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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

What the Celtic and Rangers pundits said as headbutt on Fran Alonso leaves 'sour taste' after derby spectacle

Disappointed Rachel Corsie admitted that the SWPL1 derby thriller between Celtic and Rangers was ruined by Craig McPherson appearing to headbutt Hoops' boss Fran Alonso.

It was a blockbuster derby showdown at Broadwood Stadium as Celtic remained second in the league after rescuing the game with a 99th-minute leveller from Caitlin Hayes after Brogan Hay's first-half strike had looked to be enough for Malky Thomson's side. However, at the full-time whistle it was Glasgow City who received a boost as the leaders strengthened their grip on the SWPL1 crown.

Despite a thrilling encounter, temperatures rose after the full-time whistle when it appeared Rangers Women's assistant manager McPherson headbutted Celtic boss Alonso as he shook hands with the players. During his post-match debrief Alonso also claimed he had been called "a little rat" in the exchange. Light Blues' boss Thomson refused to comment on the flashpoint but promised an "investigation" if the episode had taken place.

Following the flashpoint, Sky Sports News host Eilidh Barbour said: 'I'm sure there will be a lot of people having a look at what happened at the end there. It was such a good game, such a good spectacle and platform for the game. It doesn't matter if it's the men's game or the women's game - we don't want to see that."

Scotland international and Aston Villa star Corsie, who was on punditry duties, continued: "It's a bad incident. We have obviously seen the replay and you can see he looks animated. It suggest 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." Barbour rounded off: "I'm sure there will be plenty of people investigating that."

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