Over three weeks on from Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos’ “game-over”/”throat-slitting” gesture at Celtic Park, the fall-out continues to rumble on.
After the striker was named alongside Ryan Kent n SFA charges against Rangers, don’t expect it to be over just yet. Rangers are incredulous [Daily Record].
But amid all the pot-stirring from the likes of Chris Sutton and John Hartson – what a laugh his comments were – should we look at an incident down south from only a few months ago for clarity?
Brazilian West Brom loanee done the exact same gesture as Alfredo Morelos after lashing in a free-kick and the second goal in the Baggies 2-0 win over QPR in October.
Regularly seen across South American football, the on-loan Sporting Lisbon winger clearly thought nothing of it.
However, Pereira was forced to apologise due to the nature of the celebration because of the links of QPR’s stadium to The Kiyan Prince Foundation.
QPR’s Loftus Road has been renamed The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium for this season in homage to a 15-year-old academy player who lost his life to a knife-crime incident.
Naturally, Pereira was out explaining his actions. Similarly to Rangers, he explains in South America this means “game-over”.
“Of course I must apologise if my goal celebrations caused any offence,” said Pereira [WBA].
“It is most important supporters at QPR and beyond understand that it was never my intention to do so.
“The gesture was meant only to signify ‘game over’ as my goal had given us a 2-0 lead and the opposition had lost a player to a red card.
“The gesture meant only to signify ‘game over'”
“I was very excited for my first goal and happy for our supporters.
“I saw a Brazilian player with Flamengo doing it recently and it was just in my mind.
“I have since been made aware of the story of the Kiyan Prince Foundation and understand why my celebrations might have been misunderstood and caused offence.
“It was certainly not my intention to do so and I apologise for that.
“I am here to enjoy English football and make friends and share in the excitement of the game in this country.
“I apologise sincerely for any offence I may have caused.”
Is doing it at Celtic Park in any way similar to doing it in Loftus Road given the circumstances? I think not.
Probably about time the Scottish sports media laid up on Rangers’ Alfredo Morelos for the gesture then, eh? Don’t bet on it.
Ryan Kent remains also remains a target of criticism despite his Smith and Wesson celebration being regularly repeated by another samba star plying their trade down south.
