An Alfredo Morelos coin throw incident overshadowed Rangers 2-0 win away to St. Mirren today.
The Colombian striker appeared to be struck with a coin as he slid in celebration. It is the latest in a recent spate of high-profile coin throwing incidents in Scottish football.
Neil Lennon went down clutching his face on Wednesday, despite the object appearing to hit his chest. The Scottish press has been dominated with questions over the motives behind the assault ever since.
The assault on Morelos came after the forward was subjected to abuse all game. It’s not the first time Morelos has been on the receiving end of abuse either. The forward is regularly targeted by opposition players and supporters.
Morelos or any Rangers player/fan not fair game for abuse or attacks
Rangers fans also roundly condemned an inflammatory piece by a high-profile Scottish journalist which poked fun at stereotypes surrounding Alfredo Morelos’ Colombian nationality.
This is the latest in a long line of personal attacks on Morelos and it simply cannot continue. The forward must be commended for his mature reaction to the incident but that should not depreciate the vulgarity of it.
Rangers players are not fair game for this kind of treatment. Lee Wallace was the subject of an assault in 2016 on the pitch which was goaded and eventually buried. A Rangers fan was also viciously assaulted at Haymarket Station after the same game.
It is difficult to imagine the same reaction if the shoe was on the other foot. Fans and players cannot continue to be attacked, stereotyped or abused based on religious, national or political prejudices which rivals ignorantly associate with the club.
Rangers fans must “call it out” when they see this sort of disgusting behaviour. The Morelos coin throw incident is also just as unacceptable as any other kind of this behaviour. Whether it involves a Rangers player or not.
We stand with Alfredo Morelos and anyone else who is affected by violence and stereotyping based on their allegiances to Rangers Football Club.
