GLASGOW City Council have stressed they would welcome the chance to work with Celtic and Rangers and help to put on official trophy celebration parties in future – but stressed that staging an event would present considerable logistical challenges.
There have been widespread calls for a fan zone to be set up in Glasgow after tens of thousands of supporters descended on the city centre for the fourth year running following the cinch Premiership trophy presentation a fortnight ago.
The majority of those in attendance at the unorganised gathering behaved themselves.
But pyrotechnics were set off, fights broke out, local residents were afraid to leave their homes, local businesses were forced to shut down, arrests were made and police officers were injured after Celtic had been crowned Scottish champions.
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The clear-up operation cost taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds and local and national politicians have since questioned why no area was set aside by the council for supporters of the Parkhead club to congregate in after three years of similar unrest on the streets.
A Glasgow City Council spokesman confirmed that talks about putting on an official event had taken place with both Celtic and Rangers in the past and emphasised they are open to facilitating organised trophy celebrations in the years ahead.
He stressed that building standards, environmental health, police, ambulance and fire service officials would all have to be involved and a public entertainment licence may need to be obtained in what would be a complicated and time-consuming process.
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The council spokesman said: “We’ve spoken to both clubs about organised celebrations in various forms, but we have been clear these come with a set of challenges and do require an event organiser.
“Should any club wish to pursue organised celebrations, at any scale, we would welcome this and work with them to review any plans. Open top bus parades have been part of our discussions and plans are in place should either make a request for such an event.
“There are licensing and legislative requirements around an alternative uses for either stadia, but we have committed to work with the clubs to ensure we can deal with these appropriately.”
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