Hooligans clash ahead of Rangers-Celtic League Cup Final as cops battle to get Hampden melee under control
Rangers and Celtic hooligans fought running street battles before today’s powderkeg League Cup Final at Hampden Park.
The thugs caused terror in Glasgow’s southside after swarming towards each other at the west and north sides of the ground before breakfast time.
The sick display occured hours before the clash between the teams to decide the first silverware of the season.
It’s believed cops will crack down hard on the two groups of ‘ultras’ and will use the social media videos to help nail the culprits.
Homeowners in the usually quiet leafy suburb of Cathcart cowered in their homes and took videos of the mayhem as most people were just getting up.
The violence took part at the traditional ‘Rangers end’ of the ground.
One woman was heard to exclaim: “Oh my God what’s happening?
“What is going on?
“It’s ten to nine.”
Videos showed hundreds of masked thugs chasing another group along Somerville Drive.
Five cops try to keep the sides apart – one wearing khaki green jackets and green and white hooped hats – and the other black with red white and blue colours- as punches are exchanged.
The extremely thin blue line is no match for the hundreds of opposition hooligans and they eventually began fist-fights as terrified homeowners look out their windows.
Missiles including a traffic cone are thrown as cops desperately try to separate the warring factions.
But then a surge from the black-clad thugs overwhelms the cops and they chase their rivals away up Brownlie Street.
Cops are completely outnumbered and eventually let the hordes run towards their opposition as sirens wail in the distance.
Another video shows three cop cars trying to contain the black-clad hooligans, some wearing Rangers colours, as they massed on Carmunnock Road.
They are then coralled away from the stadium and towards Battlefield Road – with one van almost driving into the mob.
An onlooker says: “The two factions were in big numbers and walking past each other towards the ground.
“It was a recipe for disaster and there were simply not enough police to keep them apart.
“But in the cop’s defence, who would think they’d be fighting when most folk are eating cornflakes.
“It’s pathetic.”
A Police Scotland Spokesperson said: “Enquiries are ongoing following a disturbance involving a large group outside Hampden Park around 9am on Sunday, 26 February, 2023.”
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