A business owner says Celtic FC have a “responsibility” to speak out on fans gathering for an unofficial title party.
Cristoforo Corvi, who owns Guido's Coronation Restaurant on Gallowgate, says it is “bizarre” that “nobody seems to be talking about it” despite knowing thousands of fans will likely gather on Trongate on Saturday, May 17 to celebrate their team winning the Scottish Premiership.
He told the Glasgow Times: “I know it’s happening, everybody knows, I don’t understand why the club, the local authorities, the police, supporters' clubs don’t say ‘right this is going to happen, how can we make it as peaceful as possible.”
READ NEXT: Clean-up cost revealed after Celtic fans' title celebration in Merchant City
The 60-year-old continued: “I believe the club have got a responsibility, but they don’t ever speak out which I find bizarre.
“All the registered Celtic supporters' clubs, go to them and say can you ask the fans not to do this and that.
“There’s no communication about it.
“It’s almost as if they don’t know it’s going to happen. I think they could do more.”
READ NEXT: Fans excluded from top level talks about Celtic title party gatherings
Cristoforo says he believes an event should be arranged for supporters to celebrate and its “disappointing” fans will instead be left to gather in the Glasgow Cross area for an unofficial title party once again.
He said: “Give them a section of Glasgow Green with facilities, toilets, burger vans and say ‘right guys, you can go in there and have an organised party’ - and then come say 8pm say ‘right that’s it’ and hopefully people will leave and go home.
“Let's try and keep it calm and organised rather than it being this free for all.”
READ NEXT: Plea for 'respect' as no plans in place for expected football celebrations
The Glasgow Times previously reported a high stakes meeting took place in Hampden Park on Friday, March 28 after MSP Kaukab Stewart brought together community councils for Merchant City, Trongate and Calton and representatives for Celtic FC, Rangers FC, the SPFL, Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council in a bid to avoid the 'disruption' seen in previous years.
Despite agreements “more should be done” to encourage fans not to gather in the city centre, no plans were put forward ahead of this year’s event.
It followed private talks which have been taking place since last year between Celtic, Rangers, community leaders, the council and police.
READ NEXT: Residents call on Celtic top boss to urge fans to avoid 'anti-social behaviour'
He said: “Nobody has ever come to us and said, ‘what can we do?’
“They should try and communicate with people and say, ‘how do we make this easier?”
Speaking of the effect on his business, Cristoforo says “it is what it is” about the gathering and that they just “deal with it” on the day.
He said: “We are in an area if Celtic win, we get the celebrations.
“It's always been this way, though not necessarily this Trongate and Merchant City stuff.
“There's lots of events that happen that could cause disruption to traffic etc but you just deal with it.
“We organise ourselves in such a way that we can cope with it.”
READ NEXT: Private talks take place ahead of Scottish Premiership win celebration in Glasgow
In previous years the restaurant has stopped seating customers once it becomes overrun, brings down the shutters and instead serves people out the hatch until closing at the normal time of 8pm.
He added: “If one event is detrimental to your business, there’s another event comes along that’s beneficial.
“At the end of the day, it evens out.”
However, he says one thing he is upset by is the “minority of people” who have caused damage to monuments saying, “it’s a shame”.
Last year, more than £73,000 of damage was caused to the historic Mercat Cross.
READ NEXT: Residents fear title party and VE Day march on same day could be 'inflammatory'
We previously reported Merchant City & Trongate and Calton community councils have written to Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson asking him to issue a public statement urging the club’s supporters not to repeat ‘disgraceful, anti-social behaviour’ seen in previous years.
A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: "The council has heard and shares the concerns of local communities and businesses about the kind of unofficial celebration events that have led to disruption, vandalism and violence in recent years.
"We will continue to engage with them through local community councils."
They continued: "We want supporters of every team in Glasgow to be able to celebrate their successes.
"However, unsafe gatherings in Trongate and other public places have consistently led to disorder, vandalism and violence – causing significant disruption for the local community and businesses.
"They have also robbed the public purse of hundreds of thousands of pounds that should be spent on essential services.
“Please respect the city and your neighbours.
"Do not attend unsafe and disruptive gatherings in public places like Trongate."
A Police Scotland spokesperson added: We work closely with a range of partners to address concerns and ensure appropriate policing plans are in place to maintain public safety and minimise any disruption to the wider community."
Celtic FC has been contacted for comment.
Share