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Rangers fans urged to leave Ibrox amid title celebrations

Rangers fans urged to leave Ibrox amid title celebrations
© Reuters
Flares are set off ahead of Steven Gerrard's team receiving the Scottish Premiership trophy.

Thousands of Rangers fans have arrived at Ibrox setting off blue and red flares ahead of the team collecting their first Scottish Premiership trophy in a decade.

Fans cheered and chanted as players left the team bus before their home game against Aberdeen as Police Scotland called on them to "disperse and take personal responsibility and use Greater Glasgow safely and respectfully".

After the trophy is lifted, hundreds of fans are expected to march into the heart of Glasgow, with the Union Bears fan group announcing plans to walk from the stadium to George Square.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf added that the "key point" for fans was taking "personal responsibility".

He said on Twitter: "While there is a significant Police presence at Ibrox and across City, this is ultimately about personal responsibility. If you have gathered you should disperse, particularly given yday's announcement about Covid in Glasgow."

The Scottish Government previously criticised Rangers' response after thousands of fans gathered outside Ibrox and in George Square on the weekend they clinched the title in early March.

On Friday night, scores of Rangers fans lighted red flares simultaneously along the Clyde close to the Clyde Arc, known as the "squinty bridge".

Chief Superintendent Mark Sutherland, divisional commander for Greater Glasgow division, said: "Under the current restrictions no-one should be gathering in numbers of more than six at the stadium or any other location, and Police Scotland supports the club in urging its fans to do the right thing and follow the coronavirus regulations around gatherings.

"We will continue to liaise with our partners, including the Scottish Government, to ensure matches can be completed safely and to minimise the risk to both our officers and the public.

"The sacrifices people have made have allowed for further easing of regulations, however we continue to ask people to take personal responsibility and to use Greater Glasgow safely and respectfully."

Rangers v Aberdeen – Scottish Premiership – Ibrox Stadium
Rangers fans outside the ground before the game against Aberdeen.

Earlier this week, Mr Yousaf urged supporters not to gather.

He wrote on Twitter: "Understand what an important season it has been for @RangersFC but I am urging fans not to gather during the trophy presentation on Saturday.

"I have had constructive engagement with RFC, @policescotland & @GlasgowCC – we're all urging fans not to gather, virus has not gone away."

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Rangers manager Steven Gerrard pictured on May 2, 2021
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic110082275581
2RangersRangers110074245078
3Hearts101046341263
4Kilmarnock10104334952
5St Mirren10013945-643
6Dundee10014556-1141
Relegation Group
1Hibernian11004752-542
2Aberdeen11003649-1338
3Motherwell10014652-637
4St Johnstone10012549-2431
5Ross County10013258-2630
6Livingston11002459-3521
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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