People in Glasgow are "utterly sick" of parts of the city becoming "no-go zones" an MSP has claimed after Rangers fans were condemned for mass gatherings on Saturday.
Patrick Harvie condemned what he "a bunch of thugs rampaging through Glasgow" after some supporters clashed with cops in scenes condemned across the political spectrum.
The Scottish Greens co-leader - who was recently reelected as an MSP on the Glasgow earlier - spoke out on Monday after an estimated 15,000 fans marched to the city centre to "celebrate" Rangers' title success despite pleas to stay at home due to the pandemic.
It was the second time this season trouble had erupted in George Square involving the club's supporters.
The Ibrox club today accused a "small minority" of bringing shame on their reputation and branded their behaviour "unacceptable".
SFA president Rod Petrie described the scenes as "an abomination not a celebration" in a blistering attack.
But Harvie took aim at the shocking scenes on Saturday in two blistering tweets, slamming those who compared thousands of Rangers fans gathering with the much smaller number of southside residents who had protested at the forced removal of two asylum seekers last week.
"Absolutely zero time for those trying to compare Kenmure Street, where a community felt forced to risk their own safety to protect their neighbours, with a bunch of thugs rampaging through Glasgow, trashing George Square again, for no reason other than their team won a football game," the MSP said.
"The vast majority of people in Glasgow are utterly sick of whole areas becoming no-go zones, where people have to stay away or close their businesses to protect their safety, while vandalism, violence and anti-Irish/anti-Catholic bigotry is given free rein."
Yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: "I hope @RangersFC will also reflect on what more must be done to tackle this behaviour by fans, albeit a minority.
"However, ultimate responsibility lies with those who behaved in such a thuggish, sectarian and selfish manner. And that's why we must let the police do their job."
