Snarling Stars Put The Spark Back Into Old Rivalry

Apr 20 2008 Andy Walker

THE hysterical headlines were to be expected. Apparently, most Old Firm players should be in the dock after "shameful" scenes at Celtic Park last Wednesday when there was an "ugly brawl" and "chaos"at the end.

Give me peace.

I don't think I'm alone in saying I loved it.

Apart from the first 15 minutes when it was more like a kicking contest, it soon settled down to a game of football that was as gripping an Old Firm affair as I can remember.

It was engrossing stuff from start to finish and a few players losing their self-control at full-time is perfectly understandable.

It's football and these things can happen when the big two go head-to-head.

In the build-up Celtic's on-loan striker Georgios Samaras offered his thoughts on Rangers' style of play. He was hardly complimentary.

No sooner had the game ended than we heard claims from Gers scorer Nacho Novo that he'd had Aiden McGeady in his back pocket.

The comments all add spice to the occasion but no matter who says what, the only thing that really counts is what you do on the pitch.

Most footballers have huge egos and when they're challenged publicly you won't find many prepared to back down.

That's why Gary Caldwell, Stephen McManus, Paul Hartley, Davie Weir, Barry Ferguson and Christian Dailly among others all waded in to the scrap between McGeady and Novo.

I like players who look after their own, there's no shame in that.

In fact, Frank McAvennie still gives mepelters for not being around to help him during his infamous flare-up at Ibrox in October '87 with Chris Woods, Terry Butcher and Graham Roberts.

In spite of it's "shameful" billing - when players landed in court to learn about self-control-it was undoubtedly the most memorable derby match I ever played in.

The truth is Macca was quite happy taking on Woods and Butcher but when Roberts waded in he was weak and fell over to avoid a battering!

And please spare me the nonsense that the actions of players can spark crowd trouble.

If you can't control your emotions while two teams are trying to win a game of football maybe you shouldn't be in the stadium.

Any punter who resorts to violence before, during or after the 90 minutes should be locked up.

If we want to talk about shameful events at Celtic Park last Wednesday, look no further than the idiots in the stands who embarrassed their clubs.

Hoops fans who continually throw coins or any other missiles at Celtic Park are dangerous and should be ashamed. It can't be allowed to continue.

If there was any possible way they could be identified a life ban is the only answer.

It's also sickening to listen to the repeated abuse of Jock Stein and his family from the Rangers supporters.

Celtic's greatest ever manager has done nothing to deserve the vile and disgusting chants aimed at him time and again.

Pushing those ugly incidents aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the 90 minutes of enthralling action and thought it was reminiscent of a Champions League occasion.

Under the glare of the floodlights, an evening kick-off helped make a better spectacle.

My experience of this tremendous fixture tells me that no matter who's on top whenever they meet, the punters will forgive you for a lack of quality and limited ability but never excuse anything less than 100 per cent commitment.

When that happens one or two scuffles and confrontations will sometimes surface.

No one should lose any sleep over it.

We live in an era when wedemand every single ounce of effort from players who are judged by many to be grossly overpaid and massively over-rated.

Surely we all must understand and accept these big names can sometimes lose their cool.

Referee Kenny Clark (below) also deserves a favourable mention.

Most players I speak to respect him for his firm but fair management of big occasions.

He's there to keep a lid on things and given the volatile circumstances, he handled everything as well as any referee could.

When players want to jostle and scrap with one another - although I really don't think there was anything violent - no ref can prevent it.

Just as Stuart Dougal was vilified by Celtic fans recently after they lost at Ibrox, the only criticism of Clark's control of the game on Wednesday night will come from Gers supporters. Again, only because they lost.

Seven days from now they go head-to-head again.

Despite the inevitable calls for calm you'll hear this week from all over the place, I guarantee it won't make any difference to the players.

After that "shameful" clash at Ibrox in '87 we were all advised to warm up before the next game in each other's half to help defuse any potential powderkeg.

It was a complete and utter waste of time.

As soon as that whistle goes and a player gets a taste of the atmosphere, they give it absolutely everything.

The paying public demand no less.

Roll on next Sunday.