Five days on from head-butting Fran Alonso, Craig McPherson has finally issued an apology.
The Celtic coach does get a mention but not before the Ibrox Women’s coach apologises to his club, the board, players and fans for his actions at the end of the SWPL Glasgow Derby.
This club is also built on incredibly high standards, and I have already apologised to the board, the football staff, and our fantastic group of players who I care about dearly. I would also like to apologise to the Rangers fans.
Celtic equalised deep into stoppage time in an exciting match that was screened live by Sky Sports to promote the women’s game in Scotland.
Heading towards the centre circle while congratulating players from both teams Alonso found himself attacked by a head-butt from an opposing coach.
It is an incident without parallel in the professional game in Scotland. Tempers fray on the touchline, words can be exchanged, coaches can face upto each other but never before has anyone been head-butted.
Both clubs seem keen to downplay the incident but with the SFA and Police Scotland investigating it is likely that some serious punishments are heading towards the former Morton and Falkirk defender.
An apology from @RangersWFC coach Craig McPherson. pic.twitter.com/QSeuArBGj9
— Rangers Women (@RangersWFC) April 1, 2023
Mr McPherson says he has never done this before…. well…. that could be said about anyone who breaks the law.. you judge people by what they do after… who knows if Mr McPherson representing “the rangers” will do it again… but if little or no action is taken against Mr McPherson the chances of doing it again go up…call me cynical this “apology” comes a day after M Beale manager of “the rangers” said of the incident…The club “the ranger” are discussing the incident..mmmm. were they discussing it with.police Scotland and the SFA/SPFL…. I wonder
Not good enough from Celtic FC . I get that they have stood back and waited to see what the low life pond scum would say or do about it , but after the fairly recent events that Sevco Shame have delivered us …now this pathetic statement of “ apology “ .
Celtic have acted properly here!
Don’t be so stupid.
Look at his face,a face full of HATRED.
A genuine apology would have been issued – unreservedly – the very next morning after the game.
We can see this is simply a belated, grudging, PR driven “apology” of sorts.
Rather than wait to see what sevco and/or the SFA do – or don’t do – next, CFC should take the initiative.
CFC should very publicly state their accumulated concerns for their staff’s safety at games involving the Ibrox club: bottling, headbutting, broken glass in the goalmouth, etc. is just not acceptable.
CFC should also publicly demand exactly what the SFA is going to do – to guarantee CFC staff safety at future games against the Ibrox club.
Otherwise, any/all decisions needed to guarantee CFC staff safety sits squarely with Nicholson.
One could be forgiven for thinking that this belated apology is to try to mitigate any punishment due. At this stage, we can never be sure it is genuine.
Fran Alonso has acted with the utmost grace in this whole situation. Had this been in England, it would have been dealt with already.
Don’t the police take an assault seriously, or just this assault, seen as they know who the perpetrator is ?