Coach banned for six games after headbutting a rival

FOOTBALL Coach banned for six games after headbutting a rival

Kiplagat Sang 09:30 - 14.04.2023

After the incident, the coach apologized but will now serve a suspension.

After headbutting Celtic manager Fran Alonso, Rangers women’s coach Craig McPherson has been banned for six games by the Scottish Football Association.

The incident occurred during a dramatic 1-1 draw in the Scottish Women's Premier League on March 27 at full-time, after Celtic had scored a late equalizer in the 1-1 draw at Broadwood Stadium.

As players and staff were shaking hands, McPherson butted Alonso from behind. The coach apologized later, saying he would ‘accept in full’ any punishment.

McPherson admitted breaching SFA disciplinary rule 77 concerning violent conduct, resulting in an immediate six-match suspension.

"I know I have severely let myself, our team, and the club down. I hold myself to the highest of standards and have never done anything like this before in a long coaching career, and I know I fell way short of that with my actions," he said in an earlier statement.

"This club is also built on incredibly high standards, and I have already apologized to the board, the football staff, and our fantastic group of players, whom I care about dearly.

Celtic had earned a point with the last kick of the game by Caitlin Hayes and remained second in the league, eight points behind Glasgow City, who are at the top.

Rule 77 states that team staff ‘shall, at all times, act in the best interests of association football’ and prohibits the use of violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent, or insulting words or behaviour.