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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Ben Banks & Vincent Whelan

Alex Rae reveals scary Celtic Park experience as former Rangers star thought 'I’m not getting out of here alive'

Alex Rae has revealed how he feared not returning home from a Celtic v Rangers match - where he posed as Sunderland's transfer guru.

The Daily Record report that the former midfielder attended a fiery derby match at Parkhead and recounted events leading up to what is now known as the 'shame game.' Rangers won the match 3-0 and made history by winning league title on their rival's home turf. It was tarnished by disgusting scenes though as referee Hugh Dallas was struck with a coin and needed treatment.

Reminiscing on the day which took place years before he played for the Govan, Rae had to wear a suit, while posing as a Sunderland scout in the Celtic end through hospitality.

READ MORE: Tottenham handed Champions League boost with Sporting face six-man injury crisis

But Rae told That Millwall Podcast it almost turned into a nasty situation, suffering threats and sectarian abuse: "At that stage I’m 29, I’m established playing at Sunderland in the English Premiership so people know who you are.

"I’m in the Celtic end and as I go in you’ve got guys like Pierre Van Hooijdonk, Dominic Matteo and the two rows in front of me are Celtic reserves. Alan Stubbs and Jackie McNamara who weren’t playing that day, then I’m in the third row.

“People behind me are all suited and booted and I thought 'F*****g lovely, I’m safe in here'. The guy taps me behind my back and says ‘You’re in the wrong f*****g end’. I’m thinking f**k, do I make a beeline for the exit before they attack me but he does it again so I had to confront this guy.

“I turn around and the guy has a suit on and I said ‘See if you don’t shut the f**k up, I’m going to leather you, you c**t’. The guy’s wife turns round and told him to leave me alone but he just said he didn’t give a f**k and that I was an orange b*****d.

“That was the only time I’ve been at a football match and thought I’m not getting out of here alive.”

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