Leon Balogun was given his marching orders at Celtic Park on Saturday for cynically bringing down Hoops winger Daizen Maeda while he was through on goal.

The defender had to walk, giving a very forgiving Nick Walsh no other choice.

As the Ibrox defender walked off the field, fan footage appears to capture Leon spitting towards the Celtic crowd.

The vile Balogun spitting incident from a different angle – clearly showing that it was a deliberate act – during today's Celtic – Rangers clash.

Shades of El Hadji Diouf.

Surely a lengthy ban will follow, not to mention possible Police intervention? pic.twitter.com/mXaxx10t2x

— The Fast Lovin' Sin-Soaked Heathen (@fast_sin) December 30, 2023

The footage appears to see Leon first spitting on the ground before looking up and spitting in the direction of the stand.

The player is understandably upset being sent off with 60k cheering his departure. However, there’s no excuse for even attempting to spit towards anyone in the stands.

If Balogun is found to have done this then a punishment should follow.

The mainstream media appear to be shying away from this clip, choosing to focus on an offside incident that deemed Rangers didn’t get a penalty.

Celtic were deserved winners on the day, bossing the away side and even physically outmatching them which some believed would not happen.

Goals from Bernardo and Kyogo were more than enough to secure the win and put Celtic eight points clear at the top.