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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Anna Savva & Kathleen Speirs

Celtic's Glasgow league title win celebrations cost over £8k to clear up

Celtic's Glasgow league title win celebrations cost the council over £8,000 to clear up.

Carnage kicked off when fans spilled out onto the streets of the Saltmarket area on May 14 this year. Traffic lights were damaged and the historic tower, Mercat Cross, was left with shattered windows and covered in rubbish following the mass gathering.

The Hoops won 6-0 over Motherwell that day in their Scottish Premiership campaign. It came after the Parkhead side missed out on a 10-in-a-row win to Rangers in 2021.

READ MORE: Glasgow police probe into 'serious assault' in city centre sees two men charged

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Six arrests were made following the rowdy celebrations. And it now can be revealed that clear-up costs alone cost just over £8,000 - with the true figure predicted to be much higher.

A Freedom of Information was obtained by the Scottish Daily Express.

It stated: "Can the council provide a total itemised cost, including staffing costs, of clean up, repairs, and also any compensation claims made in response to Celtic fans celebrating across Glasgow on May 14 and 15, 2022, and in the response period afterwards?."

Celtic fans gather in Glasgow to celebrate winning the Scottish Premiership (Michael Woldu)

Glasgow City Council said: "The council can confirm that the total costs of cleaning up between May 14 and 15, 2022 in relation to staff costs was £8,131.50. This is broken down by shifts as follows: Nightshift - £5558.24, Dayshift - £2573.26."

The cost to repairs to traffic lights at Glasgow Cross including staff time was £938, the authority confirmed. However, it is yet to submit the itemised cost for the full repairs, including for the historic Mercat Cross building, built in the 1930s.

Glasgow City Council claim this was due to an error and insisted the cost would be published in due course.

Following the title party chaos, Labour MSP Paul Sweeney wrote on Twitter: “Disappointing to hear reports that Celtic fans gathered at Glasgow Cross have broken into the 1930 Mercat Cross building by Edith Burnet Hughes. I hope Greater Glasgow Police secure this historic building and that no damage has occurred beyond forcing its door.”

Police Scotland also confirmed that six people were arrested for 'minor disorder' and said that the levels of anti-social behaviour and littering were 'unacceptable'. Glasgow City Council said it would reveal the full figures of the repair costs in due time.

A year previously jubilant Rangers fans had twice descended on George Square to celebrate the club's 55th title. Chaotic scenes led to over 50 arrests celebrations descended into drunken brawls with some fans damaging statues as they clambered up monuments and set off pyrotechnics.

Taxpayers were left with a £58,000 bill to cover costs for the destruction of memorial benches, damage to street furniture, and cleaning up rubbish and thousands of broken bottles.

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