Thousands of Celtic fans celebrated in the Trongate on Saturday evening, hundreds collected the leftover rubbish and dozens of legacy media outlets refreshed last year’s shock horror stories about young people enjoying themselves.
Arrests were made, just as they are every weekend in the city centre and elsewhere in and around Glasgow.
It is 2025, pyro, alcohol and yes some drug use is commonplace when young people gather, every city in the UK has an issue with drug use, it isn’t confined to those nasty Celtic fans revelling in the greatest period of domination ever known in Scottish football.
There are no Lockdown regulations in place.
Without doubt there is an element to the Celtic celebrations that are a reaction to the events of spring 2021 when the area around George Square was twice turned into a war zone.
While families obeyed the law of the land, missed out on funerals, watched relatives suffer and die from afar and were unable to share grief one group of football supporters seemed to be above the law of the land.
Thousands gathered at their stadium while social distancing was in place, they made organised marches to George Square where gardens, benches and statues were damaged.
It happened in March and was repeated in May.
The consequences are unknown, a handful were prosecuted, thousands that shared details on social media went unpunished.
In contrast the events around the Trongate involving Celtic fans was very mild.
Festivals across the UK this summer will involve greater numbers breaking the law. From Glastonbury to the Oasis concerts, some people will take too much to drink, some will take drugs but by and large a blind eye will be turned.
At Hampden alcohol will be served at concerts.
Following the previous three years there was an element of fatigue developing around partying in the Trongate, there were elements that many Celtic supporters would prefer to avoid.
However the attitude of Glasgow City Council in the last couple of weeks was effectively a call to arms, highlighted around the claim that fans were robbing the public purse.
From a local authority that approves and regulates Orange hate marches every weekend from April through until September.
Not only do the Council encourage these anti-social events that harm businesses in the city centre but they gave the go-ahead to Saturday’s march disguised as a VE Day celebration more than a week after the rest of the UK had marked those events.
In contrast to that embarrassment the scenes of Celtic fans celebrating and enjoying themselves portrayed Glasgow in a positive light across social media.
The green and white under a sunny blue sky provided a very appealing sight, like it or not for folk in their twenties and under that is a positive portrayal of the city.
It could very well happen again next season, hopefully the authorities can manage it better, to let Glasgow fully flourish.
RELATED READING
