7 Mar 2011

Scotland Police investigate Old Firm clash

7:39 am on 7 March 2011

Scottish Police have launched an investigation into the events surrounding last week's explosive Old Firm football clash between Celtic and Rangers.

Rangers players Steven Whittaker, Madjid Bougherra and El-Hadji Diouf were shown red cards in a Scottish Cup replay at Parkhead that featured 13 cautions and lead to Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist and Celtic boss Neil Lennon sharing a heated exchange after the final whistle.

Lennon and Diouf also clashed on the touchline during the match, which Celtic won 1-nil.

A spokesman for Strathclyde Police says they've received complaints from members of the public regarding allegations surrounding the events during the Old Firm match on Thursday, which are currently under investigation.

The events of the Scottish Cup tie have been roundly condemned by the Scottish Football Association, the Scottish Police Federation and First Minister Alex Salmond.

The police probe comes after the interception of a suspicious package which had been addressed to Lennon.

The item, which was intercepted at a sorting office in Saltcoats, turned out to be a hoax, but Lennon has been given 24-hour surveillance at his home and was accompanied to training yesterday by a security officer.

Earlier in the season the former Northern Ireland international had bullets sent to him in the post.