Scott Brown: 'best booking of my life'

Scott Brown has hit back at El-Hadji Diouf’s accusations  after Sunday’s Rangers-Celtic Scottish Cup tie.

The on-loan Blackburn midfielder claimed that Brown was a nobody trying to make a name for himself by getting Diouf sent off.

Diouf was substituted in the 76^th minute after Brown had equalised for Celtic.

The controversial loan Ranger made a number of claims to The Sun after the match including allegations that Brown insulted his family.

Responding to Diof in the Daily Record the Celtic skipper hit back saying: “He has said I was trying to make a name for myself. How ridiculous is that?

“Did he not see the armband I was wearing? I am captain of Celtic, I play for Scotland. I think I have made my name by now.

“I think it’s more about him trying to make a name for himself again. Let’s face it, he only came to this league because he couldn’t get a game in England. No one would touch him with a bargepole.

“So he’s come up to Scotland to try to make the most of what is left of his career, which isn’t much. Good luck to the lad. I look forward to seeing how it all works out for him.”

Brown was yellow carded for staring at Diouf after scoring but didn’t allow Calum Murray’s decision to ruin the moment.

He added: “The celebration was brilliant and I don’t regret it in the slightest. It was the best booking I’ve had in my life.

“If I’m honest I’m not sure why I was booked because I didn’t move and didn’t say a word. I just turned round and there he was right by my side.

“I’m not sure what I was thinking at the time. I was probably in a bit of shock at scoring with my left peg!

“I was delighted with the goal – maybe I just wanted to share the moment with him!

“I wasn’t trying to make him snap or get him sent off. I didn’t think he would spit in my face either because he’s been in enough trouble over stuff like that in the past.

“It was all just a bit of banter as far as I was concerned. I’ve been wound up by loads of people on the park and I’ve done it to more than my fair share of opponents as well. It’s part of the game.”

Brown went on to give his own account of the banter/sledging that upset the loan Ranger.

He added: “It started early in the game when Diouf didn’t get a free kick for a challenge I made on him near the corner flag.

“He started moaning about that and trying to be the big man. He started trying to trash talk me – saying how much money he has and how I’m skint.

“To be fair I couldn’t really grumble too much – the lad does have a bit of cash. So I didn’t mind it too much but when I gave him a wee bit back he didn’t like it. If you’re going to start giving it out you have to expect to get a bit back but he just couldn’t take it.

“I said something about his diamond tooth and he didn’t seem to appreciate it very much. He said I couldn’t afford one of my own and maybe he’s right.

“Fair play to the guy but if he wants to learn about scoring goals he should nip over to watch us train at Lennoxtown one afternoon and I’ll show him a thing or two about finishing.

“What has he scored? Three goals in three seasons in the Premiership? That’s decent eh?

“Look, I know I’m hardly the most prolific goalscorer in the world but I’d fancy myself to get more than that down there.

“It became very personal between us very quickly. I was actually quite surprised by just how personal he got and the kind of things he was saying about my family.

“But I’m a big boy. If he wants to go down that road then I’m happy enough to go there too. I’ll always give as good as I get.

“He wanted to drag me into a battle and I was quite happy to oblige him. I think I came out of it on top and he knows it.

“I don’t want to go into detail about what he said about my family. It was crude and it was vulgar but that’s up to him. Yes, I did respond to him but what did he expect?

“He just picked on the wrong guy.”

Brown’s equaliser went some way towards erasing the memory of being sent off at Ibrox last season by Dougie McDonald for an incident involving Kyle Lafferty.

Despite his own volatile nature the Celtic skipper is probably the only player in Neil Lennon’s squad to be on friendly terms with a Rangers player.

Although they headed in different directions along the M8 from Hibs, Brown remains in regular contact with Steven Whittaker who scored Rangers second goal.

Former Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson is also one of Brown’s best friends in football.

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