Celtic manager Martin O’Neill described his view of a fracas involving a supporter and member of his backroom staff after a mass pitch invasion marred his team’s Scottish Gas Scottish Cup win at Ibrox.
The Scottish Football Association has launched an investigation after Celtic and Rangers fans clashed following the visitors’ shoot-out triumph.
Police officers apprehended a man after Celtic players, including Tomas Cvancara, ran to the scene amid an incident involving a Celtic member of staff.
Cvancara, who scored the winning penalty in the shoot-out, was later interviewed on Premier Sports with blood stains on his strip.
Celtic right-back Julian Araujo was pushed by a Rangers supporter after hundreds of home fans ran on to the pitch towards the Broomloan Road stand after some of the 7,500 visiting fans invaded the pitch following Cvancara’s winning penalty at the opposite end.
Asked about the altercation between a spectator and one of his staff, O’Neill said: “As we were making our way back, I think there was some sort of fracas; somebody tried to get on the field. I don’t know, all I saw was there was a bit of a scrum down at the bottom.
“And as you say, maybe it does taint proceedings, but I think there’s an element of self-protection in that one. So if that’s the case, please, I’m making judgments here on things that I only half saw.”
O’Neill added: “The security men, in fairness to them, were wanting to get people off. But there is a natural euphoria about winning a game and about fans joining in. If this has gone too far, that would be disappointing.”
When asked if he had spoken to the players about the incidents, O’Neill said: “I just said well done to the team and I went into my own little room to cool down myself. My heart’s beating at a rate that a 74-year-old’s shouldn’t be doing.”
Police and stewards formed a barrier between both sets of fans after Rangers supporters, many of them coming from the section hosting the Union Bears ultras, charged towards the away end. A flare was thrown towards the Broomloan Road Stand and it continued to be thrown around.
Order was soon restored and the 7,500 Celtic fans were left to celebrate.
The SFA condemned the “behaviour from supporters entering the field of play” and added: “An investigation will be carried out immediately in line with the Judicial Panel Protocol.”
Rangers head coach Danny Rohl said of the trouble: “I was not on the pitch in this moment. I didn’t see it until now. I heard just that there was something on the pitch.
“I think we all know the emotional situation after a game. Nobody likes to see this. I think it was a great atmosphere, 120 minutes. I think it should be like this. All the other things should not be in the stadium or around football.”
Former Rangers midfielder Charlie Adam described the scenes as a “disgrace”.
He said on talkSPORT: “It’s a sad day for Scottish football. For the Old Firm that we talk about being our leadership teams and (what) they represent, it’s an embarrassment for our game.
“These two clubs have let us down as a nation. Both football clubs have to look at themselves because they are the standard-bearers for us as football clubs and they have, both (sets of) supporters have let themselves down.”
