Fran Alonso, the head coach of Celtic women, said he was called a “little rat” by Rangers coach Craig McPherson - before footage appeared to show him trying to HEADBUTT his Old Firm rival during Monday night's fiery 1-1 draw in the Scottish Women’s Premier League.
Alonso was seen celebrating wildly on the touchline after Caitlin Hayes bagged an equaliser for Celtic in the ninth minute of stoppage time to deny Rangers victory.
But McPherson, who is on Rangers boss Malky Thomson's coaching staff, was incensed after the final whistle and took his frustrations out on Alonso in wild post-match scenes which saw him led away after appearing to aim a headbutt at the back of his opponent's head.
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Speaking to Sky as the footage was shown to him, Alonso said: “I don’t know. You can see there, somebody pushed me from behind. I never talked to [McPherson] the whole game. It’s obviously disappointing to concede a goal in the last minute, I totally get it. But I don’t know. I was called a ‘little rat’, I don’t know why.”
When asked about the incident, Rangers head coach Thomson told the broadcaster: “Without me seeing it at all I don’t know that I can comment on it. If that’s the case, then there will be an investigation and we’ll obviously look at it.”
Despite McPherson's actions, Alonso insisted that he would not be campaigning for his rival to receive a lengthy ban.
He added on the incident: "You would have to ask him. But I had no issues with them during the game. But, honestly, for me, it is nothing. It can stay here as part of the game.
"I don't wish him to be banned or suspended. It is not something you want to see but for me it is not a big issue."
Scotland international Rachel Corsie, who was covering the game as an analyst for Sky Sports, condemned the ugly post-match scenes.
She stressed: "It's a bad incident. We have obviously seen the replay and you can see he looks animated. It suggests maybe there has been something prior to that, but either way we can't have that happening in football at all.
"It's disappointing because it leaves a sour taste on what otherwise has been a great spectacle, a great occasion and a great game."
Monday night's draw ensured Celtic and Rangers remain second and third respectively in the league with Glasgow City eight points in front.
Rangers appeared to have successfully leapfrogged Celtic thanks to a 36th-minute goal from Brogan Hay, until Hayes’ stoppage-time strike kept Alonso’s side unbeaten against the defending champions this season.
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