IT seems there is a game of football at Celtic Park this evening.

A friendly. Or as friendly as these things ever are between old enemies.

The last time England travelled to Glasgow to play Scotland - back in 1999 - the occasion ended with 230 arrests. England won, as they did on the last meeting of the two countries at Wembley last year. There was trouble after that game too, and five people were arrested seven months later for their alleged part in it.

What should we expect this time around? Any meeting between England and Scotland inevitably raises security fears and Police Scotland say it is prepared after learning English hooligans are planning to travel north.

But let us hope tonight's game will be first and foremost a sporting experience. Scotland under Gordon Strachan are on the up, as Shaun Maloney's wonder goal last week against the Republic of Ireland proved. England remain a dourly effective team who nonetheless regularly qualify for tournament finals.

Is it too much to hope for a home win? What we can hope is that the passion on display doesn't spill over into aggression off the field.