Callous challenges and confrontations, brutal putdowns, wild wind ups ... and that’s just on the Hotline .
A week of on-field battles which started in the powderkeg 1-1 draw between Aberdeen and Rangers at Pittodrie and ended in Celtic’s bruising 2-1 Scottish Cup win over Alloa has well and truly spilled onto the airwaves.
Rangers wrote to the SFA highlighting eight concerns with Kevin Clancy’s performance against Aberdeen. Celtic striker Giorgos Giakoumakis branded the Wasps dangerous as Hoops fans called in to vent their fury.
Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs, said: “Rangers sent a letter to the footballing authorities listing the alleged mistakes by the referee in charge against Aberdeen where the Ibrox team came away with just one point.
"Should the Parkhead club reciprocate by sending in a letter listing the dangerous physicality of Alloa after winning the tie? Perhaps all the Premiership clubs should follow the example of the Govan team. That would certainly put the baw up in the slates!”
BBC pundit Richard Foster wasn’t having the red card claims for Alloa midfielder Mouhamed Niang’s challenge on Yosuke Ideguchi.
But Edward Fraser emailed: “Foster says the challenge on Guchi wasn't a red card and could have been avoided if both players went in full blooded – it's also possible both players could have been seriously injured and I'm sure if that was the other way around he would have claimed it was a red card.”
Celtic skipper Callum McGregor faces up to two months out with a cheekbone injury and Hotline regular Eddie Easson claimed yesterday it was the result of a flying elbow – adding that Celtic have too much dignity to contact the SFA over the matter. That’s despite chairman Ian Bankier claiming two months ago that the club make regular representations to the governing body over referee standards.
Andy Adams, Kirkcaldy, hit back: “Mr Easson's claim a ‘flying elbow’ did for McGregor is just ludicrous, it was an accidental hit with the guy’s shoulder. As for Celtic having dignity, two words – Ian Bankier. That’s called an embarrassment.”
Danny Robertson, Paisley , added: “Eddie Easson claims his club has too much dignity to complain about the perceived roughhouse tactics of Alloa, driven by Barry Ferguson’s allegiance to Rangers.
"But fortunately it appears that he along with all his fellow supporters crying on the recent Hotline put their dignity to the side and champion their club. It would be hilarious but for the fact that these individuals actually believe in these conspiracy theories.”
Paul McCormack, Coatbridge, said: “Did some football break out in the last few days of wind-up merchant number one, penalties awarded, moving balls, red cards, soft bookings, penalties not awarded, crunching tackles missed, complaints to SFA. Just wondering...”
And James Young, Glasgow, said: “Lots of folks are now complaining about Rangers, which is nothing new. Everyone seems to go on about Rangers and not their own team. Is it the fact we won league last season and are top this season that is really annoying them? Their complaining is a beautiful thing and so is their obsession.”
Onto the actual football and Pat Bonnar’s claims that Celtic new boy Reo Hatate reminds him of Andres Iniesta was ridiculed.
John Bruce emailed: “Bonnar's comparison of Hatate and Iniesta after just one game against a poor Hibs side is typical of Celtic fans' hyperbole. Did we not hear the same chat last year with Diego Laxalt when we were told that he was the best left back in the league after his first couple of games?
"And was Shane Duffy not almost carried along London Road on a sedan chair as the one player who was guaranteed to win Celtic 10 in a row? Should Rangers even bother to turn up for the rest of the season, now that Celtic have signed the new Mbappe, de Bruyne and Neymar in their Japanese trio?
Finally and after St Johnstone’s Scottish Cup defence ended with a humbling defeat at Kelty Hearts - a 10th straight loss for last season’s double winners - Callum Davidson is feeling the pressure.
But Stephen Johnstone, Ardentinny, said: “Davidson is the most successful manager in their history but is now facing the boot according to some. It's the players who should be facing the axe not the manager - the cup double has gone to certain players’ heads.”
