THE BILL'S TOO HIGH

Supporters call for smaller cop presence at stadiums as way to help with cutting costs Tartan Army veteran claims spending levels unnecessary now as 'society has changed'

- BY NORMAN SILVESTER

SCOTTISH football fans have called for a cut in the numbers of police officers at matches after shock revelations by the Daily Record about the cost.

Last week, we revealed clubs and bodies like the Scottish Football Association (SFA) have paid out almost £9million in policing charges in the last four seasons.

But fans groups have questioned whether there is still a need for a large police presence at games given the improvement in supporter behaviour in recent years.

In six games between Celtic and Rangers between May 2024 and May 2025, there were only five stadium arrests according to figures released by police under Freedom of Information.

One Old Firm game at Celtic Park in March this year cost £53,786 to police and, for the Ibrox fixture in May, police charged £53,924.

Stuart Murphy, CEO of the Scottish Football Union, said: "I am not sure the policing costs are proportionate to the problem. These figures are high and the clubs can't afford to be hemorrhaging money.

"Financially, clubs are under so much pressure these days. In some high-profile matches there are so few arrests. Some clubs have also become pretty adept with their own in-house security arrangements." The Scottish Football Union, formerly the Scottish Football Supporters Association, was formed last month with the aim of improving Scottish football.

Murphy added: "It is not like it was in the 1970s. Do we really “ need to be paying that much out for a game that is struggling financially at times and can police resources be deployed elsewhere? "It is time for a fresh look at it all."