Celtic Boss Slams Rangers Winger's Touchline Behavior

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has described Rangers forward Vaclav Cerny's water-squirting celebration during Sunday's fractious Old Firm derby as showing "a lack of respect" toward home supporters.

The incident occurred after substitute Hamza Igamane scored a dramatic 87th-minute winner for Rangers at Celtic Park. Czech international Cerny, who had been substituted minutes earlier, was filmed spraying water from a sports bottle toward Celtic fans while celebrating along the touchline.

Rodgers' Fiery Post-Match Response

Rodgers told reporters: "I fully understand players wanting to celebrate with their supporters after such an important victory. We'd do the same at Ibrox. But there's a line you don't cross - squirting water toward opposition fans isn't acceptable sportsmanship."

"This fixture generates incredible emotion, but we must maintain mutual respect. My players know I wouldn't tolerate such behavior," added the Northern Irishman, who has historically advocated for improved fan conduct in Scottish football.

Rangers' Interim Manager Responds

Rangers' caretaker boss Barry Ferguson offered a more lenient perspective: "Young players get caught up in the moment. Was it ideal? Probably not. But I'm not going to crucify a player for showing passion after such a massive result."

Match Analysis: Rangers' Derby Dominance Continues

The 3-2 triumph marked:

• First domestic home defeat for Celtic this season
• Second consecutive Old Firm victory for Rangers (following January's 3-0 win)
• Celtic's lead at Premiership summit cut to 13 points

Rodgers admitted his side's sluggish starts concern him: "In both Rangers fixtures, we've begun poorly. Whether it's complacency or the occasion getting to us, we can't afford these lapses in big games."

Title Race Implications

Despite the setback, Rodgers remains confident: "We're 13 points clear with eight games remaining. This group has shown incredible consistency all season, and we're still positioned to achieve something special."

The result intensifies the rivalry ahead of the teams' potential Scottish Cup final meeting in May.