THE scenes of drunkenness and violence that marred the UEFA Cup Final on Wednesday night are simply not acceptable. They are not acceptable in Glasgow and they are not acceptable in Manchester.
I, as a Glaswegian, am ashamed of the behaviour of some people on Wednesday night and I know there are many other Glaswegians who feel the same way.
Newspaper photographs and television coverage of people verbally abusing police and stewards and i
n some cases attacking them are appalling and very disappointing.
Rangers fans have enjoyed an excellent reputation following their team all over Europe this season as their UEFA Cup story has unfolded and they behaved very well.
And it should be noted that the vast majority of people who created a carnival atmosphere in Manchester on Wednesday, and I'm told it may have been as many as 200,000, also behaved very well.
But that does not change the fact that there was a tiny minority whose behaviour was unacceptable.
Nor does it excuse their behaviour in any way.
I understand that, the people of Glasgow understand that, and I want the people of Manchester to know that we are taking this very seriously.
Manchester is a fantastic, modern, vibrant city.
I visit regularly and I have always found it a warm and welcoming city with friendly people. Planning for the event was spot-on and discussions with Rangers, Manchester city council, Greater Manchester Police, Strathclyde Police, and Glasgow city council started as soon as Rangers won their semi-final game.
Everything that could have been done in advance was done.
Manchester is not to blame for what happened, Rangers Football Club is not to blame for what happened, the vast majority of Rangers supporters are not to blame for what happened.
The only people to blame are the mindless minority who acted in the irresponsible, idiotic and violent ways we have all witnessed.
I was at the game on Wednesday night and until word started filtering through about what was happening outside the stadium, I was having a wonderful evening.
The event was well staged, the supporters inside the stadium created a great atmosphere and, although for Glasgow's sake I would have preferred a different result, the game was exciting.
I think it is a great shame that all that has been forgotten because of the unacceptable behaviour of a mindless minority.
We should have been talking about a wonderful occasion and a great match today, but instead we are all thinking about the dreadful scenes in Manchester city centre.
There is now an inquiry under way into the events of Wednesday night and it is only proper that we all stand back and let that inquiry work out precisely what happened.
I have spoken to my counterpart at Manchester city council, Sir Richard Leese, several times over the last two days.
He knows that any help that the city of Glasgow, Strathclyde Police or Rangers Football Club can give the authorities in Manchester to get to the bottom of what happened and identify those responsible, we will give.
Glasgow is just as keen as Manchester to see the people responsible for this destruction and violence to be caught and brought to justice.
These people do not represent Rangers and they do not represent our city.
We want to see them punished for their behaviour.
Glasgow is just as unhappy at the behaviour of these people as you are in Manchester.
Finally, I'd like to echo one of the points made by Sir Richard Leese; that this incident should not sour relations between our two great cities.
The links between Glasgow and Manchester are strong and deep, and span across families, football clubs, business and civic life.
It would be a tragedy if those links were to be damaged by this and I sincerely hope that does not happen.
The full article contains 659 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
