Celtic goalkeeper Vini Sinisalo has spoken about the disturbing scenes at Ibrox during Sunday’s Glasgow derby, revealing the full extent of the objects thrown at him from the stands and warning of the potential consequences if serious action isn’t taken.
The Finnish international was subjected to missile-throwing during the second half of the 1-1 draw, with Sky Sports cameras also capturing a Rangers player clearing a glass Buckfast bottle from the penalty area. But Sinisalo has now revealed it wasn’t an isolated object, and that he was hit during the game.
“I see some mention that there was a bottle thrown at me, but it wasn’t just a bottle by the way. First of all, I was hit with something, not in my upper body, it’s just somewhere in my lower leg. But it wasn’t just a bottle, there was lighters, vapes, coins, mugs, all sorts flying.
“But listen, when you think of it and you say, let’s say that glass bottle that was on the pitch hits me or hits someone else, what happens then? What if it hits you in the eye and you can’t play football after that? What happens then? So that’s the questions that we need answers for. And I know it’s not the first time it’s happened. I know I was there when Arne was hit with something, Greg’s been hit, Joe Hart’s been hit, staff members have been hit.
“So it’s not the first time it’s happened. So you’re probably hoping that they stop it eventually, trying to not give them anything back, I suppose, and it’s one of them. It doesn’t really affect you.
“It’s not nice, but you try and focus in the game. It’s such an important game. There’s so much at stake every time you play a game like that.
“So you can’t really let that affect because that’s what the people want at the end of the day. They want that to affect you, which I’m glad to say they didn’t. I’m just trying to do my job.
“There’s not many jobs in the world that you get bottles thrown at you. I don’t know how people identify who it is, because there’s a lot of people obviously throwing them. I’m talking 30, 40 objects here. That was on the pitch. So it’s not just one individual.” [Clyde SSB]
The ‘keeper spoke very well, and hopefully, we can see some action being taken against the individual/individuals in question.
He’s done remarkably well since stepping in for Schmeichel, not putting a foot wrong. It’s his confidence and leadership that his impressed, and he did pull off a big save at the weekend to ensure Celtic didn’t fall behind again in the match.
Sinisalo has been praised for his composure and presence since stepping in for the injured Kasper Schmeichel, but Sunday’s events serve as another grim reminder of the dangers players face at Ibrox. Whether further action is taken remains to be seen, but the calls for change are growing louder.
