Alfredo Morelos’ gesture at Celtic Park was, at best, yet more sheer stupidity from the Colombian, and Chris Sutton has been laying into him for it.
Once again, the Ibrox forward let himself down in a big game for his club. He managed to pick up two red cards in two away games as he threw himself to the deck to try and win a penalty at Parkhead. How desperate the striker must be getting to grab a goal against Celtic after his 12th game without one.
In any case, as he walked off, he made a throat-slitting gesture to the Celtic support. It simply doesn’t matter what it was meant to mean, it was clear incitement of the Parkhead crowd. In a game filled with such emotion, Morelos should be keeping his own in check.
Fortunately, big Sutton has been out to tell it like it is. Speaking in his Daily Record column, the former Celtic great believes a heavy sanction would be suitable.
“Should be clobbered”
“Morelos will get a two-game suspension for his nonsense – but he should be clobbered with an even bigger ban for his throat-cutting gestures to the crowd. The rules are there to stop this kind of thing and Morelos simply can’t be allowed to make those types of signs to supporters.
“The SFA would be a laughing stock if they don’t take action as what kind of message does this send out? That it’s OK to make violent gestures? Neil Lennon copped a three-game ban for doing an aeroplane celebration, for goodness sake. Tell me what is worse?
“Morelos should be looking at five games – at least. I’m all for a bit of banter with the crowd but there is a line which Morelos crossed. The Police are constantly banging on dressing room doors warning about this kind of stuff in derby matches. he SFA have to act otherwise they will be guilty of inconsistency.”
Sunday’s celebrations were….odd
Personally, I’m not one to have much of a pop at celebrations. With players taking plenty of abuse, they’re entitled to give a bit back. Yet, we all know there’s a line players can’t cross, and the Rangers players certainly did on Sunday.
You would’ve thought by now that Morelos would stop dishing out gestures that mean something else in Colombia. You can’t help but feel that man can do anything and the old chestnut of what it means in Colombia will be brought up.
Sutton is bang on to be telling the SFA to take this seriously. Whilst they’re at it, take a look at Ryan Kent’s too. His gun-pointing celebration was overzealous to say the least. Goodness knows what the reaction would be if Scott Brown scored at Ibrox and started imitating shooting the Rangers supporters.
It’s a shame because it all just sounds like sour grapes. Rangers fully deserved their win and nobody can deny them that. We have a massive title-race on our hands, and everyone can see how far they’ve come.
But these celebrations clearly cross a line. Telling the opposition fans to be quiet or to calm down is fine. That’s the right kind of way to react to the abuse players receive on the park. It’s jokey and a bit of banter.
Imitating shooting and throat-slitting, however, is a touch too far on a football pitch. Sutton calling or the SFA to act is right – players can’t be seen to think they can do what they want to opposition fans after scoring. There needs to be a clear line that can’t be crossed. And even if it isn’t too visible at the moment, Morelos in particular certainly did.
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