Martin O’Neill hurried in to mediate the situation
Drama unfolded at Ibrox following the final whistle as Celtic staged a remarkable comeback from two goals down to level the score at 2-2 against their Old Firm rivals, Rangers, on Sunday. Emotions ran high at the conclusion of the match, leading to confrontations between players from both teams. Mikey Moore confronted Julian Araujo, gesturing angrily at the Mexican, while Nicolas Raskin and Liam Scales engaged in a heated exchange. Tuur Rommens and Tomas Cvancara also had a confrontation in front of the cameras before Celtic’s manager Martin O’Neill, celebrating his 74th birthday, rushed onto the pitch to diffuse the situation and separate the players.
O’Neill pulled Cvancara, Dane Murray, and scorer Reo Hatate aside by their shoulders as Celtic icon Chris Sutton quipped during the Sky Sports commentary: “He really shouldn’t be doing that at his age!” The Northern Irishman could be heard yelling “move away, move away!” at his players before they made their way to the away section to show appreciation to their supporters. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
Mikey Moore shoved Julian Araujo
The Rangers were ahead 2-0 at the break thanks to Youssef Chermiti’s two goals, one of which was a stunning overhead kick just eight minutes into the match. However, Kieran Tierney reduced the gap before the hour mark, and Hatate netted a fortunate second rebound in the 91st minute after his penalty and the initial follow-up were both denied by Jack Butland.
The defending champions managed to secure a point, yet it remains a disappointing outcome for both teams’ ambitions for the title. The draw positions Hearts six points ahead at the summit of the Scottish Premiership, with Rangers in second place and Celtic trailing the Gers by two points in third, albeit with one additional match to play. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
Celtic’s captain Callum McGregor spoke to Sky Sports, stating: "The stakes are incredibly high, and everyone is aware of what’s at risk. It involves livelihoods and the passion of those who support the club. Naturally, emotions run high during these matches, and at times, tensions can escalate. However, it’s important to remain composed and disciplined, ensuring that everyone stays calm. This title race is filled with emotion. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
"There are three teams competing for it, and if you include Motherwell, that makes four. It’s essential to maintain discipline and have everyone on board. The focus is on remaining composed and applying the strategies that have previously led us to success. It’s about integrating that mindset as much as we can."
Regarding the Hoops’ resurgence, McGregor remarked: “At times, you need to accept the situation and regroup. That’s precisely what we accomplished during the break, and we were undoubtedly the superior side in the second half, likely unfortunate not to secure a victory.”
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Mikey Moore was observed furiously gesturing at Julian Araujo following an altercation where he shoved him.
Martin O’Neill stepped in to break up the players during the rangers v celtic match.
"We have a long journey ahead. Prior to the match, we discussed that earning a point is a favorable outcome. It puts our fate in our own hands. We simply need to continue winning our matches. In general, it was a game of two halves, but I’m pleased with how we performed in the second half."
O’Neill commented: “Today’s outcome is a very positive one for Hearts, more than anything else. If you’re part of Hearts, you’re thinking, ‘a draw here would be beneficial.’ We’ve been battling all the way through.”
"It feels like a figurative mountain to scale each week, and the number of games is dwindling. However, we are still very much in this. We must go out and aim for a victory on Wednesday. Achieving that would be fantastic, though it won’t be an easy task for us."
Rangers manager Danny Rohl expressed his feelings: "To be ahead 2-0 and end up with a draw is incredibly disappointing. A 2-0 lead is always a tricky situation. We feel really let down today. We’ll regroup and try again next week. Naturally, it was fortunate for them to receive a penalty so late in the match."
"I believe we currently have six points. However, there are still nine matches remaining, which translates to 27 points available. I truly think this will go down to the wire. We managed to secure a point; we aimed for three, but it didn’t happen. There’s no question about it, we will keep fighting. It’s all about the upcoming match, and there’s still a long road ahead for every team."
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With nine matches left in the Premiership season, Celtic is set to visit a struggling Aberdeen midweek. A win at Pittodrie would allow them to surpass Rangers and reduce the lead at the top to five points. Meanwhile, Rangers will have a week off before they face their Old Firm rivals in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals next Sunday at 1pm.
