Sports11 September, 20263 min read
Martin O’Neill Says Police Scotland Briefed Celtic Ahead of Rangers Old Firm Cup Clash
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Police Scotland conducted a 15-minute briefing with Celtic about general behaviour before derby. Visit occurred on Friday, delivering a timely reminder to Celtic players.
Police briefing before Old Firm
Celtic and Rangers meet at Ibrox for Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final, with Celtic facing a police “general behaviour” warning ahead of the Old Firm clash. Martin O’Neill said Police Scotland visited Celtic for “just a little 15-minute meeting” to remind the squad of its behaviour, and he described it as “a timely reminder.” O’Neill also confirmed that Mika Baur is available despite missing training on Friday with a knock, and he said Celtic will have no away fans in the 50,000-capacity stadium after SPFL ruling.
The BBC said both Glasgow clubs were last month ordered to play their next home Scottish Cup matches behind closed doors after a quarter-final at Ibrox was marred by fan disorder, and it noted Celtic hosted a Scottish Premiership encounter in May, beating Rangers 3-1. The Scotsman added that the League Cup quarter-final at Ibrox is the first time the sides have met there this season, with the next meeting at Celtic Park coming seven days later in the Scottish Premiership.
Quotes, fan ban, and context
O’Neill told Sky Sports that the police visit was “just reminders of our behaviour,” and he said “I think it’s just general behaviour from us.” He warned against “punch-ups” and “excessive celebrations,” adding that the conversation with police “wouldn’t have taken place” without “recent fixtures.” The BBC reported that the Scottish Professional Football League recently announced no away fans will attend Old Firm derbies in the league or League Cup this season, and it said O’Neill expected the games themselves to “almost take care of themselves.”
The Scotsman framed the fixture as a global spectacle, quoting former USA goalkeeper Brad Friedel saying, “In terms of intensity and atmosphere, the only fixture I’ve seen match Galatasaray vs Fenerbahce was Celtic against Rangers.” It also reported that Celtic were originally offered 300 away tickets but the SPFL determined no away supporters will be permitted for matches under their jurisdiction during the 2026/27 campaign, leaving the September 13 clash at Ibrox staged exclusively in front of home fans.
What’s at stake next
Celtic go into Sunday’s match eyeing a place in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals, with the Herald saying the police briefing was designed to discuss player conduct before the cup clash with Rangers. The Herald said O’Neill disclosed that players were reminded of their responsibilities in a 15-minute meeting with the police, and it stressed the scrutiny would extend to both on and off-field activities. The BBC linked the current police reminder to last season’s Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox, noting that both clubs were ordered to play their next home Scottish Cup matches behind closed doors after fan disorder.
Looking beyond the derby, the Scotsman said Rangers and Celtic will reconvene at Celtic Park just seven days later in the Scottish Premiership, after the League Cup quarter-final at Ibrox. Sky Sports added that O’Neill’s side have won all six of their Premiership games this season, while it also said he was still deciding whether Sam Johnstone keeps his place in goal or makes way for Viljami Sinisalo.