Rangers” Managing Director Stewart Robertson has today had a dig at the Celtic players for their behaviour after September’s Old Firm match.
The post-match scenes have been brought up after a police investigation into the incident. Celtic won the game and proceeded to do a lap of honour. This was despite the fact that Rangers fans were still in the ground at the time.
Leigh Griffiths took it a step too far by waving a scarf in front of the Rangers fans. This was a deliberate attempt to goad the visiting support, and it worked as supporters got injured trying to get at the Celtic striker.
Whilst fans need to be wary of their reactions, it was needless and careless from Griffiths.
Robertson, speaking at the club’s AGM today, responded to a disabled supporter who got injured at full-time.
“Having seen the effects of what happened in September, players have a responsibility to be very careful about their reaction during and after games because every action can have a reaction.
“We cannot have a repeat of that (scenes at the end of the first Old Firm game).
“Players have to be conscious of what they are doing and we have to hope we don’t see a repeat of that – anywhere.”
Supporter safety is a must at all grounds
The review by the police was a surprise to many, but fan injuries can’t go ignored. Rangers fans were genuinely hurt at Celtic Park due to the scenes, and it was right to be looked into.
Robertson’s reference is a clear dig at the Celtic players for their post-match exuberance. It was also mainly aimed at Griffiths, who has previous for winding up opposition supporters.
There’s no point playing a blame game here, however. Each and every individual has a responsibility to act in the most mature way possible. Celtic shouldn’t have been goading up the Rangers supporters at full-time. The Rangers supporters shouldn’t have reacted how they did knowing the potential injuries that could occur.
It was careless from everyone involved, and Robertson is right to put out a comment on it. Lessons have to be learned from this so that we don’t see similar scenes next month.
The banter between the clubs is fine – it’s what makes this such a great rivalry. Vitriolic hatred, however, needs stamped out of this derby. Unfortunately, however, it just never will.
