Celtic’s 3-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox was overshadowed by a shocking incident late in the game when midfielder Arne Engels was struck by a coin thrown from the crowd.
The Belgian was preparing to take a corner when the missile was hurled from the stands, hitting him in the face and forcing him to go down in clear distress. When he got up, you could see a clear mark above his eyebrow.
This is not the first time a Celtic player’s safety has been put at risk at Ibrox. In years gone by, broken glass was discovered in Joe Hart’s penalty area, highlighting a concerning pattern of behaviour from certain sections of the crowd and a member of Celtic’s staff required stitches to the head after being struck by a missile.
Today’s incident further underlines the urgent need for stronger measures to address such conduct.
The coin that struck Engels was handed over to a police officer at the scene and placed in a clear evidence bag. Authorities are expected to investigate the matter thoroughly. Calls for a lifetime ban for the individual involved, similar to punishments suggested in recent incidents involving other clubs, have already begun to surface.
BBC pundit Tom English expressed his outrage during the post-match analysis, condemning the act in the strongest terms. He said on BBC Radio Scotland:
“It’s absolutely disgusting. What level of idiocy are we dealing with? Your team is putting in a big performance and you’re winning 3-0, and your thought is to throw coins at an opposition player. It is monumentally thick, thuggery. Name him, shame him, charge him, ban him. Get rid of him.”
The SPFL and Rangers Football Club will now face questions about how they handle this incident. A full investigation is expected, and any delay in addressing this issue will only add to the scrutiny. The safety of players must be prioritised, and the governing bodies must set a clear precedent by implementing severe consequences for those who jeopardise it.
This shameful act is part of a broader issue within football where player safety is often compromised by rogue individuals.
As the dust settles on a day Celtic will want to forget for many reasons, the safety of Arne Engels and all players must remain a top priority. Authorities have a chance to make a firm statement—let’s hope they seize it.
