The Scottish Government’s Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf appeared on BBC Scotland’s Nine Programme last night and has been active on social media this morning putting out a warning to both theRangers and Celtic Fans ahead of the scheduled Premiership match at Celtic Park next Sunday between the sides.

Both clubs have been warned by Yousaf that they must do all that they can to ensure that their respective supporters stay away from Celtic Park and do not gather risking similar shameful scenes that occurred last weekend when theRangers won their first ever title.

Their players, manager and supporters indulged in unacceptable behaviour given the ongoing pandemic situation inside and outside of Ibrox on Saturday and their fans the next day gathered at George Square and there was violence, vandalism and disgraceful racist and sectarian chanting, the Celtic store on Argyle Street was vandalised with windows smashed.

Banners hung from bridges in Glasgow with shameful racist and sectarian slurs that had it been directed at his own community, you just know that the Justice Secretary would have mentioned it.

In December when Celtic were playing Hearts in the delayed Scottish Cup Final with a chance to secure the historic Quadruple Treble, Celtic issued statements to supporters in advance urging fans not to gather at either Hampden or Celtic Park and instead to stay at home and celebrate should Celtic win, as indeed was the case.

There was no such ‘Stay at Home’ warning last week from theRangers despite what the (sic) ‘150 Year Old Institution’ Chairman was arguing in his letter to the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during the week.

“There is only so much – in fairness to the clubs – they can do,” Yousaf admitted, without acknowledging that Celtic have always done everything they could while that was far from the case last weekend from theRangers. “But I will ask them to do as much as they can,” the Justice Minister said.

“I will then take an assessment, and as a government we will take an assessment from the intelligence we receive from Police Scotland, and if there is a serious question or likelihood of disorder or fans gathering then we would have to consider whether or not it’s wise for the match on 21 March to go ahead.”

His boss Nicola Sturgeon was clear on Tuesday while discussing the shameful scenes at the weekend caused entirely by theRangers and their fans, saying that her Government “cannot simply turn a blind eye” to theRangers fans’ breach of lockdown. Both the Scottish Government and Police Scotland were critical of the response from theRangers although the Ibrox club, formed by Charles Green in 2012 after the old club failed to achieve a CVA with around £140m worth of creditors, described these comments as “disappointing”, arguing that they had done all that they could tp engage with the authorities. At no stage though could they point to one instance where they urged their fans to stay away and instead celebrate at home.

The Scottish Government and Police Scotland were critical of Rangers’ response, but the club said the comments were “disappointing”, and pointed out they had engaged with the authorities in the run up to their title win.

Nor did they address the video evidence of their manager and players hanging out cars over the weekend, in clear breach of the protocols, or Gerrard hanging out the dressing room window at Ibrox, or the players gathering at the Ibrox gates to interact with the fans outside, or the large number of people inside their dressing room etc etc.

“I’m a football fan and I enjoy a Celtic v Rangers match as much as the next person,” Yousaf told BBC Scotland’s The Nine. “I enjoy the passion, and the banter afterwards. But let’s be really clear here, we are in the midst of a global pandemic. We have a strain of the virus that is far more transmissible than the previous variant.

“People have missed weddings, funerals, have not seen their family, parents, grandparents in care homes. So we are not going to allow people to gather – and in the case of the game on March 21st – potentially create disorder while the vast majority of citizens obey the rules.

“I will not be unfair, I will ask the football clubs to very clearly put out messaging from the respective managers, their players, their club ambassadors to say very clearly that fans must stay at home.”

Last night Celtic confirmed that the club have been forced to take additional security measures around the stadium to protect the clubs property, such as the statue of Billy McNeill at the bottom of The Celtic Way and will for the second time this season, be erecting additional fencing to ensure that Paradise is not vandalised. Additional security staff will also be on duty.

A Celtic Spokesperson told The Celtic Star last night.: “Following the events of last weekend we are enhancing security around the club’s property in the run up to the match.”

The Celtic Trust Chairperson, David Low meanwhile made a very valid point in his reply to the Justice Secretary.

“There had been no Old Firm since 2012, indeed, there is no 55 but rather 1 and no 150 years but rather 10 years. To finish, is ongoing mass singing of anti Catholic/Irish considered a hate crime or is there a special exemption?”

“It is certainly an option” @scotgov Justice Secretary @HumzaYousaf tells #TheNine that he cannot rule out the possibility that the next match between Celtic and Rangers, due to take place on Sunday 21st March, could be called off. pic.twitter.com/4tWmo5SYYg

— The Nine (@BBCScotNine) March 11, 2021

On upcoming Celtic Vs Rangers match, we need clear messaging from everyone that fans must stay at home. If Police intelligence tells us, despite clear messaging, that groups of fans are going to gather to square off with each other, we need to consider if game should be postponed

— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) March 12, 2021

⁦@HumzaYousaf⁩, there had been no Old Firm since 2012, indeed, there is no 55 but rather 1 and no 150 years but rather 10 years. To finish, is ongoing mass singing of anti Catholic/Irish considered a hate crime or is there a special exemption? https://t.co/STZLZ8Rkqe

— David Low (@Heavidor) March 12, 2021