Police Scotland make 28 arrests and issue seven fixed penalty notices for lockdown breaches and incidents of disorder; First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon's plea to Rangers: "Please ask fans to go home"; club say they have "proactively engaged" with key stakeholders throughout.
Monday 8 March 2021 14:21, UK
Nicola Sturgeon has hit out at celebrating Rangers fans who breached coronavirus restrictions - warning they threaten Scotland's lockdown easing - while Police Scotland have made 28 arrests.
Thousands of fans gathered outside Ibrox and in Glasgow's George Square to celebrate the triumph on Sunday.
Police Scotland confirmed 28 arrests were made while seven people were issued with fixed penalty notices or will be the subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal.
Offences included "breaches of coronavirus regulations, acts of disorder, pyrotechnic use and a number of arrests for assaulting police officers and sectarian related breach of the peace", police said.
Sturgeon tweeted twice during the celebrations calling on Rangers to ask their fans, out celebrating, to go home and warning the actions threaten to delay Scotland's exiting of lockdown.
She posted on Twitter as celebrations continued into Sunday evening: "I share folks' anger at this. Everyone has made so many sacrifices in the past year & seeing a minority risk our progress is infuriating & disgraceful. It is deeply unfair to the entire country, and the police have a hard enough job already. Please ask fans to go home @RangersFC."
She had originally said on Sunday afternoon: "I congratulate Rangers on the title win and recognise what a moment this is for fans.
"But gathering in crowds just now risks lives, and could delay exit from lockdown for everyone else. If those gathering care at all about the safety of others and the country, they will go home."
In response, Rangers released a statement saying they had "proactively engaged" with key stakeholders in the last few weeks to help maintain coronavirus restrictions if a historic 55th league title was achieved.
It read: "We have proactively engaged with our local MP, the Justice Minister, the Scottish Government, Police Scotland and the SPFL in relation to maintaining a cohesive message regarding public safety during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We understand the jubilance of our support across the world who recognise this has been a historic year for the club.
"Nevertheless, it has been of great frustration for all football fans across the world that they have not been able to watch their team within stadiums, especially for the loyal Rangers season ticket holders who have stood by this football club through thick and thin in the last decade."
It comes after manager Steven Gerrard repeatedly highlighted fans should adhere to government guidelines to stay safe, socially distance and look after each other before and after this weekend's games.
The statement ended by saying the club looked forward to further open dialogue with the government, police, SPFL and other key stakeholders.
The club also played out a repeated message on the tannoy at Ibrox on Sunday asking the crowds to disperse, and advising them that no players or staff would be present at the stadium.
Celtic's failure to beat Dundee United on Sunday ensured Gerrard's side were crowned Scottish champions for the first time since the 2010/11 season.
