Fans gather in Glasgow for 'box office' Scottish Premiership decider

Thousands of football fans have gathered in Glasgow for one of the most highly anticipated Scottish Premiership title deciders in recent history.

Either a draw or a win would give Hearts their first league title in 66 years - while Celtic require a win to retain the trophy for the fifth year in a row.

The match, which kicked off at 12:30, has been described by Hearts manager Derek McInnes as "box office" - and one which Celtic boss Martin O'Neill said the Hoops would be "going out all guns blazing to try to win".

Should Hearts take the title it will be the first time in more than 40 years that a team other than Celtic or Rangers has won the league.

The final day showdown was confirmed on Wednesday after Celtic defeated Motherwell in a match which included a controversial VAR-awarded penalty in the 99th minute.

A total of 752 Hearts supporters were inside the ground at Celtic Park after the club sold out its away day allocation.

Stella, a Hearts fan for 60 years, said she was feeling "nervous but really happy" ahead of the match.

She said after last season no one would have believed Hearts would have got this far and that she'd be crying her heart out if the Tynecastle side wins.

Ten year old Celtic fan Jack travelled over from Ireland after getting a ticket to the match for his birthday.

He said he was nervous and felt like he had a washing machine in his belly.

He added that it would be a "tight game" but he was hopeful Celtic could win.

Speaking on Friday, Martin O'Neill said he was "really looking forward" to the title clash.

"It's a big, big game naturally. We have to win it, Hearts don't," he said.

"So the advantage is with them in that aspect, but we're going out all guns blazing to try to win."

Meanwhile Derek McInnes said it had been a "brilliant campaign" for Hearts "regardless of what happens".

"With the records broken internally as a club, and what we've done this season, I think they'll always be regarded as a special team. But obviously if we want to elevate that, we have to go and win it.

"It's up to us to try and create our own history and our own legacy with a big performance."

Professional singer and former The Voice contestant Colin Chisholm who has been singing The Hearts Song ahead of matches at Tynecastle said he'll be watching the game at home with his wife, daughter and grandson.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast the 73-year-old said: "It's been incredible.

"Every Hearts fan I've spoken to feels the same - for two or three days after a game you feel hungover because it's up and down all the time, and Hearts are doing so well, so brilliantly."

He added Hearts had "every chance" of winning, but "win, lose or draw, there will be the biggest party in Edinburgh tonight just to welcome the boys home".

Hearts will stage an open-top bus parade through Edinburgh on Sunday if they win, while Celtic has no organised celebration plan, something which has drawn criticism from Police Scotland because of concern about possible disorder.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell said the force had a comprehensive policing plan in place that would focus on "minimising disruption to local communities" and avoiding "widespread disorder".

Waddell said officers had been keen to explore options and encourage the clubs to establish an organised event or fanzone to allow supporters to "celebrate safely and reduce the impact on the local community".

He added: "Despite these welcome efforts, Celtic Football Club has again failed to bring forward any plan or take any responsibility for the wider conduct and safety of supporters outwith the stadium.

"Should Celtic win the title on Saturday, we have again had to plan for thousands of supporters gathering in the Trongate area of the city as in previous years."

As precautionary measures - including the removal of glass from bus stop shelters - were taken on Friday, the club urged supporters to avoid mass gatherings which have a "high impact" on the city.

Glasgow City Council chief executive Susanne Millar, however, rejected the police criticism of Celtic over the lack of celebration plans.

She said: "It has not been possible to design a meaningful celebration which could be safely and practically arranged on a day when Celtic could win the league and be presented with the trophy on the same day, at home.

"But that does not mean that Celtic have 'failed to bring forward any plan or take any responsibility for the wider conduct and safety of supporters outwith the stadium.'

"I simply do not recognise this description of the club's behaviour."

Celtic boss Martin O'Neill, who last won the title in 2004 during his first spell at the club, urged fans to celebrate "safely and responsibly" if the side are successful.

"We want all our fans to be safe and ensure that we are mindful of others and our wider community," he said.

"Our fans have such a great reputation for positively supporting the team and if we do achieve what we want at the weekend, we want that positive support to shine through again."

On Friday the Scottish Football Association revealed match referee John Beaton and his family spent the previous night at home under police surveillance after a "leak of personal details online".

The SFA blamed a "hysterical media narrative" following the controversial decision at the Fir Park match.

The statement concluded: "We urge tolerance and perspective to prevent any further, unthinkable escalation."

Later on Friday, Police Scotland said a 19-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with a data protection offence, following a complaint of personal information being shared online relating to a Scottish football official.

He is due to appear at Hamilton Sheriff Court at a later date.