- Violence erupted on the streets of Glasgow ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Cup final
- Rangers fans wearing balaclavas and Santa hats caused chaos in the city centre
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Mason Mount? Marcus Rashford? Joshua Zirkzee? Who should Manchester United sell to raise funds?
Rangers fans disguising their identity wearing blue balaclavas and Santa hats ran riot through the streets of Glasgow on Sunday afternoon ahead of the Old Firm derby.
Celtic host Rangers in the Scottish League Cup final that kicks off at 3.30pm and disgraceful scenes took place across the city in the hours leading up to the game.
Footage published on social media shows shoppers taking refuge inside establishments as hundreds of supporters refused to stop for police and enacted chaos in the city.
Waves of Rangers supporters caused terror on the streets as they tore through public areas in the city’s shopping district, sprinting without regard for anybody in their way and lighting illegal pyrotechnics in broad daylight.
One video published on social media shows black-cladded rioters breaking through a police cordon outside of the Debenhams on Argyle Street and brazenly ignoring orders to stop.
Flares were also launched at police during the same 25-second clip as smoke billowed through the streets and officials struggled to regain order.
Rangers fans disguising their identity wearing blue balaclavas and Santa hats ran riot through the streets of Glasgow on Sunday
One video published on social media shows black-cladded rioters breaking through a police cordon outside of the Debenhams on Argyle Street
Another video shared on X shows even greater distressing scenes as shoppers carrow in doorways in a bid to avoid the commotion that had began to turn violent.
The festive-themed rioters sprinted past police vans and pushed into shoppers who had likely visited the area of the city to take part in Christmas shopping.
Some police officers brandished batons and attempted to swing at the kneecaps of individuals while members of the public screamed in terror.
One policeman managed to corner a small group of balaclava-wearing thugs during the commotion, shouting ‘get back’ repeatedly but eventually being unable to contain the crowd who broke free.
Some similarly-dressed Celtic supporters could also be seen attempting to chase the group of Rangers fans.
Some police officers brandished batons and attempted to swing at the kneecaps of individuals while members of the public screamed in terror
Christmas shoppers could be seen cowering in doorways as flares were lit in the streets by fans
Brendan Rogers is attempting to guide Celtic to Scottish League Cup title at Hampden Park
One member of public inside a shop could also be seen closing the doors in order to barricade those inside from the chaos and violence that was taking place on the streets just metres away.
The intense rivalry between the two clubs is well-documented throughout football history, but fans are usually kept apart with away supporters not allowed at each others ground when the teams go head-to-head.
That rule is set to change in March after both Celtic and Rangers agreed to provide ticket allocations of about 5% of stadium capacity for away supporters.
However, Sunday’s final will see an almost equal share of fans fill out Hampden Park for the final with a huge police presence in effect to stop violence from erupting inside the ground.
