Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has revealed that Police Scotland warned his players to keep their celebrations in check ahead of the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Rangers at Ibrox.
The Old Firm rivals will meet for the first time this season amid an ongoing ticket row that will see no away fans permitted at any of the derbies for the rest of the campaign.
O'Neill said officers had visited the club for a short meeting and insisted he welcomed the intervention.
"We had the police come in today, just a little 15-minute meeting with us, just reminders of our behaviour, which I think is actually a timely reminder," he said. "It is a good thing as well."
"I think it's the overall picture. Gosh, it'd be nice to have something to celebrate. I think it's just general behaviour from us."
"They didn't mention this but I would have assumed that one of the things they considered is what happens on the field of play, because these things can be taken further," O'Neill said. "You don't want any sort of punch-ups for a start. Secondly, you don't want too excessive celebrations, stuff like that."
"I mean, I'd be delighted to be celebrating something in the game. But it's the behaviour in the light of what has happened in recent fixtures," he added. "It will be strange having no away fans but I'm nervously excited by it. I think since we've got no fans going to the game at all, there'll be nothing for people to remonstrate about."
"But I think it was a good thing for them (police) to come today and just give us a reminder. Not to have any sort of intimidation, not to cause our own problems," he said. "They did not say that, they were just talking in general terms, talking about behaviour on the field. And obviously talking about the potential aftermath of the game."
Fallout from violence at last season's Ibrox tie
The warning follows a bitter fallout from a Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox last season that was marred by violence and disorder.
A damning review commissioned by the Scottish Football Association found that a mass pitch invasion, which saw rival fans clash and police and stewards assaulted, could have had catastrophic consequences.
Both clubs have since been ordered to play their next home Scottish Cup matches behind closed doors and have also been told to pay £100,000 each to their opponents in that competition to cover lost ticket revenue.
O'Neill on the Ibrox atmosphere
Asked whether Celtic can create anxiety within the Ibrox crowd and use it to their advantage, O'Neill pointed to the pressure a home crowd can place on its own team.
A section of the Rangers crowd turned on their players during the late 1-0 home win over St Mirren in midweek, with manager Derek McInnes pleading with supporters to stick with the team.
"I suppose if you get in front in the game, that makes them anxious," O'Neill said. "Talking about getting in front and getting in front are two different things. The crowd will be right behind their team, which you would expect."
"We just do our best. We know that we're up against a very fine side. We're up against a crowd that can make a difference. I'd be delighted to be celebrating something in the game," he said.
Goalkeeper decision still open
O'Neill has yet to decide whether late summer signing Sam Johnstone keeps his place in goal or makes way for Viljami Sinisalo, who started the season as Celtic's first-choice goalkeeper.
Johnstone, an experienced England international on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, made his Celtic debut in the 1-0 Premiership win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park in midweek, but O'Neill was coy about who would play at Ibrox.
"I haven't made my mind up at all. It was a matter of getting a look at what Sam can do," he said. "It's great to have the two of them. Big Viljami has done exceptionally well for us and it was just, again, an opportunity to see what Sam can do now."
"What he could do a couple of years ago was fantastic, what he can do now might be a totally different picture. I will let them know first," O'Neill said.
