Matches between Celtic and Rangers have never been ordinary fixtures. In Glasgow, they carry a weight that goes far beyond football — steeped in history, emotion, and a rivalry capable of dividing an entire city before kickoff.
Cup final build-ups are usually dominated by talk of tactics and form. But at times, the events outside the stadium overshadow everything happening on the pitch.
That was the case on 15 December 2024. On the day of the Scottish League Cup final at Hampden Park, tensions spilled into Glasgow city centre, shifting the focus from football to disorder on the streets.
In the hours leading up to kickoff, groups of supporters from both clubs moved through the city. What began as a charged atmosphere soon escalated into confrontation, particularly around the Merchant City area and surrounding streets.
According to prosecutor Kyle Dalziel, the situation intensified rapidly:
“Around 12:30pm, both groups moved towards each other and were within 500 metres. They challenged one another, and widespread disorder broke out.”
Members of the public were caught in the middle, seeking safety in nearby shops as police rushed to contain the situation.
At the centre of the case was a teenage Celtic supporter, later identified as Ciaran Wason.
Wason, who was 17 at the time, took part in the disturbance involving rival Rangers fans. The court heard he was among a group throwing fireworks, bricks, bottles, and other objects during the clash in the city centre.
Earlier that day, around 100 Rangers supporters — many wearing dark clothing and face coverings — had approached a Celtic pub in Merchant City before returning toward the city centre. Meanwhile, a similarly sized group of Celtic fans, dressed in green and wearing Irish tricolour face coverings, gathered in the Gallowgate area before moving toward Argyle Street, where Wason joined them.
As tensions boiled over, frightened bystanders were forced to take cover while police officers drew batons to restore order. Traffic was brought to a standstill as the chaos unfolded, effectively turning busy streets into no-go zones.
Officers eventually regained control by separating the groups and escorting them away. Rangers supporters were transported by train from Glasgow Central to Mount Florida, while Celtic fans were marched to the stadium on foot.
Months later, the case reached Glasgow Sheriff Court. Wason was arrested on 3 April 2025 and admitted to a breach of the peace charge.
His defence highlighted his age and limited direct involvement. Lawyer Mark Chambers told the court:
“He was 17 at the time. There was no specific act directly attributed to him, but he was present. He intends to begin a college engineering course.”
Despite this, Sheriff Shona Gilroy imposed a sentence of 250 hours of unpaid work, along with a three-year ban from attending football matches.
What should have been a showcase occasion for Scottish football instead became a stark reminder of how quickly passion can turn into disorder — and how the consequences can last far beyond the final whistle.
