There will be no away fans at the final two Old Firm games this season because both clubs agreed there are serious concerns over what they called “safety and security”.
And the severity of their decision was shown to be justified last Wednesday when a Rangers supporter was sent to prison for a year after being found guilty of having disfigured Celtic physio, Daniel Friel, by throwing a glass object at him when the sides met at Ibrox in April 2022. The need for the joint action has also been underlined by the arrests of 16 more people involved in an affray before
February’s Old Firm Viaplay Cup final.
The fears over safety and security were not, however, supposed to apply to salaried officials of the clubs, such as Craig McPherson, assistant manager of Rangers’ womens’ team. The SFA have now served him with a notice of complaint over a headbutt on Celtic manager Fran Alonso, at the end of the drawn game between the sides at Broadwood last Monday night.
A shocking incident captured during the live transmission of the game on Sky Television. There was a time when such a
confrontation would have been quickly followed by the resignation of the person who had disgraced the badge he was wearing on the touchline.
But I long ago came to the conclusion life isn’t like that any more. What should have happened in the aftermath of a moment Celtic, in an official statement, said was a “Hugely concerning incident falling well below any acceptable standard” was, at the very least, the release of a public apology from Rangers.
The fact that no such thing was forthcoming until yesterday morning was, for me, a source of dismay. Why it took the assailant so long to admit to the regrettable nature of his actions is, without doubt, less important than the fact he belatedly came clean. And did so at a time when there is no room for any more discord between the two clubs concerned.
Recent events on and off the park involving fans and players, have provided a regrettable indication of the extent to which relations between the Old Firm have fallen to an all-time low, and at the worst possible moment. Saturday’s game is the first of three Old Firm meetings in quick succession. Such a sequence of games requires everything being done to minimise tension when rival fans can’t be trusted to be inside the same stadium at the same time for fear of the consequences.
There will be a lifting of the ban on supporters when Celtic and Rangers play their Scottish Cup, semi-final at neutral Hampden on April 30. The SFA, the competing clubs and the city of Glasgow will have to deal with that when the time comes. In the meantime, it is unquestionably the right thing to do on McPherson’s part to have officially recognised a serious breach of discipline and taken responsibility for something that brought the game into disrepute.
A club, and one of its employees is diminished in standing by not condemning serious wrongdoing on the scale of what happened at Broadwood. The fragile nature of the peace between the two clubs demands a proper example being set at a delicate juncture.
I have worked in this business since Jock Stein was Celtic boss and Willie Waddell was in charge at Ibrox. Mutual respect must characterise the dealings between the two institutions, as it did then without in any way diluting the intensity of the rivalry between them on the park. A grown man had a maturity bypass at the end of the womens’ match and what followed was shameful.
In my opinion, it had nothing to do with the word “Passion” that is always thrown in to any disagreement to cover a multitude of sins, or with frustration over a belated equaliser for Celtic. It was an act of aggression that would have had serious repercussions if it had occurred in the street.
The concession of late goals is part and parcel of the game, whichever gender is involved. Jim Goodwin, when manager of Aberdeen earlier this season, lost two of them in a matter of seconds against Rangers at Pittodrie.
They contributed towards a defeat snatched from the jaws of victory and heightened the problems which subsequently led to his dismissal. But Goodwin resisted the temptation to approach Michael Beale from behind at time-up and stick the head on him.
Proper professionals understand their duty to the game, and that means a handshake and words spoken through gritted teeth. I could attempt to make light of it all and say it’s no wonder Sky stump up £25million a year to cover our game in all its forms. You don’t get aggravated behaviour leading to physical assault thrown in for free in the less demented parts of the country.
But none of this is a laughing matter. It’s at times like this you need the grown ups in the room to demonstrate a clear understanding of what has taken place and react appropriately.
Otherwise we go deeper into the mire of a conflict that’s taken an un-civilised turn which is disturbing to watch. McPherson showed, at best, flawed credentials for management with his butt. Now he has shown conciliation and a belated sense of self awareness.
The very best that can come out of this is if the ones who create concern over safety and security follow his example.
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