OLD Firm fans have been urged not to host house parties - with Scotland's top health boss saying it would "be an absolute disaster". 

Jason Leitch, the national clinical director, said supporters should stay in their own homes amid concerns the closure of pubs could see a rise in households mixing.  

The new coronavirus restrictions, which will be published today, are aimed at stopping the rise in infections following a spike in cases across the country. 

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Rangers and Celtic go head-to-head next Saturday at Parkhead in the first derby of the Scottish Premiership season. The game will be played behind closed doors after the brakes were applied to plans to welcome limited fans in. 

In an interview with BBC Scotland, it was put to Leitch that people going to each other’s houses for the game could be an “absolute disaster”.

Glasgow Times: Professor Jason Leitch Professor Jason Leitch

He said: “I really, really hope not. We do have a difficulty with Old Firm games in this country.

"I was a head and neck surgeon for many years, so I used to have the Old Firm game diaried into my head because I knew we were going to be busier on Old Firm days, unfortunately, in the old days.

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“So I understand the challenges around the pubs and the side issues of the Old Firm game.”

He added: “But the Old Firm game is going ahead and we are keen for elite football to be safe and to return, and that’s gone relatively well over the last few weeks. I would ask people just to be so, so careful, and mixing households is how the virus spreads. So watch it in your own home and don’t, don’t mix households.”