Latest news with #OldFirm
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rangers legend issues warning to ‘my mob' amid growing Ferguson to Celtic links
Rangers legend Ally McCoist says he is a 'big fan' of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson - and he fears for his old club is Celtic manage to secure his signing this summer. The Scottsh champions have been with a loan swoop for Ferguson, who looks certain to be sent back out by Brighton after a frustrating spell at West Ham during the second-half of last season. The talk is that the Seagulls will demand assurances of regular game-time from any club interested in taking the Ireland striker. And that would not be an issue at Celtic, with Brendan Rodgers desperate to add to his fire-power ahead of their latest title defence. Ferguson made a total of just eight appearances, with most of those coming from the bench, during is half-season spell with the Hammers, and he failed to register a goal. However, McCoist reckons an injury-free run would see the Meathman return to the kind of form that led him to view Ferguson as one of the game's top breakthrough striking talents. Speaking in Dublin, where on Friday he completed a 555-mile cycle around Ireland as part of the Doddie'5 Lions Challenge, he told Mirror Sport: 'I'm a fan. Oh aye. 'I want him to get fit. I really like Evan Ferguson and I really want him to get fit and stay fit. 'He can finish. Out of all the younger ones coming through, I thought Evan Ferguson was the one to watch. 'Obviously he's got one or two injuries going on that have held him back a bit, but if he keeps himself fit he will score goals anywhere.' McCoist reckons Ferguson would strike fear into defences through Scotland - including across Glasgow at Ibrox. The Gers icon - who scored 355 goals in less than 600 appearances for the Blue side of the Old Firm, and won 10 Scottish titles - fired a warning to his old club. 'The unfortunate thing for my mob is, he could come in and hurt us. Definitely. It wouldn't surprise me at all. I'm a big fan,' said McCoist. Ferguson's arrival at Celtic - should the Bhoys successfully pursue the Ireland striker - would cast doubt over the future of another Boys in Green star. Adam Idah continues to divide opinion among fans of the Scottish giants, despite hitting 20 goals across all competitions - including in three the Champions League - last season. However, McCoist reckons the Corkman has done more than enough to earn the affections of the Parkhead faithful. Idah's crucial goals during his loan spell at Celtic in the 2023/24 season, including the winner against Rangers in the Scottish Cup final, earned him a permanent switch from Norwich. McCoist said: 'He's done well. He has scored important goals. 'I think one thing you have got to do as an Old Firm centre forward is, sure, you have to get goals. 'But as an Old Firm centre-forward, you have got to score against Rangers. And if you are a centre-forward for Rangers you have got to score against Celtic. 'You have got to score important goals and Adam Idah has done that.' McCoist cycled around Ireland with a crew of fundraisers from the rugby and UK media scene, including Kenny and Gabby Logan. The challenge helped raise funds for both My Name'5 Doddie Foundation and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.
BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
Man jailed for throwing bottle at Celtic keeper in Old Firm game
A man who threw a Buckfast bottle at Celtic's goalkeeper during an Old Firm game has been jailed for eight Watt, 34, launched the missile at Finnish international Viljami Sinisalo from a Rangers supporters section of Ibrox Stadium during the derby match on 4 Sheriff Court heard Watt initially threw a cigarette at Sinisalo after Celtic scored an equaliser against Rangers before then picking up the bottle and hurling it at the keeper as he celebrated the goal. The bottle was handed to police officers by a Rangers player and Watt, of Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, was later identified on CCTV due to his "distinctive white teeth". Watt pleaded guilty to assaulting Sinisalo and Sheriff Mark McGuire said his actions were not of a "fan" but a "vicious drunken hooligan."The sheriff added: "Your motive was victim blaming."You came to throw a bottle after he celebrated his team scoring an equaliser. That is his job - you victim was doing his job - the man was at his work."In what possible world could you or anyone else think it is acceptable to throw a bottle at someone at his work?"Had the bottle hit him, the consequences could have been catastrophic, career-ending or worse."Sheriff McGuire told Watt that in the "febrile atmosphere" of the Old Firm game his actions could have sparked a was banned from all football matches for a period of six-and-a-half hearing was told that Watt had 21 previous convictions which include two football-related matters from 2013 and 2015, the latter of which saw him jailed for 10 months along with a three-year football ban. Drinking during the match The court heard that after Celtic striker Adam Idah scored in the game, there was a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check on the goal to see if it would be allowed to a two to three minute stoppage, the referee awarded the equalising goal to Leo McGinn said: "At that point, Mr Sinisalo turned back to his own goal towards the Rangers fans and pumped his fists."This sparked an angry reaction from the Rangers fans behind the goal and a half bottle of Buckfast was thrown in his direction."The bottle did not strike him but landed on the field of play."The bottle was handed over to police officers by a Rangers substitute but the perpetrator was unknown at the time.A CCTV investigation was carried out by police the next day which identified Watt as being McGinn added: "He was seen to throw a lit cigarette in Mr Sinisalo's direction which had not been spotted by officers."Watt could be identified by his build and distinctive white teeth."Kevin Corr, defending Watt, said: "My client had been consuming alcohol on the morning off the game and continued drinking during the match."It was not a full half bottle of Buckfast as it was in the second half of the match."He knows that this is the behaviour of someone in their teens rather than someone in his mid-30s. There is no attempt to minimise or justify what happened."
