A reminder that Craig McPherson, the Rangers WFC coaching staff member who assaulted Celtic FC Women manager Fran Alonso after the recent SWPL1 Glasgow Derby at Broadwood is up before the Scottish FA tomorrow for his Disciplinary Hearing.
McPherson was caught by Sky Sports cameras approaching the Celtic manager from behind before administering a cowardly Glasgow Kiss to the back of Alonso’s head in a matter that was also being investigated by Police Scotland. The incident happened at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld after Celtic defender Caitlin Hayes scored a dramatic 99th minute equaliser in the crucial league match.
The Scottish FA’s official website describes the Disciplinary Rule allegedly breached as follows:
‘Disciplinary Rule 77. A recognised football body, club, official, Team Official, other member of Team Staff, player, match official or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall, at all times, act in the best interests of Association Football. Furthermore such person or body shall not act in any manner which is improper or use any one, or a combination of, violent Conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour.’
it took many days before Craig McPherson offered some kind of an apology for his actions, although he seemed to focus this on theRangers staff and players rather than Alonso, the victim in all of this. many noted that McPherson chose to release his statement on April Fools Day.
And talking about statements from theRangers, they had absolutely nothing to say about this shocking behaviour from one of their coaches in assaulting a fellow professional on the football pitch.
An apology from @RangersWFC coach Craig McPherson. pic.twitter.com/QSeuArBGj9
— Rangers Women (@RangersWFC) April 1, 2023
Whether Police Scotland have concluded their enquiries into the incident is unknown, but given it was shown live on Sky Sports you would imagine it should be a fairly simple investigation and a report should be heading to the Procurator Fiscal. It should be remembered that Duncan Ferguson was sentenced to a custodial sentence for head-butting an opponent.
After the Scottish FA Hearing tomorrow we should know what the sanction is for coach on coach violence on the football park and the very fact that this happened at a women’s game with a sizeable proportion of families with young children in the crowd really adds to the severity of McPherson’s disgraceful actions.
The Celtic Star will be speaking to Celtic FC Women manager Fran Alonso tomorrow ahead of this weekend’s must win SWPL1 match against leaders Glasgow City.
