. It also mentioned Crystal Palace's recent activities, including a 4‑0 triumph over Polish champions Lech Poznan in the Europa League, and an AFC Wimbledon versus MK Dons goalless draw in League One.
These snippets were interspersed within the main story but are unrelated to the central theme of the police advisory. Overall, the situation underscores the delicate balance that clubs must maintain between fostering a passionate fan base and adhering to public safety regulations.
The police warning serves as a reminder that, while football can ignite fervent emotions, the safety of supporters, players, and officials must remain the top priority. Celtic's management appears ready to comply with the directives, focusing on disciplined conduct both on and off the field, while still preparing their squad for what promises to be a high‑stakes encounter with Rangers at Ibrox.