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Nicola Sturgeon has condemned the “infuriating and shameful” celebrations in Glasgow by urging Rangers FC to ask people to go home.
Thousands of fans have circumvented the coronavirus lockdown to gather in the streets and celebrate the Rangers winning the Scottish Premiership, their first top flight title in 10 years. The mass gatherings have been widely condemned and the prime minister has warned that the celebrations could jeopardize plans to ease restrictions on the coronavirus.
However, fans continued to fill George Square and congregate outside Ibrox Stadium.
Shortly after 5pm, Scottish police said a “small number” of arrests had been made and that officers at the scene had been encouraging fans to return home. But by 8 p.m., the crowd had not dispersed, even though police led hundreds of people out of the stadium along Paisley Road West.
Sturgeon tweeted: “I share people’s anger at this. We have all made so many sacrifices in the past year and seeing a minority risk our progress is infuriating and embarrassing.
“It is deeply unfair to the entire country, and the police already have a pretty tough job. Please ask the fans to come home to Rangers FC. “
The club’s account has tweeted or retweeted 52 times in the six hours since he was crowned champion, but did not specifically address the massive fan gathering.
Meanwhile, in Belfast, where the Rangers have a large following, a large crowd gathered on Shankill Road to celebrate the victory despite a ban on public gatherings under coronavirus restrictions. Previously, PSNI tweeted urging fans to celebrate safely. “We encourage anyone who intends to celebrate today’s Scottish Premier League result to do so at home safely and within current sanitary regulations,” he tweeted.
Rangers supporter and DUP MP Gregory Campbell told fans: “No one is more delighted than I to see this success for the Gers. It’s been a long road. But so has the battle against Covid. It would be a bad day for Northern Ireland Rangers fans if the hallmark of 55 league titles were to be fans in UCI beds instead of being able to cheer on their team for more success. “
Sturgeon had previously offered his congratulations to the Rangers, but warned that “gathering in crowds at this time risks lives and could delay release from lockdown for everyone else. If those who are gathered care about the safety of others and the country, they will go home. ”
Alan Irvine, 43, of Glasgow, was celebrating with his daughter Katie, 12, and son Lewis, six.
“The atmosphere when [Rangers manager] Steven Gerrard turned up was amazing, ”Irvine told the PA news agency. “Now he has achieved divine status.
“This is the first title win in Lewis’s life and the first Katie can remember as she was just a baby last time. It was an incredible experience watching my children enjoy the success I experienced as a young Rangers fan.
“As for any criticism, then I can only speak from what I have seen outside of the Rangers training center, and the absolute majority wore face covering and adhere to social distancing as much as possible. In fact, I’ve seen less social distancing at some retailers. ”
