HATRED boiled over into violence at Celtic Park last night as the final Old Firm league fixture of the season saw ugly scenes and violent attacks during and after the game.
In a match which saw Rangers clinch the league title at their rival’s home ground, the referee was struck by a coin during the game and fans invaded the pitch, while trouble also flared outside the ground in London Road, with reports of a number of stabbings and a series of arrests.
Referee Hugh Dallas received two stitches from Celtic doctor Jack Mulhearn after being struck by a coin at the Celtic end late in the first half.
One Celtic fan fell from one tier of a stand down to another, although early reports suggested he did not appear to be seriously injured.
A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said there had been 34 arrests by 9pm for offences ranging from breach of the peace to drinking in a public place.
An ambulance service spokesman said: “There have been quite a few serious assaults and a few stabbings but none has been fatal.” He said paramedics had been constantly busy in Glasgow last night.
Celtic’s PR manager, Peter McLean, last night said: “Four fans entered the field of play and as well as facing criminal charges, they will be banned from Celtic Park for life.
“Other incidents will be the subject of an inquiry using closed circuit TV. The club very much regrets the events of this evening.”
Just before the first of the incursions on to the pitch referee Dallas had sent off Stefan Mahe, infuriating the home support.
NFL semi-final replay: Armagh 0-12 Dublin 1-14
Injury jinx hits Marsden again
ARMAGH’S star forward Diarmaid Marsden is now a major concern for next month’s Ulster Senior Football Championship first round clash against Donegal in Ballybofey after breaking down 10 minutes into yesterday’s NFL semi-final replay defeat against Dublin.
He limped out of the game with a recurrence of the same groin muscle injury he sustained in the interprovincial series, and which has been the subject of intensive physiotherapy in recent weeks.
Marsden had to retire after an attack on the Dublin goal which was repelled by keeper David Byrne.
A match in which Armagh were comprehensively beaten by five points, could prove extremely costly as the gamble on Marsden’s fitness disappointingly backfired.
A SHADOW has been cast over Ulster’s European Rugby Cup triumph after it has emerged that one of the victorious players tested positive for a prohibited substance.
The player, not believed to be an international, represented the province in the final victory over French side Colomiers at the end of January.
The test is not believed to involve an anabolic agent (steroids) and may have been taken unintentionally but according to IRFU regulations if the player is found guilty of a doping offence he faces a two-year ban.
