Police Scotland are investigating after a member of Celtic’s backroom staff needed stitches to a head wound following bottle-throwing incidents at yesterday’s Old Firm clash.
The Parkhead team extended their lead at the top of the Premiership to six points with a 2-1 win over Rangers at Ibrox, but the match was marred by off-field disorder involving home supporters.
Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart drew attention to broken glass in his goalmouth after a bottle was thrown on to the pitch, with the start of the second half delayed by several minutes as stewards picked up shards from the playing surface.
It then emerged that a member of Ange Postecoglou’s staff was struck at half-time by a missile thrown from the main stand housing Rangers fans.
Last night Rangers said those responsible would be banned, a spokesman saying: ‘We are assisting Police Scotland regarding both incidents and can confirm that stadium CCTV is being reviewed. We strongly condemn both incidents and the perpetrators will be banned.’
Joe Hart inspects his penalty area for broken glass along with Rangers officials at Ibrox
The second half was delayed while the penalty box was cleared of glass debris thrown on
Rangers fans have been blasted for throwing the highly dangerous debris onto the pitch
Celtic earlier released a statement which read: ‘We can confirm that a member of our backroom staff was struck by a glass bottle. He required urgent medical treatment and stitches to a head wound.
‘The matter is now in the hands of Police Scotland.’
Manager Postecoglou was immediately aware that a member of his staff had been injured as the teams made their way off the pitch. ‘Yeah, he was, on the way in,’ he said.
‘I think he is okay, He had a couple of stitches. It is disappointing because this is a game that gets beamed around the world and it stands on its own. You had two teams going at it in first and second spot and you don’t need a couple of idiots spoiling it.’
It’s thought the bottle thrown towards Hart’s goalmouth may have smashed off the frame of the goal before the shards landed on the pitch.
Hart looks on as officials carefully inspect the pitch of potential debris in the Old Firm clash
Glass bottles left behind at Ibrox are lined up pitchside following full-time of the Old Firm tie
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou (above) confirmed one of his assistants needed stitches after being struck by an object from fans while heading into Ibrox before the game
On that incident, Postecoglou added: ‘It is disappointing. I thought it was a proper derby, the atmosphere was unbelievable, both teams were up for it, both teams were going for it.
‘You don’t need it. I don’t know what people are trying to achieve by doing that. I thought it was a fantastic spectacle.
‘Sitting here now as the winning coach, that kind of taints my view of it, but I thought anybody watching that would agree it was a good game of football and you could tell there was something meaningful at the end of it by the way both sets of players went at it.
‘Like I said, their crowd was up for it, our 700 was up for it and couldn’t stop singing. That is what you want.’
Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst said the delay to the game was entirely understandable given that glass was lying in the goalmouth.
Celtic came from behind to secure a memorable victory with Cameron Carter-Vickers scoring
The defender’s winning goal before half-time allowed Celtic to pull six points clear at the top
‘Of course it’s not what you want,’ he said. ‘You go out of the locker room and are preparing well for the second half, you want to go. Then you have to wait a couple of minutes.
‘It’s never good that due to situations the game has to be stopped. I don’t think it’s a good thing.
‘Safety is first and I understand we have to wait for the pitch to be playable for both teams.’
Referring to the incident in which a member of the Celtic backroom staff was struck, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of a glass bottle being thrown at Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow during the Rangers v Celtic match on Sunday, April 3, 2022.
‘One man has sustained injuries as a result of this and required treatment.
‘Enquiries are currently ongoing to establish the full circumstances.’ On the goalmouth incident, the police spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of a glass bottle being thrown on the pitch. Enquiries are currently ongoing.’
Giovanni van Bronckhorst told Rangers fans to ‘strike a balance’ between protest and support
Toilet roll was also launched onto the field during Rangers’ 2-1 away win over Dundee
The protests from furious fans saw the Scottish Premiership clash stopped three times
Commenting on the broken glass incident, former Celtic striker Andy Walker said on Sky Sports: ‘That is absolutely outrageous, to see broken bottles on the field of play which can affect the referee, the players, anyone that it’s aimed at. It’s outrageous.
‘It’s one thing to demonstrate, as we saw a couple of weeks ago, to protest using tennis balls, toilet paper — and we’d even get issues with that.
‘But broken bottles? It beggars belief. You’re trying to sell this game everywhere, our showpiece occasion?
‘(These are) shameful scenes, shameful that anyone would choose to throw anything on to the pitch, never mind a broken bottle.’
Rangers legend Ally McCoist added: ‘That (embarrassing) is exactly what it is. You keep thinking nothing will ever surprise you anymore but dearie me. Honestly? Absolute gross stupidity.’
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton Tweeted: ‘Absolute scumbags throwing glass bottles on to the pitch. How low can some people go? This is how this game will be remembered now.’