I’M not surprised to see the police looking at the laps of honour in Old Firm matches.

Sadly, we all know about the coin-throwing incidents that have blighted our game of late, and safety has to come first.

If the powers that be feel that players are provoking fans or giving them a reason to be upset, then maybe we shouldn’t be doing it.

Yes, we all like to celebrate with the fans, but if it is going to become hostile then it’s just not worth it.

There’s nothing wrong with going up to your fans to thank them for their support and acknowledge that, but there’s no place for rubbing the noses of the opposition fans in it. All it does is give a certain element an excuse to behave badly.

Glasgow Times:
Lee McCulloch

You can argue whether or not the burden of responsibility should rest with players or fans to ensure good behaviour, but I would agree that things like Leigh Griffiths celebrating in front of the Rangers fans, as we saw after the last game at Celtic Park, should be stopped. That isn’t sour grapes from a Rangers fan, that is as much for his own safety as anything else.

With everything that has been happening lately, the welfare of the players has to come first, and if that means that players can’t celebrate wildly in front of even their own fans after victories then I’m afraid that’s just the price that has to be paid in the current climate.

Clapping your fans as you walk off? Fine. Swinging a scarf over your head close to the opposition fans? Not so much.

We have had coins thrown at managers and players, and a fan even decked a goalkeeper, so we have to look to do whatever is necessary to calm the tensions that are currently bubbling up all over the Scottish game.