Fran Alonso, Celtic Women’s boss, was headbutted by a Rangers coach in the aftermath of their 1-1 draw in the Old Firm derby. The match, held on Monday at Celtic Park, saw Caitlin Hayes score nine minutes into stoppage time to secure a point for her side and keep them a point above their rivals in the Scottish Women’s Premier League table.
The incident happened shortly after the final whistle had been blown, with Alonso reportedly getting into an altercation with a member of the Rangers coaching staff. Reports from witnesses claim that Alonso was struck with a headbutt, leading to his immediate dismissal from the field and subsequent investigation by Police Scotland.
The tense atmosphere was palpable throughout the match and post-match, as Rangers had started out strong but eventually succumbed to the pressure applied by their hosts. Celtic had taken full control of possession right from kick off, but were unable to find a breakthrough until late in stoppage time.
As if that wasn’t enough drama already, things were only just beginning. After Hayes scored what would be the equalizer for Celtic, tensions reached boiling point and spilled over onto the sidelines as well.
Alonso subsequently released a statement condemning any form of violence while also highlighting his commitment to upholding fair play during football matches: “I want to take this opportunity to condemn all forms of violence during football matches and reiterate my commitment to ensuring fair play and respect for both teams”.
It is unclear at this moment what action will be taken against those found guilty of assaulting Fran Alonso after Monday’s match; however it is expected that heavy sanctions will be applied. It is also unknown how this incident will affect Celtic Women’s upcoming fixtures or indeed how it might influence further Old Firm derbies in Scottish Women’s Premier League going forward.
Regardless of what lies ahead, one thing is clear; such unsavoury events should never occur again in any sporting event and should be severely punished when they do. Fran Alonso showed admirable composure under such intense circumstances and thus deserves recognition for standing up for himself despite everything that happened on Monday night. In times like these it is even more important that everyone involved remain professional so that future generations can enjoy spectating or participating in matches without fear of similar outbursts happening again – no matter which jersey they choose to wear.