Police in Edinburgh are offering travel and safety advice to sports fans ahead of this weekend’s football and rugby matches.
On Sunday 27th December Heart of Midlothian FC will play Celtic FC at Tynecastle Stadium in a 2pm kick-off. Edinburgh Rugby will then begin their match with Glasgow Warriors at 3.05pm at Murrayfield Stadium.
It is anticipated the SPFL game will be a sell-out, with several thousand also expected to attend the rugby.
With that in mind, officers in the Capital are urging spectators to plan their journeys in advance and leave plenty of time to get to the stadium they are travelling to.
The West of the city will experience significant traffic congestion before and after these matches and police will be in attendance around both venues to assist with traffic management.
Officers will also be assisting stewarding staff to carry out searches of those entering Tynecastle and Murrayfield to ensure the safety of the public.
Specialist resources including specially trained sniffer dogs will be deployed to detect flares and other flammable materials.
Those found in possession of these items will be denied entry and may face further police action.
Chief Inspector Bob Paris, Silver Commander for these events said: “There’s always an added buzz to sporting matches during the festive season and we will have considerable resources in place to ensure these games are memorable for all the right reasons.
“I would urge football and rugby fans alike to get to their respective stadium at an appropriate time and ensure they do not leave their vehicles parked anywhere that presents an obstruction or danger to other motorists.
“Many of you may be consuming alcohol over the coming days, however, if you intend to drive to one of the games then please ensure you are legally allowed to do so.
“Road Policing Officers will be monitoring the road network in and around Edinburgh and those caught driving under the influence will be arrested and face a criminal conviction and the loss of their licence. Please, don’t risk it.
“As part of our commitment to keeping people safe we will be undertaking searches of spectators and items such as flares, glass bottles and alcohol are not allowed in stadiums
“Please enjoy supporting your club this weekend, but please make sure your actions do not put yourselves or others at risk.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
