The incident took place after a 1-1 draw at Broadwood on Monday night
By Peter Cassidy on STV NEWS
Celtic manager Fran Alonso was headbutted by a Rangers coach following a fiery Glasgow derby in the Scottish Women’s Premier League.
The incident took place after a 1-1 draw at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld on Monday.
A late goal by Caitlyn Hayes in the 99th minute of play secured a point for the Hoops as they closed the gap between them and league leaders Glasgow City.
Brogan Hay put Rangers, the home side for the night, ahead after half an hour of the first game after the league split into the top six.
Celtic’s last gasp equaliser in a lengthy injury time reduced the gap at the top of the table to eight points with nine games to go.
But after the game finished Rangers coach Craig McPherson appeared to headbutt Alonso to the back of the head as he greeted the players leaving the pitch.
In his interview on Sky Sports the Celtic manager claimed that the former Morton player also called him a “little rat” during the fracas.
Alonso said: “I did not see it as he came from behind. I do not know, I did not talk to him the whole game.
“Obviously you are disappointed to concede a goal in the last minute, I totally get it but I don’t know why I was called little rat.”
When asked about the incident Rangers manager Malky Thomson said: “Without me seeing it I wouldn’t comment. If that is the case there will be an investigation and we will look at it.”
After a video of the apparent headbutt circulated on social media, a spokesperson for Celtic said: “Clearly this is a hugely concerning incident, falling well below any acceptable standard.
“We understand the matter is now being investigated and it will be up to all relevant authorities to take any appropriate action.”
Rangers and the SWPL have been approached for comment, but nothing so far.
Current champions Rangers are now nine points behind the league leaders and one behind their Old Firm rivals following the game that was shown live on Sky Sports.
This matter needs to be investigated and if this coach did assault the Celtic manager then he needs to be dealt with in the severest possible terms.
Gratuitous violence is not acceptable.
Rangers and Celtic sectarianism is a tinder box and for any club official to publicly assault another member of the opposing side’s team is an incendiary signal to say that violence and thuggery is acceptable. But we all know the old chant from Rangers fans about being up to their knees, and this is just a manifestation of that mindless vicious chant.
If this guy has done what he is said to have done, done what he appears to have done on camera, then the authorities must throw the book at him as a signal that public displays of violence are not acceptable.