A lot has been said about Andy Halliday refusing to celebrate after scoring against Rangers at the weekend.
It is something that happens in football the world over as many players feel they want to show their former employers a bit of respect when finding the net against them.
Halliday put Motherwell ahead at Hampden on Sunday, stretching every fibre of his being to get on the end of Steve Seddon’s cross as Jefte ran in the opposite direction.
His muted celebration was no surprise given his long Ibrox association as a fan and then a player but it has still prompted quite the reaction.
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Halliday reacts to Rangers non-celebration furore
Social media was awash with fans of various clubs slamming the midfielder for how he chose to celebrate, or not.
There was even some accusing him of showing a lack of respect to Motherwell.
It wasn’t just fans either with BBC pundit, and ex-Gers striker, Steven Thompson saying he “didn’t like” the decision not to celebrate after scoring in a semi-final.
Halliday has now had his say and slammed the “embarrassing” reaction.
Speaking on Clyde One Superscoreboard, he said: “Nothing should surprise me in the in the west of Scotland especially when it’s something that happens across world football.
“But it just so seems that it does surprise me at the weekend again as the last thing I was I was certainly trying to do was disrespect Motherwell that’s for sure.
“I’ve heard that comment being branded about over the last couple of days which to me is embarrassing. “I’ll bite my tongue before I start digging individuals out.”
Halliday would do the same again against Rangers or Hearts
The 32-year-old insists he would do the exact same thing again if he scored against Rangers – and even against his other former club Hearts.
He does the admit there is one part of the gesture he possibly regrets.
Halliday added: “Maybe [regret] the little hands up – because that kind of gestures being apologetic but I certainly wasn’t apologising first for scoring a goal.
“But I will say if we played Rangers or Hearts next week and I scored I still wouldn’t celebrate.
“I’ll never do something to appease other people that’s for sure. So I don’t regret that.
“When Louis Moult scored against Motherwell – his old club – for Dundee United, he didn’t celebrate.”
