It wasn’t exactly the ideal weather for an al fresco gathering, but the number of Celtic fans who turned up outside the police station on London Road in the pouring rain spoke volumes for the depth of feeling among supporters about their treatment at the hands of the authorities.
Hundreds of protesters streamed down the road from the stadium prior to the game against Hearts to occupy the expanse in front of the police station behind a huge green banner that stated clearly the cause that brought them there – ‘Fans against criminalisation’.
The incident that brought them there was the kettling of fans prior to the recent match against Rangers just a few minutes along the road outside the Celtic Supporters Association.
While this mainly affected those who normally occupy a section of the ‘North Curve’ at Celtic Park, fans of all ages were caught up in the police operation, and it was notable at the protest that while the majority of supporters wore the dark green and black garb associated with ultras groups like the Green Brigade, Celtic fans of all stripes were represented - male and female, young and old.
One fan told me: “This isn’t about just ultras or the Green Brigade, it’s not even just about Celtic. This is about all fans and the way that football supporters are treated by the authorities. We all have to make a stand.”
Those who made their stand outside the London Road police station did so in a peaceful manner. Police liaison officers chatted to protesters beforehand, and while there were chants including ‘ACAB - All Cops Are B*******’, the 20 or so police officers posted around the perimeter of the station weren’t pressed into action as the crowd dispersed and marched towards the ground after around 15 minutes.
Before they took their leave, speeches denouncing the treatment that the fans were subjected to prior to the Old Firm game and urging fans to make their feelings clear about the general treatment of football supporters by the authorities were greeted with rapturous applause.
“For over 20 years, the police have had an issue with how we choose to support our team,” said one speaker through a loudhailer.
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The Green Brigade and the police: What happened, and have powers gone too far?
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Celtic review safety concerns following pre-Rangers incidents
“They don’t like how organised we are. They don’t like the lack of respect we have for them.
“They treat us with contempt, because we treat them with contempt, and we don’t respect their aggression.
“What happened to us that day was unjust, it was unlawful, and it was unrequired.
“Any supporter’s group in the future, this is what could happen if we don’t take a stand against these tactics going forward.
“What we’re asking for today is for everyone here, and every person supporting us, to join us in a protest against the tactics that the police are starting to bring in.
Celtic themselves addressed fan concerns over their treatment on the day of the Rangers match by issuing a statement on Friday, saying they would be looking to engage in conversations with Police Scotland and their supporters’ groups to ensure there would be no repeat of the scenes before the Rangers game.
The statement read: "Further to our recent statement, the Club has engaged independent safety and event consultants to review concerns voiced to the club on events involving Celtic supporters, Celtic Supporters’ Clubs and buses, and groups, which took place away from Celtic Park on 16th March. Our primary concern will always be for the safety of our supporters.
"While events away from Celtic Park are not in any way managed by the club, and we play no role in policing outside of our stadium, we recognise that many supporters have turned to the club to voice their concerns regarding the events of 16th March.
"All supporters should feel safe when attending - and travelling to - football matches. Just as supporters should behave safely and responsibly both inside and outside of football stadia, so too they should be confident at all times that they themselves will be treated fairly.
"Maintaining this confidence is vital, so it is therefore important that any concerns brought to our attention on this front are in turn shared and afforded due consideration. The Club is therefore engaging in discussions with Celtic supporters, supporters’ associations, clubs and groups, and Police Scotland, to understand these events and the circumstances in which they took place.
"To inform this process, we have engaged independent safety and event consultants Fairhurst to collate and review the feedback on supporter experiences received by the Club."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were aware of a planned protest at London Road Police Station around 1.15pm on Saturday, 29 March, 2025. The group dispersed a short time later and there were no arrests.”
