Beşiktaş fans to be marched to Parkhead by police escort before Celtic clash

Beşiktaş fans are to be accompanied by a police escort during a march to Parkhead ahead of their Europa League clash with Celtic.

The Turkish side has encouraged its fans to travel to the stadium as a group, with a meeting point at Merchant Square at 3pm, before the march starts at 5pm.

The crucial Europa League match kicks off at 8pm, marking Beşiktaş’ first meeting with a side from Scotland. Celtic are still without a win in the competition this season.

Last night, two police officers were attacked while dealing with a disturbance involving a large group of men on Sauchiehall Street.

Officers closed sections of Douglas Street and Pitt Street to the public around 9pm while dealing with the group.

A statement on the Beşiktaş website read: “Beşiktaş will face Celtic today at 11pm (Turkish time) at Celtic Park, as part of the 4th matchday of the UEFA Europa League league phase.

“Our fans will travel to the stadium collectively, accompanied by a police escort. The meeting point is Merchant Square, and the meeting time is 3pm (local time). The march to the stadium under police escort will begin at 5pm (local time). The walk to the stadium is expected to take approximately 45 minutes.

“The gates for the away section will open at 6pm (local time). Fans must use the specific entry gates designated for their respective blocks, as indicated on their tickets.

“The possession or use of flares, signal fires, or any similar flammable or explosive materials — both in the city centre and inside the stadium — is strictly prohibited. Individuals found in violation of this ban will be subject to immediate detention by law enforcement authorities.

“To avoid any inconvenience, we kindly urge our fans to adhere to the specified times, use the designated entry gates, and follow the instructions provided by security personnel.”