Rangers Condemn Coin Incident Involving Celtic Player During Old Firm Clash.
In a shocking turn of events during Thursday’s Old Firm match, Rangers Football Club has issued a strong condemnation following an incident where Celtic’s Arne Engels was struck by a coin. The incident occurred as Engels, who had come on as a substitute, was preparing to take a corner kick in the final stages of the game, which Rangers won 3-0.
The match, played at Ibrox Stadium, was devoid of Celtic supporters due to an ongoing dispute over away ticket allocations. Rangers have stated their intention to fully cooperate with Police Scotland in the investigation of this unfortunate event.
Celtic FC has expressed their concerns, noting that they believe there might be two separate incidents under review by the police. In a statement, they highlighted the severity of the situation: “The repeated targeting of our players and staff with missiles is quite appalling and completely unacceptable.”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed that Engels was not seriously injured, stating, “He’s OK,” but he did not downplay the potential danger, adding, “an inch lower, he would have been [hit] right in the eye.” The incident has raised significant safety concerns, occurring just before the full-time whistle in a match that saw Rangers close the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 11 points.
Celtic’s defender, Alistair Johnston, who witnessed the incident, urged for more respect towards players on the pitch. He remarked, “Everyone needs to be smart when at matches. It’s humans out there, someone’s son, so let’s refrain from chucking things at guys’ heads.”
The outcome of this incident could lead to disciplinary action against Rangers, depending on the findings of the police investigation and any subsequent actions by football authorities. This event has cast a shadow over what was otherwise a significant victory for Rangers, underscoring the need for sportsmanship and safety in one of football’s most storied rivalries.
