Sports and Violence

A Celtic fan was hospitalised after he was stabbed during clashes between Old Firm fans outside Parkhead. A group of Rangers fans descended on the stadium shortly after the final whistle to taunt their rivals over losing the SPL title. Allegedly, several dozen Celtic fans are reported to have charged and hurled bottles before one of them was stabbed.One witness said, “Nine or ten police vans screamed past and there must have been about 70 cops at the scene. The word is a gang of Rangers fans headed to Parkhead to noise up their rivals. It all kicked off from there.”
The Rangers fans were allegedly aiming verbal abuse at Celtic supporters as they made their way to coaches in the wake of their 0-0 draw with Hearts. Trouble then flared before the Rangers gang fled. Police later searched bushes close to the spot where the Celts fan was attacked.Cops say a 37-year-old man was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary. His injuries were not thought to be life-threatening. A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said, “A 24-year-old male is detained in police custody.”
Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, a 49-year-old man has been killed after violence broke out in Coleraine following the aftermath of the matches involving Celtic and Rangers. Kevin Brendan McDaid died on Sunday night after he was attacked in the Somerset Drive area.The deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, said a “sizable group of loyalists” were responsible for the killing and an earlier assault. “They decided it was a good idea to attack a Catholic area,” he said. “I’m absolutely dismayed at this and I think at this very, very important time, it’s important that people in the community identify those responsible and co-operate with the police to bring those murderers to justice.”The police have said they are treating an earlier assault, on a 46-year-old man in Pates Lane, as attempted murder. The man is in a critical condition in hospital.