Loyalists get green light to hold marches near Celtic Park

The Royal Black Institution wanted to hold four marches on 13 August at the end of Celtic's match against Dundee United.

The move was opposed by police, who wanted the marches to be moved to another date. In a compromise agreed yesterday, the marches will take place during the match, which is due to finish at 4:45pm.

Strathclyde Police protested at holding the marches after the game because the force felt resources would be stretched with policing the game and the World Pipe Band Championship at nearby Glasgow Green.

Thousands of football fans will be in the area at the time.

The Royal Black Institution said it would not move the marches to a later time, as it had done in previous years when Celtic were playing at the ground, because Glasgow City Council's own policy prevented music from being played on marches after 6pm.

The compromise deal was reached at the council's public processions committee yesterday.