Brendan Rodgers believes Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny showed “a lack of respect” with his celebrations in…
Brendan Rodgers believes Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny showed “a lack of respect” with his celebrations in the Old Firm derby at Celtic Park.
The Czech Republic winger came under fire for his celebrations when Hamza Igamane scored what turned out to be the winning goal for Rangers in their 3-2 victory at Celtic Park earlier this month.
Television cameras captured Cerny running from the substitutes bench and squirting water from a bottle over Celtic fans as he celebrated. Police Scotland said after the game that they were looking into the incident and Celtic have raised the issue with the authorities.
Rangers manager Barry Ferguson defended Cerny and said he wouldn’t criticise any of his players for celebrating a big moment.
Rodgers wasn’t impressed by the player’s actions.
“My honest take is that I know the club are dealing with it,” he said.
“I haven’t seen anything, because after the game I went away. You know when you lose a game of that magnitude you don’t read anything or listen to anything, you just get away.
“But I obviously heard what had happened and you can’t do that. That’s the reality.
“I understand the jubilation and Rangers players have every right to celebrate with their supporters. You come to Celtic Park, like it would be if we go to Ibrox, you win a game of that magnitude then you celebrate.
“But not in that way.”
Asked if he would have a word with any of his own players behaving in the same way, Rodgers made it clear what he thought of the behaviour.
“Yes, I would,” he said. “It’s disrespect, isn’t it?
“It’s a lack of respect if a player runs up a touchline and he’s squirting a water bottle in a supporter’s face.
I certainly wouldn’t want my players to do that.”
“In the main, the players do [behave] and listen, it works both ways and there’s a lot comes in to players as well from the stand to coaches, manaegrs and players.
“But I think we all know there’s a line we shouldn’t cross.
“It’s an amazing fixture and an emotive game and I thought it was great to have the fans back in and that gave it an extra bit as well.
“But there’s lines and you can’t antagonise, especially in this fixture, because that can lead to an issue.
