Summit meets to discuss disorder at Old Firm football matches

Clashes: Last week's Scottish Cup saw angry confrontation between Celtic and Rangers fans
12 April 2012

A major summit is being held today to discuss the problem of disorder surrounding Old Firm football matches.

Strathclyde Police Chief Constable Stephen House asked Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond to convene talks between Celtic and Rangers, the Scottish Government, police and the Scottish Football Association, following last Wednesday's ill-tempered Scottish Cup clash between the two clubs.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell and his Rangers counterpart Martin Bain will be attending the event.

During the controversial match at Celtic Park, 34 supporters were arrested inside the stadium and three Rangers players were red-carded, while management duo Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist were involved in an angry confrontation.

Police have launched an investigation and some quarters are calling for the fixture to be banned or played behind closed doors.

The two teams next face each other on March 20 in the Co-operative Insurance Cup final at Hampden in Glasgow.

A spokesman for Mr Salmond said: "Everyone approaches the meeting with the greatest of goodwill - and a joint determination to ensure that the league cup final in less than two weeks' time is remembered for all the right reasons, for the quality of the football on the pitch.

"Beyond that, there is the ongoing process of cracking down on related problems such as Scotland's booze culture, domestic abuse and sectarianism, and the fact that a summit is taking place at such a senior level to discuss ideas from the range of interests involved, provides a renewed focus for these important common endeavours."

The summit follows a call by Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie at First Minister's Questions last week.

She said: "When events on the pitch have such a devastating impact off the pitch, it is right that politicians unite to bring all the parties involved to the table to forge a way ahead.

"The issue of domestic abuse must also be addressed.

"Strathclyde Police reported the Old Firm league clash from two weekends ago resulted in nearly double the number of incidents of domestic abuse compared to the average Sunday."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott added that the scenes at last week's match were "appalling" and "damaging to Scotland's reputation".

He said: "The world of football watches the Old Firm, but after last week's match, what Rangers and Celtic have to understand is that this game is more than just football.

"Many young people look to footballers and their managers as role models.

"Clubs have to take more responsibility for their employees, both managers and footballers."

Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray has called for a "joined-up approach" for what he believed to be a "wider cultural problem".

Mr Gray said: "It is one thing to address issues surrounding football but we also need to look at the wider cultural problem.

"This is a complex issue linked to poverty, knife crime and alcohol and needs to be addressed with a joined-up approach."

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