Troy Deeney’s response to the shocking incident involving Celtic’s Arne Engels being struck by a coin at Ibrox has left many scratching their heads.
Rather than condemning the unacceptable behaviour of the Rangers supporter responsible, the former Watford striker bizarrely criticised Engels for his reaction, labelling it “weak.”
Deeney, speaking on talkSPORT, claimed Engels should have “just stood up” and not “shown weakness,” dismissing the very real danger and shock of being struck by a missile in such a hostile environment.
During Celtic’s 3-0 defeat at Ibrox, Engels went to take a corner late in the game when he was hit by a coin thrown from the stands. The midfielder, understandably stunned, went down, prompting referee Don Robertson to pause the game and hand the offending item to the police.
Celtic, Rangers, the SPFL, and various pundits have since condemned the incident, calling for lifetime bans for those responsible and a more proactive stance on player safety.
Rather than joining the calls for accountability, Deeney decided to focus on Engels’ reaction. He told talkSPORT:
“From a player’s point of view, if I was a fan, I’d be fuming that he went down.
“You can’t get anyone sent off. It hits you, it’s a little bit of a sharp pain, just stand up and don’t give them any sign of weakness. Shock doesn’t make you fall over. You go ‘oh, what was that?’ You take a step back and liven up.
“When he went down, I just thought ‘You’re 3-0 down in the lion’s den and you’re rolling around. Get up, don’t show any weakness.’ That’s just me as a person.”
Deeney’s take is problematic on multiple levels. Deflection of responsibility is at the heart of this issue. The primary focus should be on fan behaviour, not on how Engels reacted. Criticising a player for being stunned after being assaulted on the pitch shifts attention away from the real problem.
Player safety is another critical concern. Engels’ reaction should not be dismissed as “weakness”; it reflects the shock of processing an unexpected and dangerous act. Coins thrown with force can cause serious injury, as has been evidenced by football incidents across the globe.
The focus should remain firmly on the unacceptable behaviour that led to this incident. Celtic rightly handed over evidence to the police, and the SPFL has appealed for fans to assist in identifying the culprit.
Engels’ safety—and that of all players—must remain paramount. The incident at Ibrox is a reminder that football needs to do more to protect players from the reckless actions of a minority of fans.
As for Deeney, it’s clear he missed the mark here. Footballers aren’t gladiators, and there’s no shame in showing human vulnerability in the face of shocking behaviour. The real weakness lies in excusing or downplaying such actions.
