Four Celtic fans jailed after mass city centre disorder on Old Firm cup final day

Andrew Campbell, 29, John Devine, 28, Thomas Slavin, 27, and Liam Coogans, 29, were also issued with Football Banning Orders at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

The four were involved in a mass disturbance ahead of the Old Firm match on December 15, 2024, when the city was packed with Christmas shoppers.

Fraser Gibson, Procurator Fiscal for Glasgow and Strathkelvin, said: “These four men were part of a mob which caused horrifying scenes in Glasgow city centre.

READ MORE: Police disperse crowds in Trongate amid ‘disorder’ following Celtic’s league win

“Innocent members of the public, including children, were exposed to football-related violence and disorder. Many were left terrified after what should have been a simple shopping trip.

“This is intolerable behaviour which brings shame to Scotland.

“These four men were part of a large-scale football-related crime on public streets.

“It should be understood that anyone who chooses to participate in football-related rioting can expect to be held accountable by COPFS.”

READ MORE: Police Scotland slam ‘unacceptable violence and hostility’ during Celtic Trongate celebrations as ‘urgent talks demanded’

Campbell and Devine were each sentenced to 18 months in prison and banned from attending football matches for eight years.

Coogans and Slavin were sentenced to a year imprisonment and were each banned from attending matches for four years.

Chief Superintendent Emma Croft, divisional commander for Greater Glasgow, said: “These four men will now face the consequences of their deplorable actions.

“I hope their convictions, sentencings and Football Banning Orders imposed by the court send a clear message that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated. Acting as part of a large group will not stop us identifying you and bringing you before the courts to face justice.

“These outcomes are very much welcomed, particularly on the back of the ugly scenes witnessed on Saturday within the Trongate, Glasgow where a minority of football fans engaged in more violence and disorder.

“This serves as a timely reminder that more action however does need to be taken to address the root causes of such heinous behaviours.”

Meanwhile, First Minister John Swinney refused to rule out criminalising pitch invasions at football games following “astonishingly poor behaviour” by Celtic fans on Saturday.

Fans stormed the pitch before the final whistle had been blown at Celtic Park as their side beat Hearts 3-1 and secured the league title.

Calls have been made to bring in specific legislation to criminalise fans running onto pitches, as has been the case in England and Wales since 1991.

The First Minister said only that such a move would be considered alongside a consultation on the reform of football banning orders which closed before the election.

“We’ll consider the issues involved in that,” he said.

“Obviously, we’ve undertaken a consultation around football banning orders that concluded just before the election.

“We’ve got an opportunity to consider that further after the election and the Government will do so.”

Thousands of fans later celebrated in the Trongate area of the city, with clashes between supporters and police – including missiles being thrown – resulting in the serious injury of two officers.

Police made 14 arrests on the day, 10 at Trongate and four at the stadium.

On Saturday’s violence, the First Minister said: “At the weekend, there was astonishingly poor behaviour by a small minority of fans that were at the sporting occasion.

“Most of the fans that were there were there to celebrate the football, to observe their teams and caused absolutely no issues whatsoever.

“But a minority created real difficulties with the invasion of the pitch and then also with the scenes at the Trongate.”