Rangers’ 3-0 victory over Celtic in this afternoon’s New Year Glasgow derby was marred by an embarrassing second-half moment in which a coin struck Arne Engels.

The Belgian midfielder went to take a corner on the far side, and was hit with an object which was thrown, with force, by a member of the crowd.

Arne Engels Celtic
6th October 2024; Victoria Park, Dingwall, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, Ross County versus Celtic; Arne Engels of Celtic

Engels went down in a heap and looked rather dazed when he eventually got up.

Moments like this must be stamped out of football. It is genuinely puzzling why any football fan would feel the need to put the safety of a player at risk when their team is 3-0 up and cruising.

Just after it happened, the incident was slammed by Sky Sports co-commentary duo Chris Sutton and Neil McCann. The pair were unimpressed: “Absolutely ridiculous, isn’t it?” questioned Sutton (Sky Sports).

McCann was equally critical. He said: “That’s disgusting; we don’t want to see that.

“Sorry, there’s no place for that in football.”

It remains to be seen what action will be taken against the guilty individual(s) for this frankly revolting incident.

Rangers can count themselves lucky that Engels wasn’t severely hurt and there was no blood.

Regardless, the coin was handed to the police soon after it hit the midfielder.

Whether it be dangerously throwing a coin onto the pitch or continually singing repulsive sectarian songs, the home supporters embarrassed themselves this afternoon, and something must be done.

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