Celtic Park Puzzle Solved

That game is at Celtic Park on Sunday afternoon and there’s a strange 4pm kick-off time which has annoyed some supporters, especially those travelling from the likes of Ireland with ferries to catch and work to get to on Monday morning.

Many thought that this kick-off time was selected by either Sky Sports or Premier Sports as the match had been selected for live broadcast but that’s not the case. If you are’t going to the game on Sunday then the only other way to watch it live is via a PPV purchase from Celtic TV/Player which will set you back £12.99.

So why is the game kicking off at 4pm? Well here is the explanation for a question that has been puzzling Celtic supporters who are well used to strange kick-off times. Indeed 3pm on a Saturday has become one of the rarest time-slots in our fixture calendar or maybe that’s just the way it seems.

The unusual 4pm kick-off for Celtic v Kilmarnock on Sunday 8 November is down to policing and traffic-management issues in Glasgow, rather than television scheduling.

The later kick-off was agreed between the clubs and Police Scotland for two main reasons:

1. Remembrance Sunday: Glasgow’s main Remembrance Sunday service is taking place in George Square, starting at 10.45am and expected to finish around 11.45am. Serving military personnel, veterans and civic dignitaries will be attending, requiring significant police resources.

2. Major roadworks: Essential gantry refurbishment work is taking place on both the M8 and M77, running from 30 October until 28 November. This is likely to add to traffic-management pressures around the city.

There is also an interesting precedent: Celtic’s corresponding home fixture against Kilmarnock last season, which also fell on Remembrance weekend, was given the same 4pm kick-off.

Not guilty m’lord. Sky Sports hasn’t selected the game. Premier Sports cannot broadcast Celtic’s home matches under the supplementary TV agreement because Celtic opted out of that arrangement.

Celtic have instead made the match available through CelticPlayer on a pay-per-view basis with the price set at 12.99. Please note that subscribers based outside of Britain and Ireland will be able to watch the live stream on Celtic TV as usual.

The SPFL confirmed the 4pm kick-off, while Celtic has confirmed the streaming arrangements earlier this week as reported on Celtic Shorts.

So, in short, it’s a policing and logistical decision connected with Remembrance Sunday and Glasgow’s roadworks, not a TV-driven kick-off time.

After last night’s brilliant victory, there will be a spring in the step of Celtic fans heading to Paradise to take on Neil McCann’s Premiership strugglers. Kasper Hogh hasn’t scored since his hat-trick at Rugby Park back in August and will be looking to get his fourth goal for the club on Sunday.

Jota wasn’t risked on the plastic pitch at Falkirk and is ineligible for the Europa League matches due to being omitted for the Celtic squad register with UEFA so our Superstar from Portugal will be keen to get minutes on Sunday, as will Yang who has now recovered from his hamstring injury picked up on International duty on September.

Camilo Duran and Callum Osmand are on a high after their exploits from the bench last night that sent Besiktas packing with their tails between their legs and on the right wing this is an idea game for James Forrest, he’s best these days at home against a team parking the bus, and also Haissem Hassan who is now knocking on the door of an outstanding performance in the Hoops. When it comes it will be something to remember.