CELTIC women’s manager Fran Alonso has confirmed he accepted a personal apology from Craig McPherson.
The Rangers assistant coach was banned for six games by the Scottish FA on Thursday after he admitted headbutting Alonso from behind at the end of last month’s SWPL match between the sides at Broadwood.
Speaking after his side beat Glasgow City 4-2 at Petershill Park to move within five points of the leaders, Alonso said: “He called me to apologise and said that myself and Celtic did nothing wrong. For me that’s everything I wanted to hear, so I’m ready to move on.”
The Spaniard added that senior figures at Celtic had given him their support following the events which followed the 1-1 draw on March 27. Rangers looked to be heading for a win over their oldest rivals, but Celtic central defender Caitlin Hayes equalised in the ninth minute of time added on to spark jubilant celebrations.
The game was the first Scottish women’s league match to be filmed live by Sky Sports, and their cameras caught McPherson’s headbutt which was in close proximity to players from both sides and incensed the rest of the Celtic coaching staff. Alonso later told Sky that McPherson had also called him a little rat.
“Our CEO, our chairman, many of our directors, they called me to express how proud they were of my behaviour, and my players’ behaviour,” Alonso said. “They wanted to express they have my back, whatever happens, and for me that’s what matters.”
Although banned from the dugout, it is understood that McPherson was in the stand for yesterday’s Rangers game, which was also at Petershill Park and kicked off four hours earlier than the City-Celtic one. Rangers beat Partick Thistle 5-0 and stay third, one point behind Celtic and six adrift of leaders City.
“I didn’t know that. I was focused on trying to win the three points, which for us are massive,” Alonso said. “We were superb today and whatever happens at other clubs is not our problem.”
