Pubs fear over Old Firm closure threat

Publicans in Glasgow have reacted with dismay to a senior policeman's call for closures during between Rangers and Celtic matches.

Assistant Chief Constable Campbell Corrigan said shutting down bars popular with supporters of both football teams could be part of the solution to the violent disorder which has followed recent Rangers and Celtic games.

In one incident 10 policemen are said to have been injured after an alleged incident in a pub turned into a mass brawl.

In another an 18-year-old woman is understood to have suffered serious head injuries.

There were so many arrests following a recent Old Firm clash that game police had to travel 50 miles to find cells for troublemakers.

But owners and managers of pubs have hit out at what one licensee called a "kneejerk reaction against pubs".

Billy Gold, licensee of the largely Rangers-supporting Hielan Jessie in the city's east end, said: "I would be very concerned if this idea gained credence, because we have never had any trouble and it would punish our customers for the faults of some other pubs.

"We manage our pub perfectly well by taking on extra staff, by sound management, and by ensuring the pub isn't totally packed - and we have Celtic-supporting customers on match days as well as Rangers fans."

Tam Carberry, licensee of Celtic-supporting Bairds Bar, near the Celtic ground, said: "It would destroy our pub if this went ahead. We had not a single complaint during the last two match days, and totally rely on match days for our business - we don't see a lot of custom Monday to Friday.

"Most of the trouble comes from people drinking supermarket carry-outs - and if we see anyone trying to bounce in full of drink they've bought elsewhere we simply turn them away."

Caroline Wright, manager of Jinty McGuinty's Irish-themed bar in the city's West End, said: "We don't show matches, we don't allow football colours, and we certainly don't tolerate loutish behaviour.

"But if you close the bars near the grounds you'll simply get a dispersal of a local problem to other parts of the city."