Ibrox thug, who threw Buckfast bottle at Celtic’s Matt O’Riley, avoids prison | OneFootball

Remember that Panenka penalty that Matt O’Riley scored at Ibrox last April in the match that Philippe Clement’s side won three each?

Jack Butland of theRangers fails to save a penalty from Matt O’Riley of Celtic, his sides second goal during the Scottish Premiership match between theRangers FC and Celtic FC at Ibrox on April 07, 2024. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

You might also recall that a bottle was thrown onto the pitch, narrowly missing the Celtic goalscorer,  who now plays for Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League after a £26m summer move from the Scottish Champions.

Matt O’Riley of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates during the Scottish Premiership match between theRangers and Celtic FC at Ibrox on April 07, 2024. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

It was actually a Buckfast bottle that was thrown and theRangers supporter who threw it, 22 year old David Andrews, has this week been up in court for this which is just one in a serious from theRangers support behaving badly every time Celtic go to Ibrox, regardless of the result.

Daizen Maeda has opened the scoring inside the first ten seconds with James Tavernier getting the assist. Matt O’Riley’s super-cool penalty, all the more admirable given the stakes that day, doubled Celtic’s lead on 34 minutes and his celebrations were certainly not provocative in any way.

Yet the English born Denmark international midfielder was lucky to avoid injury after the missile thrown by Andrews narrowly missed the Celtic star.  Earlier this week Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that the bottle landed at Matt O’Riley’s feet, narrowly missing the Celtic goalscorer.

Andrews, from Springburn, apparently left Ibrox at half time but was later pointed out and reported by fellow supporters (far play to them). Andrews pled guilty to culpably and recklessly throwing the glass bottle “with complete indifference to the consequences.”

The charge stated that the throw was towards the direction of Celtic players all to the danger of the players on the field of play. Andrews however avoided a prison sentence as Sheriff Anthony Deutsch fined him £320 and banned him from football matches for one year.

Arne Engels hit by coins at Ibrox

In Celtic’s most recent match at Ibrox at the start of this year Arne Engels, Celtic’s replacement midfielder after the sale of O’Riley, was struck in the face by a coin, which could have inflicted a serious injury on the Belgium international.

There has also been seven serious assaults in that away corner on Celtic supporters hit by missiles and a member of the Celtic backroom staff was hit by a glass bottle at half-time in an earlier Glasgow Derby fixture in April 2022. There are at least two culprits currently serving prison sentences for these serious assaults.

Match commander gathers evidence against theRangers thugs

Some of these other incidents of violent assaults on Celtic staff or supporters that have all happened at Ibrox in recent seasons are shown below including broken glass deliberately thrown into the Celtic goalmouth at half-time presumably with the intention to injury then Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart.  No culprit was ever brought to justice as theRangers reportedly said there was no CCTV

Celtic will take a larger support to Ibrox on Sunday 4 May. Netting has been installed so that might help with the missiles being directed at Celtic supporters. But what about the Celtic players and staff? When is the Scottish FA going to take action on this matter which is becoming the norm every time that theRangers host a Glasgow Derby.

Arne Engels hit by coins at Ibrox

The recent water spraying incident at Celtic Park was nothing in comparison but at least the Scottish FA issued a warning to the player. They have said nothing and done nothing about all of the other more serious, disgraceful and criminal acts carried out as mentioned or shown above. The Scottish FA  should follow UEFA’s example and put theRangers on notice that stands will be closed at future Glasgow Derbies if the criminal violence continues.

Imagine if Arne Engels had lost an eye back in January?

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