PUBLICANS have demanded that the second Old Firm match of the season is switched from New Year's Eve, warning that it will blow the concept of a family-friendly Hogmanay "out of the water".

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association has said the decision for the first ever Hogmanay Old Firm derby by the football governing body the Scottish Professional Football League flies in the face of the Glasgow Loves Hogmany concept brought in by the city council as it halted the traditional party in George Square in favour of family-friendly events.

And Scotland's biggest representative body for publicans was critical of the city council's licensing board's silence as it was agreed to have the Saturday Rangers v Celtic game on Hogmanay and move the time from 3pm to 12.15pm.

Read more: Celtic and Rangers set for Betfred Cup semi-final showdown as Aberdeen draw Morton

The SLTA said the decision has "condemned the city of Glasgow to a Hogmanay of concern and uncertainty".

The Herald:

Glasgow Loves Hogmany was introduced in 2011, co-ordinated with the city's hospitality industry withthe aim to create a famly day in George Square rather than a one-off concert party.

The changes meant bringing in an ice rink and a ceilidh to have a "welcoming family feeling" throughout the New Year period.

SLTA has called for the Hogmanay game to be moved to January 2 or 3 "when all those involved can be focussed on controlling fans before, during and after this often volatile game".

Read more: Celtic and Rangers set for Betfred Cup semi-final showdown as Aberdeen draw Morton

The group said it was surprised the city council's licensing board had remained quiet having refused permission to grant an Oktoberfest event a liquor licence following outbreaks of violence at the event last year.

The city’s licensing board turned down the application after Police Scotland submitted a report detailing “a number of concerns” over disorderly and aggressive revellers.

The Herald:

Police said they were forced to send in several riot vans after “a number of fights broke out” among the estimated 2,200 attendees – the majority of them incited by drunkenness.

"As part of its objection, Police Scotland included details of last year's Oktoberfest where it was claimed the majority of 2200 revelers were heavily under the influence of alcohol by 4.30 pm," said an SLTA spokesman. " Do Police Scotland not have the same concerns for a Rangers v Celtic match on Hogmanay?"

Read more: Celtic and Rangers set for Betfred Cup semi-final showdown as Aberdeen draw Morton

The decision on the first festive Old Firm clash since 2011 and the first Hogmany fixture in its 126-year history was made following consultation with broadcasters and Police Scotland.

Assistant chief constable Bernard Higgins, the force's strategic lead on football, defended the decision, saying it was the best option to "minimise the wider community impact".

The Herald:

The SLTA said Police Scotland’s responsibility is to the wider community impact and "not the needs of the interested parties a reference no doubt to the SPFL and broadcasters".

"The fact that this will be the first time in 126 years that a Rangers v Celtic fixture has been set for Hogmanay might just suggest to the more enlightened and experienced that it is not exactly the brightest of ideas," said the SLTA.

Read more: Celtic and Rangers set for Betfred Cup semi-final showdown as Aberdeen draw Morton

"For the football authorities, and not forgetting the broadcasters who have a huge financial interest in the setting of this fixture, to be the only decision makers in this 'unique event' on Hogmanay when not only the whole of Glasgow, but the rest of the country, its residents and businesses will be affected, is outrageous."

Two arrests have were made in the aftermath of first Old Firm match of the season on Saturday at Celtic Park.

The Herald:

But there was widespread concern about various incidents including the trashing of the Parkhead toilets and the hanging of two plastic effigies with hands tied behind their backs in the manner of an execution within the ground.

Police are continuing to investigate the incidents.

Paul Waterson, the SLTA chief executive said that there were "obvious concerns" over a far longer period of drinking with extra pressure on emergency services at an already busy time.

The Herald:

Hospitality venues would be stretched, although he said they were aware of some Glasgow city centre venues already reporting booking cancellations since the announcement.

"Our pubs and bars will as always have a responsibility of controlling drinking within their premises, but who is going to control unsupervised home drinking and drinking in the street, particularly on a day such as Hogmanay?" he asked.

“Have those involved in this decision taken into account the fact that Police Scotland reported that the number of calls concerning domestic abuse cases almost doubled on the day the teams met in their Scottish Cup semi-final match earlier this year?

"Does no one remember Police Scotland’s campaign last year during the festive season to reduce the number of domestic incidents during the festive period, “a time when domestic violence is at it’s highest?

"It would seem not as both issues will now be drawn together by the staging of a Rangers v Celtic game on Hogmanay."

A Glasgow Licensing Board spokesman said it had no role in setting the football calendar.