Police investigating alleged sectarian singing by Rangers fans ahead of match against Celtic at Hampden

Police are investigating after a group of Rangers fans are alleged to have sang sectarian and anti-Catholic chants on route to Hampden ahead of their side’s match against Celtic.

The group had been escorted to the stadium prior to the Scottish Cup semi-final clash kicking off at 2pm on Sunday.

Chief Superintendent Mark Sutherland, divisional commander for Greater Glasgow, said that following the emergence of following video evidence, enquiries were ongoing.

Sutherland said that all forms of hate crime are “completely unacceptable”.

“The Scottish Cup semi-final between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Sunday, April 17, was a large and complex operation that involved officers working with a range of partners across the country to ensure the match went ahead safely and with minimal disruption to the wider public,” he said.

“Police Scotland had a proportionate plan in place to support the event and to deal swiftly with acts of violence, disorder and anti-social behaviour.

“Prior to kick off a group of Rangers supporters were escorted to the stadium. The focus of the policing operation at this time was public safety and the quick movement away from an area where there was a high risk of disorder between supporter groups.”

Sutherland said that he expects arrests to be made.

He continued: “Video evidence footage was taken at that time and enquiries are now ongoing into alleged sectarian and anti-Catholic singing from those being escorted.

“Anti-Catholic and indeed all forms of hate crime are completely unacceptable and today’s events again remind us of the ongoing challenges we have in some parts of Scotland with sectarianism.

“Police Scotland must of course play its part in a wider and joined up response and I expect arrests to be made following today’s match.”