Ahead of this weekend’s Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers, we’re taking a look at the ten most shocking moments from the fixture over the years.
10 Most Shocking Old Firm Derby Moments
10. El Hadji Diouf vs Scott Brown
Rangers striker El Hadji Diouf and Celtic captain Scott Brown enjoyed a number of clashes during their time in Glasgow, most notably in a 2-2 draw in the Scottish Cup at Ibrox in 2011.
Brown became a Celtic hero after netting a stunning equaliser for the ten-man hoops and celebrated in front of Diouf with his arms spread – nicknamed ‘The Broony’.
9. 1957 Scottish League Cup Final
The 1957 Scottish League Cup final saw Celtic beat Rangers 7-1, a record scoreline for a major domestic cup final in British football at Hampden Park, nicknamed ‘Hampden in the Sun’.
Widely regarded as Celtic’s greatest ever victory, goals from Sammy Wilson, Neil Mochan (2), Billy McPhail (3) and Willie Fernie saw Rangers embarrassed in front of over 80,000 people in Glasgow.
8. Effigies
In September 2016, Celtic and Rangers met for the first time in over four years following the latter’s relegation to Scotland’s bottom tier after entering administration.
The clash was overshadowed by the hanging of effigies from the stands at Celtic Park from both sets of supporters. Nine Celtic fans were charged and multiple were arrested on the day.
7. Helicopter Sunday
Whilst not a direct Old Firm moment, helicopter Sunday marked the ending of one of the most dramatic Celtic-Rangers title races we’ve ever seen.
On the final day of the season, Rangers trailed Celtic by two points and knew they had to beat Hibernian at Easter Road and hope that Motherwell could snatch a result from the league leaders.
Nacho Novo’s second half strike ensured Rangers got over the line with a victory whilst Motherwell’s Scott McDonald scored two goals 60 seconds apart to render Chris Sutton’s opener good-for-nothing.
The famous commentary of ‘the helicopter is changing direction’ from Peter Martin will forever be remembered as the trophy departed Fir Park and headed back towards Edinburgh.
6. Neil Lennon vs Ally McCoist
A Scottish Cup fifth round replay at Parkhead in 2011 between Celtic and Rangers turned ugly at the final whistle following a 1-0 win for the hosts which saw managers Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist square up on the touchline.
Three red cards were shown to Rangers players and a snarky remark from McCoist to Lennon resulted in the Irishman being restrained by his backroom staff. 13 cautions were issued on the night and 34 fans were arrested.
5. Hugh Dallas And The Coin
Referee Hugh Dallas was left with blood pouring from his head and required four stitches after being hit with a coin during the Old Firm in 1999.
On the day that Rangers clinched the title, Celtic fans invaded the pitch to confront the referee who also had a brick thrown through the window of his family home.
The occasion was a Sunday evening kick-off and since the events that day, Old Firm league matches have been purposely played in the early afternoon to limit fans’ alcohol consumption and the possibility of a title decider between Celtic and Rangers has been deliberately avoided.
4. The Shame Game
In October 1987, a violent and bad-tempered Old Firm clash which finished 2-2 saw three red cards handed out, more than 60 arrests made and in four players later appeared in court.
Rangers trio Chris Woods, Terry Butcher and Graham Roberts alongside Celtic’s Frank McAvennie were charged with breaching the peace.
After a trial which lasted several days, Butcher and Woods were convicted and fined whilst Roberts was found not proven and McAvennie was found not guilty.
3. Gazza’s Flute
Rangers’ Paul Gascoigne pretended to play a flute like an Orange Order band member during a 1998 Old Firm clash against Celtic after scoring at Ibrox.
Gazza was fined £20,000 by the club and he received death threats from the IRA. The Englishman insisted that he didn’t know of it’s symbolic association and later admitted he was threatened at gunpoint to perform the gesture on the pitch.
2. Scottish Cup Final 1980
After Celtic won 1-0 in extra time during the 1980 Scottish Cup final, supporters descended into riots at Hampden Park which led to the sale of alcohol being banned at sporting events in the country.
Some Celtic supporters had climbed over the perimeter fences to join the players on the pitch and one in particular ran over to the Rangers end and kicked a ball into their goal.
Some Rangers fans had stayed behind and invaded the pitch, charging at Celtic fans as bricks, bottles and cans were thrown alongside iron bars and wooden staves being used as weapons.
1. Mo Johnston
Mo Johnston made 99 appearances for Celtic between 1984-87 and helped the club secure a league title and Scottish Cup honour, but shocked the world in July 1989 by opting not to return to Celtic and instead joined Graeme Souness’ Rangers.
From the early 20th century onwards, Catholics had not been knowingly signed by Rangers as an ‘unwritten rule’ but Johnston became the club’s first. He was the highest profile Catholic to sign for Rangers since the World War I era.
Celtic fans often refer to Johnston as ‘Judas’ whilst some Rangers fans burned scarves and threatened to hand in their season tickets over the signing.
The Rangers kitman, Jimmy Bell, protested the arrival by making Johnston arrange his own kit and withholding him from the chocolate bars dispensed to other players until he scored a goal against Celtic – which came in the form of a late winner during the Old Firm in November 1989.
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