The Scottish Premiership looks likely to go to the last game of the season on Saturday, with the city council and Police Scotland planning for the event of a Celtic win against Hearts.
16:57, 12 May 2026Updated 16:57, 12 May 2026
Celtic fans celebrate in Glasgow city centre(Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
Residents around an area of Glasgow city centre plagued by disorder from celebrating football fans are hoping the tightest league in decades could spare them the same problems this year.
The Scottish Premiership looks like going down the very last game of the season on Saturday (May 16), when Hearts take on Celtic at Celtic Park. The Edinburgh side are bidding to deny Celtic a 14th championship in 15 seasons, and pick up their first top flight league trophy since 1960.
And residents around Merchant City, the Trongate and Glasgow Cross could be forgiven for backing the team from the East.
Over the last six years they have seen thousands of supporters of both Celtic and Rangers cause widespread disorder and chaos in the area while celebrating league and cup triumphs.
This year however residents are hoping that, even if Celtic win, the last-minute nature of the decider could mean fewer fans on the streets.
This season has already seen significant disorder when fans clashed on the pitch at Ibrox after the controversial decision to allow 7,500 Celtic supporters into Ibrox for the first time since 2018.
The city council has been working with the clubs and the police in recent years to try and find a solution to the problem, with organised celebrations seen as the best option, although it is understood this year may be too early for that.
The council have met with local community groups however, and they admitted they were more hopeful as a result.
Tricia Fort, from Calton Community Council, admitted there was very little that could be done to stop the fans celebrating, but was hopeful there would be fewer problems this year.
“We get regular updates from the community police officer, who has been telling us they have a plan of action and had held plenty of discussions with the clubs and the council,” she said.
“We were invited in by the council last week and they have been more proactive recently, which is very welcome.
“They have been working with the clubs and trying to plan to manage any issues, all of which is positive, but of course since no one knows what is going to happen nothing is in place yet.
“For residents of the cross now I think we can expect there’s a fair chance that some of the fans, if they win, will be out celebrating, and so we just need to prepare for that.
“We know the clubs have been speaking to their supporters, and attendance was down last year as the club had spoken to the fans about the problems.
“It’s a bit of an added challenge this year of course that the fans and the clubs have not been best of buddies, so none of us know what to expect.
“We are hopeful that because it won’t be decided until the last game it leaves it very late for fans to sort themselves out, which might mean a much smaller celebration, and that would be welcomed.”
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “In recent months senior representatives of Celtic FC, Glasgow City Council, Police Scotland and Rangers FC have begun a series of meetings aimed at resetting the relationship between the city and its two biggest football clubs.
“We agree that there could be mutual benefits to the city providing support to the clubs to recognise their successes and in all parties working to use the clubs’ significant international brands as part of the city’s destination marketing strategy as other global cities have been able to do. We are working towards proposals for how this could work in practice.
“The discussions have also reflected on celebrations which have had a disproportionate impact on city centre businesses and residents. It is clear there are no powers which could compel fans to not gather in the city centre and we have agreed to work together on facilitating celebrations which would be meaningful to fans and less impactful on communities.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We are liaising with the SPFL, clubs and other partner agencies ahead of end of season fixtures. Proportionate policing plans will be in place to minimise disruption and ensure public safety.”
For the past five years the final day of the season has ended with carnage in Glasgow, mostly around Glasgow Cross, and this season has already seen significant disorder when fans clashed on the pitch at Ibrox after the controversial decision to allow 7,500 Celtic supporters into Ibrox for the first time since 2018.
Residents groups in Calton, Trongate and Merchant City are already in contact with the SPFL, Police Scotland and the city council demanding to know what action is being taken to tackle the potential problem this year.