Celtic have moved 13 points clear ahead of Rangers at the top of the SPL after a 2-1 victory over their old rivals at Parkhead this afternoon. It was a game that was not short of notable incidents, most of which involved Scott Brown.
The Celtic captain was the player on the end of an Alfredo Morelos elbow, with the Rangers striker lashing out when the two players tangled in the opening half. He would receive his marching orders for his actions, his fifth red card of the season.
Speaking after the game, Steven Gerrard said he could no longer defend the Colombian, saying that he will be fined a weeks wages as a punishment.
😡 "I will deal with it internally. I can't defend him anymore. He will be punished"
Steven Gerrard left furious with Alfredo Morelos after his red card in the #OldFirm today.
Report: https://t.co/wBLPuiXBMa pic.twitter.com/ky0QaA4gCq— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 31, 2019
I will deal with that internally, he will be punished. The punishment will be financial and the money will go to the fans that came here today.
I can't defend him anymore, I think I've gone above and beyond. I still love him, I think that he's a fantastic player, I'll still protect him, but there its to a line where he was probably above the line with me. You can't defend him anymore.
I will recommend to the board that he is fined a week's wages, and I will also recommend that that money should go to the fans.
That wasn't the only incident Brown was involved in. He clashed with Ryan Kent after the winger put his side back on level terms. When Celtic grabbed the winner late on, Andy Halliday was also unhappy with the home side celebrating in front of the away support.
Gerrard made it clear that Brown had got away with one in this game, saying that he deserved to be punished for his actions.
You're playing against a player that loves to antagonise. The Alfredo Morelos incident comes from being provoked, the Ryan Kent incident comes from being provoked, and Andy Halliday at the end.
There's 98% Celtic support in the stadium today, the Celtic players were right to celebrate and enjoy themselves of course. We did it in the last Old Firm, but to do it five or 10 yards away from our supporters is a lack of respect.
Andy is well within his rights to protect his own people. The referee hasn't done anything about the Scott Brown situation, and we've been punished for it...
Maybe (Halliday's red card) is deserved, but only if the guy who antagonised it from the beginning is punished as well.
Neil Lennon also spoke after the game, saying any claims that Scott Brown should have been punished was absolutely ridiculous. In fact, he thought Rangers should have had more players sent off.
Scott Brown gets elbowed and then he gets punched in the face. It’s disgraceful, and you can’t put the two in the one basket.
Our players kept their discipline really well and Rangers should have been down to nine men rather than 10.
