NafisaWhat had already been a deeply frustrating afternoon for Celtic supporters took an alarming turn after the final whistle when a bus carrying fans away from Parkhead caught fire on the Clyde Gateway.
Rangers had just secured another Old Firm victory, beating Celtic 1-0 at Parkhead to complete back-to-back derby wins inside eight days.
But as supporters began making their way home, emergency services were called to a serious incident involving a Celtic supporters’ coach near the Emirates Arena.
The frightening scenes provided a dramatic ending to an Old Firm afternoon that had already been packed with tension, controversy and confrontation.
The afternoon had begun with Celtic desperate to respond.
Martin O’Neill’s side had already suffered a 3-0 defeat to Rangers in the League Cup quarter-final at Ibrox the previous weekend before losing 3-1 to Ferencvaros in midweek.
Another defeat against their city rivals was therefore the last thing Celtic needed.
Instead, Ryan Naderi’s 33rd-minute strike proved enough to give Derek McInnes another huge victory and reduce Celtic’s lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to just two points. It was also Celtic’s first league defeat of the season.
With no Rangers supporters inside Celtic Park, the visiting side had to celebrate the victory without an away crowd, but their players and staff knew exactly what the result meant.
For Celtic, however, the mood around the stadium was understandably very different.
And the tension had been visible almost from the beginning.
Heated McInnes touchline bust-up
Just four minutes into the match, Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez was booked after bringing down Celtic forward Camilo Duran.
McInnes was furious with the decision and immediately made his feelings known.
The Rangers manager initially directed his frustration towards the fourth official before the situation spilled towards the Celtic technical area.
Celtic coach Mark Fotheringham became involved, with Martin O’Neill also stepping into the developing confrontation.
McInnes and Fotheringham exchanged words before referee John Beaton intervened and booked both men. Footage showed just how animated the Rangers boss had become during the incident.
The confrontation also carried some history.
McInnes and Fotheringham had previously clashed when McInnes was Hearts manager, meaning their latest encounter had an added edge.
And during Sunday’s confrontation, McInnes was seen making gestures towards the Celtic bench, including holding up three fingers — widely interpreted as a reference to Rangers’ 3-0 victory at Ibrox the previous week.
The Rangers boss later offered his own explanation for why he had become involved.
“It was 3-1 against me – and there was only two bookings. I was just sticking up for my team.”
The comment added another layer to an already fiery afternoon.
But the drama did not end with the final whistle.
Celtic supporters face frightening scenes on the way home
Shortly after Rangers had completed their 1-0 victory, emergency services were called to a single-decker passenger coach that had caught fire on Clyde Gateway, outside the Emirates Arena.
The call was made at approximately 2.25pm on Sunday, with two fire appliances dispatched to tackle the blaze.
Most importantly, everyone on board managed to escape safely.
McLean’s Coaches confirmed that passengers were on board when the incident occurred, including families and children, and said everyone was able to get off the vehicle safely. Police Scotland also confirmed that there were no reported casualties.
Images and footage from the scene showed the coach engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke rising above the vehicle as firefighters worked to bring the situation under control.
The fire appeared to have caused substantial damage to the rear of the coach, which was later recovered from the scene.
For supporters who had just endured another painful afternoon against Rangers, it was a frightening and unexpected way to end their journey home.
And because of the intense atmosphere surrounding the Old Firm fixture, the circumstances of the fire immediately attracted significant attention.
Coach company raises possibility of vandalism
McLean’s Coaches subsequently confirmed that the incident had been reported to the relevant authorities.
The company said that, based on the initial information and images it had received, there was reason to believe the incident may have been caused by vandalism.
However, the operator stressed that this was not an allegation against the passengers or the supporters’ club.
The coach was recovered and was due to undergo a full inspection as authorities investigated exactly what had happened.
That distinction is important.
At this stage, vandalism has been raised as a possibility by the coach operator, but the circumstances of the fire remain under investigation. There has been no confirmed finding establishing exactly how the blaze started.
Police Scotland confirmed the emergency response and that there were no casualties, while firefighters successfully extinguished the fire and left after making the area safe.
A dramatic end to another Old Firm day
The bus fire brought an extraordinary conclusion to an Old Firm fixture that had already produced plenty of talking points.
Celtic had lost another derby.
Rangers had won two meetings with their city rivals in eight days.
McInnes and Fotheringham had clashed on the touchline.
The Rangers manager had gestured towards the Celtic bench during the confrontation, while later explaining that he had simply been “sticking up for” his team.
Then, as Celtic supporters began leaving the area, a coach carrying fans caught fire near the Emirates Arena.
Thankfully, despite the frightening images and the presence of families and children aboard the vehicle, there were no reported injuries.
The investigation into the cause of the fire will now determine exactly what happened.
For Celtic supporters, though, an already miserable derby day had ended with scenes nobody heading home from Parkhead could have expected.
Nafisa
