Celtic legend Scott Brown takes aim at ’embarrassing’ fans after Old Firm mayhem

Former Celtic captain Scott Brown fears Sunday’s violence will tarnish English fans’ perspective of Scottish football.

Fans of Celtic and Rangers stormed the pitch at Ibrox after the Hoops reached the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup via penalty shootout.

Getty

Police and stewards formed a barricade to keep the two sets of supporters away from one another, with many individuals seen wearing masks to disguise their identity.

Numerous arrests were made by Police Scotland, who have since vowed to ‘carry out a robust investigation’ on the post-match violence.

Speaking exclusively on talkSPORT Breakfast, Brown expressed his frustration at the ‘ugly’ scenes that transpired in Glasgow but reiterated it was a ‘select few’ who spoiled what was an incredible occasion.

What did Scott Brown say about the post-match violence?

“It’s embarrassing,” Brown said.

“I’m sure Celtic and Rangers don’t want that to happen again because it was a fantastic atmosphere at the game.

“You got 7,500 Celtic fans for the first time in about 10 years, which is incredible that we’re able to get back to that.

“But those days of running on the park, fighting, scrapping on the pitch… 90 minutes, shout and swear, say what you want to the lads. But after that, that’s it, done and dusted.

“It is ugly for Scottish football. We never want that to happen, we want there to be a good showcase.

“A lot of people down in England are watching that and the way they look at us, that’s what they’re going to remember.

“The passion is unbelievable, everyone knows the passion is unbelievable. But that part of the scene, it’s a select part of the crowd that always want to spoil it for everybody else.”

Getty

Scott Brown's record in Old Firm matches

Old Firm derbies played: 44

Wins over Rangers with Celtic: 22

Draws against Rangers with Celtic: 6

Losses to Rangers with Celtic: 16

Total games played with Celtic: 618

Sunday’s fixture marked the first time in eight years Celtic fans were given the full allocation for the Broomloan Road Stand at Ibrox since 2018.

In the following years, the number of travelling Hoops fans has differed between just shy of 1,000 and none at all.

Ally McCoist reacts to Ibrox fracas

However, talkSPORT host and Rangers legend Ally McCoist believes any hope of a large away allocation continuing has been ‘put to bed’.

McCoist added the unsavoury violence extended to Celtic supporters’ behaviour in the Broomloan Road Stand as they left it marked with references to the Ibrox disaster of 1971, when 66 fans were killed from a crowd crush.

“It was diabolical,” McCoist said.

“There was a young girl and she got hit by a bottle. An 18, 19-year-old girl hit by a bottle. What chance have we got?

Getty

“Then the boys are saying to me, the mess of the Broomloan Road Stand and they’re writing phrases about the Ibrox dead, 66 dead and all that. What is it with these people?”

McCoist added: “It’s just pure bitterness and hatred and sickness of the mind.

“The game itself was poor, but the atmosphere was actually good. I tell you right now, they’ve put that to bed. That will not happen again.

“I heard you say something earlier, the vast majority of people want Hearts to win that league and with some justification.

“Because it was pathetic yesterday, absolutely pathetic, lads.”