The cost of policing Old Firm games between Rangers and Celtic has more than tripled over the past three seasons, leading to calls for greater financial contribution from the clubs. Police Scotland spent £444,030 to cover 12 derby league fixtures between September 2023 and May 2026, with per-season expenditure escalating from £69,718 in 2023-24 to £231,364 in the last season.
Paul Sweeney, a Labour Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Glasgow region, stated that clubs should contribute more to cover the costs of policing public spaces surrounding their stadiums. He noted that while these matches generate significant economic benefits for Glasgow, the rising taxpayer bill is unsustainable, particularly when municipal budgets are under financial strain.
"We must recognise the immense cultural and economic value that Celtic and Rangers bring to Glasgow," Sweeney said. "Old Firm match days bring millions of pounds into our city’s economy, supporting our hospitality sector and public transport networks, while raising the city’s sporting profile on a global stage."
Sweeney highlighted that current legislation, specifically Section 86 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, restricts Police Scotland's ability to charge clubs only for services provided on club-owned land. This leaves the costs for extensive security, crowd management, and traffic operations in surrounding city centers and public thoroughfares to be borne by local communities.
Data indicates that the financial and operational demands on Police Scotland increase significantly with the presence of away fans. Average match costs rose from £17,500 to over £56,500 when away supporters were present. Given the reported high annual turnovers of clubs like Celtic, which reached £143.6 million, Sweeney argued for a shift towards a "polluter pays" approach, advocating for legislative amendments to ensure commercial entities generating substantial revenue contribute a fairer share.
A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed that the force collaborates closely with football clubs to ensure safe sporting events. Policing plans are developed through joint risk assessments, and engagement with football authorities is ongoing to prioritize public safety and minimize impact on officers and communities. The spokesperson added that a portion of costs is recovered in line with rates approved by the Scottish Police Authority, typically relating to services within the stadium footprint, but not extending to wider city operations.
Factors influencing cost variations include team promotion and relegation, fixture density, inflation, and police pay increases. In a move potentially aimed at reducing policing expenses for the upcoming season, away fans have been temporarily banned from Old Firm league matches following discussions between the clubs and the SPFL. This arrangement followed an independent review prompted by pitch invasions during a Scottish Cup quarter-final match in March. The number of away fans admitted to matches had fluctuated significantly in recent seasons before a temporary agreement for approximately five percent of stadium capacity was reached for league games in 2025 and 2026.