Rock fans will be banned from wearing football colours at Scotland’s No.1 concert venue after violence marred Rod’s sell-out gigs. Five people were arrested and two stewards were taken to hospital after trouble flared at Glasgow’s SECC.
Bosses at the venue are now so concerned they will announce a ban on football strips at all SECC events from today.Trouble flared after Rod took to the stage to ‘Hail, Hail, the Celts Are Here’ at the first of his gigs last Sunday.
During his performance of ‘You’re In My Heart’ images of celebrating Celtic players were shown on a huge video wall and boos echoed around the venue when Rod put on a Celtic scarf.
Accounts clerk Christine Hall, of Glasgow, who was at Sunday’s gig, said: “There was booing when Rod put on the scarf.
“But the cheers when he wore a Saltire later were twice as loud.
“I’ve seen Rod live more than 10 times and this was the first gig there’s ever been any trouble at.
“The way people reacted was a disgrace. Rod is just a football fan – he doesn’t condone sectarianism or bigotry and it’s a shame if trouble flared because people thought that.”
“Some folk obviously can’t separate the two but that’s hardly Rod’s fault.”
The singer toned down his act on Monday and told audience he had got into “a bit of trouble” over the Celtic images.
But on Tuesday trouble broke out and two stewards were taken to the Western Infirmary with minor injuries.
Police were called and two women and three men were arrested for alleged breach of the peace and assault offences.
At Rod’s fourth sell-out show on Wednesday, almost all references to Celtic had been removed.
SECC bosses said the ban, which includes the neighbouring Armadillo, will be enforced immediately and will include Rod’s remaining gigs on May 25 and July 5.
A source said: “The trouble was completely unacceptable and has to be stamped out. No one at the venue wants it to get that sort of reputation. No one knows if the trouble was caused directly by the Celtic imagery but it certainly didn’t help.”
“Some pubs don’t allow football colours as it can be antagonistic, so it is not surprising the SECC is now thinking the same way.”
Robert Eynon, the SECC’s director of marketing, confirmed: “We will no longer allow anyone wearing football colours into concerts.”
But bosses at the venue refused to blame the problems at Rod’s gig for the ban. Mr Eynon said: ‘There was an incident at the Rod Stewart concert on Tuesday night, the exact cause of which is not known.
“It is important to note that this is an isolated incident on one night.”
Strathclyde Police said a report on Tuesday night’s events will be sent to the procurator fiscal.
Rod is one of Celtic’s most famous supporters and is a regular visitor to Celtic Park. He paid more than £25,000 to ensure he was at last year’s Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Dunfermline at Hampden and hired a private jet to fly him from the south of France.
Last night, a friend of the singer said: “Rod would have been disappointed by what happened.
“He really loves his fans and his football and the last thing he would want is for there to be trouble during one of his shows.
“I’m sure he would be eager to make sure there is no repeat of the trouble.”