Act like animals then be prepared to be treated like animals

Rangers set to be hit with disciplinary action as player behaviour hits the spotlight during 3-2 win over Celtic at Celtic Park on Sunday.

Rangers fans returned to Celtic Park for the first time since 2023, following a tit-for-tat spat that started when Rangers took the hump over Celtic continually beating them at Ibrox. Prior to the reintroduction of away fans at the derby, I raised safety concerns for Celtic fans and players alike given the regular occurrence of Rangers fans throwing missiles at their opposite numbers as well as Celtic players over the years.

But who would have thought it was the Rangers players themselves who would be facing disciplinary action over their actions during the Glasgow derby. Not one but three players are facing potential action from the Scottish FA and two are being investigated by Police Scotland.

Paradise Lost for Celtic & Rodgers

Rangers forward Vaclav Cerny was captured by SKY Sports camera spraying water at Celtic fans as the Rangers players celebrated Hamza Igamane’s late winner. Cerny. who had been substituted minutes earlier, sparked furious reaction from the home supporters in the section beside the Rangers dugout which led to Police officers and stewards creating a cordon around the players in the aftermath as the Czech slithered behind his teammates and club officials smirking and laughing at the scenes he had fuelled.

But it has also become apparent that a second player, Albanian Nedim Bajrami, followed Cerny’s example and sprayed water at Celtic fans also as he raced towards the away end in celebration.

Despite interim manager Barry Ferguson turning a blind eye to the incidents, claiming he didn’t see anything like Corporal Schultz out of Hogans Heroes, Police Scotland are aware of both flashpoints and are now investigating.

Former Rangers defender Alan Hutton on the ‘Scottish Football Social Club’ agreed with presenter Darrell Currie, that Cerny’s behaviour ‘could’ve sparked a riot’.

Meanwhile, a third Rangers player could face sanctions from the Scottish FA following on from social media posts he made post-match. Dujon Sterling took to Instagram following Rangers’ win posting expletives to describe Celtic Park. His comments were lauded by Rangers fans, but it is now being reported that he faces disciplinary action given the Scottish FA’s previous actions hitting players with charges of bringing the game into disrepute over public comments deemed to be offensive.

It wasn’t that long ago that former Celtic keeper Artur Boruc was cautioned by Police after he blessed himself at Ibrox. The devout Catholic, who was following his normal routine in 2006, blessed himself before he took his place between the goals - but the Pole was subjected to what can only be described as sectarian targeting by bitter and twisted members of the then-Strathclyde Police force, which was full of hate-filled sectarian bigots with a soft spot for the blue half of Glasgow.

Back then, pundits claimed that Boruc’s ‘antics’ could have sparked a riot, despite it not being an issue at any other ground he played at, while they blatantly dodged the real issue at heart - the sectarian hatred of Catholics and prominent Catholic Celtic players by bigoted Rangers supporters.

And let’s not forget the alcoholic, wife beating, racist, sex offending, junkie Paul Gascoigne who mimicked playing the flute not once but twice including front of Celtic fans - which saw Rangers fine the player after a threat from Celtic’s old pal and the then-Scottish FA chief executive Jim Farry - rather than punishing the player themselves.

Meanwhile, Celtic officials will be counting the cost of letting Rangers fans back into Celtic Park as post-match photos should significant damage to the away end and toilets by Rangers fans. Nothing new there then. Wherever they go, destruction follows.

The introduction of netting is a necessity to deal with the rise in hooliganism from the Rangers support.

It will be interesting to see how long the Scottish FA and Police Scotland take to decide on their course of actions against the three Rangers players. Safe to say that given their previous, neither body will ultimately hammer the trio - especially when you have a PSNI-loaded Police force who are more interested in trying to damage the Scottish independence movement or preventing Celtic fans from gaining access to the game despite breaking no laws - while giving the Union Bears an escort. A group who have already been caught smuggling weapons into Ibrox before a derby game while they set up displays.

Whether it is the sectarian bile being spewed by Rangers fans or the damage they caused, Rangers players actions that threatened to incite a riot, or Rangers-biased pundits like Ally McCoist laughing at such incidents one thing is very clear. They are nothing more than animals, and they should be treated as such.

Celtic’s statement on Monday was just as lightweight as the players were during the derby game. It is time that the Celtic hierarchy stand tall and demand action or will they shirk away as per usual counting their coin?