Daily Record
5 hours ago
- Daily Record
Rangers fan who threw bottle at Celtic keeper Viljami Sinisalo named and jailed
Andrew Watt, 34, was sentenced to eight months in prison after pleading guilty The Rangers fan who threw a bottle at Celtic keeper Viljami Sinisalo during the Old Firm in May has been jailed for eight months. Sinisalo was targeted towards the end of the 1-1 draw on May 4 when a Buckfast bottle was launched in his direction from the home end as he celebrated in front of the Rangers support. Andrew Watt, 34, pleaded guilty to the charge at Glasgow Sheriff Court after it had been found that he had also thrown a cigarette at Sinisalo before picking up a half bottle of Buckfast and hurling it at the keeper. The bottle was handed to police officers by someone on the Rangers bench and the court heard Watt was identified a day later due to his "distinctive white teeth." And Watt, who has 21 previous convictions including two football related matters, including one in 2015 which saw him jailed for ten months and banned from football stadia for three years, was told he acted like a 'vicious, drunken hooligan' by Sheriff Mark McGuire. He added: "Your motive was victim blaming. You came to throw a bottle after he celebrated his team scoring an equaliser. "That is his job - your victim was doing his job - the man was at his work. In what possible world could you or anyone else think it is acceptable to throw a bottle at someone at his work? "Had the bottle hit him, the consequences could have been catastrophic, career-ending or worse. In a febrile atmosphere in a stadium which holds over 50,000 people, your actions could have sparked a riot. "It was not just an assault on Mr Sinisalo - what you did could have endangered everyone, man, woman and child that afternoon. "In all the circumstances, to punish you and deter others from acting like you did and to protect the public, I am satisfied there is no alternative to a custodial sentence."
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Derbies & festive schedule - Rangers' standout games
The first Old Firm derby of the 2025-26 Scottish Premiership season will be at Ibrox on Sunday, 31 August. Russell Martin's side host Celtic in a 12:00 BST travel to Celtic Park on Saturday, 3 January for the new year derby and the Glasgow rivals' final pre-split meeting is pencilled in for Saturday, 28 about the festive schedule? Rangers' last match before Christmas is away to Hearts on Saturday, 20 December then Martin's men round off 2025 with home games against Motherwell and St complete the pre-split campaign away to newly-promoted Falkirk on Saturday, 11 at the fixture list, where do you think Rangers will be after 10 games? Have your say here.
Scottish Sun
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers and Celtic left facing awkward stick or twist fixture dilemma after major SPFL rule change
IT'S something the hierarchies at Rangers, Celtic and other Scottish Premiership clubs have long been publicly demanding of league bosses: give us more help in Europe. Well, now they've given that help - and the 2025-26 season promises to be the acid test of how it works in practice. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Brendan Rodgers Credit: Kenny Ramsay 4 Rangers FC press conference for new head coach Russell Martin Credit: Willie Vass That's because league bosses quietly introduced a new rule this season which allows all teams involved in European playoff round clashes to request postponements of their Scottish Premiership matchday 3 clash on the weekend of August 23/24. But with that fixture falling just seven days before the first Old Firm match of the season, it remains to be seen whether Rangers or Celtic take them up on it. It's no co-incidence why the rule has come into force this season - with both halves of the Old Firm needing to get through the playoff round if they are to reach the Champions League after drops to Scotland's coefficient meant the loss of an automatic spot. Hibs, Dundee Utd and Aberdeen, of course, could all take advantage of the rule too - with perhaps the safest bet all season being that Jimmy Thelin's Dons (already in the Europa League playoffs) choose to postpone their matchday 3 clash that weekend AGAINST Dundee Utd. Hibs, too, could see merit in pushing their trip to Falkirk back if they can make it past FC Midjyjtlland to reach that far. We already know for sure that Celtic will be involved in the Champions League playoff round on the Champions Path, giving them a game on either the Tuesday or Wednesday that week ahead of the Old Firm. The situation with Rangers is more complicated. While they too will still hope to be riding high in the Champions League qualifiers - where they likes of Benfica or Club Brugge are potential opponents - they could also end up in a Thursday night clash in the Europa League or even Conference League playoffs that week. Alternatively, were they to WIN their opening Champions League qualifier vs Panathinaikos then LOSE - they could be spared the chore of a playoff round clash altogether and drop straight from the UCL 3rd qualifying round direct into the Europa League groups. But after today's fixture reveal, we now know what both sides will face on matchday 3. Celtic transfer special - Nygren in and Kyogo to return And on the face of it Rangers have been handed a far tougher fixture, away to St Mirren in Paisley. Over to Russell Martin then to decide whether he thinks it serves his team's interests better to postpone their trip to Paisley in order to prioritise his team's prep for a potential playoff round clash. 4 Celtic will surely fancy their chances of taking care of Livingston at home even if it means making a number of changes due to their European commitments. Depending on what happens in the early part of the season Martin, therefore, must weigh up the possibility of dropping three points behind Celtic at this stage of the campaign - particularly with the first Old Firm game of the season just a matter of days away. Dropping a distance behind the Hoops so early in the season will be something he won't want to contemplate. 4 Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
