JOHN Swinney has insisted all of the necessary steps were taken to warn Rangers fans from gathering in Glasgow on Saturday. 

The Deputy First Minister said messages were issued by the club, police, and the Scottish Government urging supporters to stay away from the city and to stick to Covid rules. 

Thousands of fans descended on Glasgow to celebrate the Light Blues' first major trophy day for more than a decade but scores of those in attendance clashed with one another and riot cops as the day wore on. 

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Others shouted vile anti-Catholic slogans and damaged property in the city. 

While hitting out at the "absolutely reprehensible behaviour", Mr Swinney defended the Scottish Government's planning for the event. 

"Every exhortation was given by Police Scotland, the Scottish Government, and Rangers Football Club for fans not to assemble but unfortunately 15,000 did so," he told Radio Scotland this morning. "They started off behaving peacefully then they descended into thuggish behaviour in George Square. 

Glasgow Times: GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MAY 15: Fans celebrate winning the Scottish Premiership title outside the Ibrox Stadium on May 15, 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. Rangers have won their first Scottish Premiership title in a decade with former Liverpool midfielder Steven

"I am limited in what I can say because of the ongoing police investigation. But the conduct on Saturday was absolutely reprehensible.

"There was no need for them to gather. The warnings were given very clearly not to do and 15,000 fans did not follow that advice and then some went onto behave in a loutish fashion in George Square, devastating property and circulating vile anti-Catholic bigotry.

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"The warnings were very clearly given and given by all interested parties."

As we have previously reported, a number of cops were assaulted during the ugly scenes with more than 20 people arrested so far. 

Officers have promised more arrests are on the way while one of the country's top cops said it was the worst violence police had faced in more than 20 years. 

Mr Swinney added: "There will be further steps taken by the police investigation. Police officers were assaulted on Saturday, which is completely unacceptable." 

Meanwhile, assistant chief constable Gary Ritchie defended the police's approach to the events on Saturday. 

He said: "You have to appreciate that we had 15,000 people descend on Ibrox then decide to march to George Square. That number of people is very difficult to manage with the resources we have.

"If we are going to take preventative action, it would have caused a huge amount of disruption to the city. You need to think about closing roads and access points.

"I am sure the policing response we put in place for the events on Saturday was the right one."