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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Victor

Celtic's Joe Hart has glass bottle thrown in his direction in Old Firm Derby vs Rangers

A glass bottle was thrown in the direction of Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart during Old Firm Derby against Rangers.

Officials were forced to clear glass from the Celtic goalmouth after Hart pointed out the broken glass on the pitch. Play was paused after the incident, which happened as both teams were returning to the pitch for the start of the second half. Celtic were leading 2-1 at the time, with Tom Rogic and Cameron Carter-Vickers on target after Aaron Ramsey opened the scoring for Rangers.

The game eventually resumed once the glass was cleared from the penalty area, with Hart himself helping with the process. Fans were quick to condemn the actions on social media.

"Players shouldn't have to take this level of risk to conduct their jobs," wrote one viewer. Another said: "I'm honestly refusing to play on if I'm Joe Hart." Another verdict read: "If smashed bottles are being thrown at him from the stands his life is under genuine threat."

Hart, who is in his first season at Celtic after joining from Tottenham over the summer, was OK to continue after the incident.

The scenes at Ibrox came after accusations from Rangers fans that turnstile gates had been vandalised ahead of Sunday's derby. Rival fans were accused of using glue and expanding foam to prevent home supporters from accessing the ground.

What was your response to the incident at Ibrox? Have your say in the comments section

Shards of glass were cleared from the pitch by Rangers staff (Sky Sports)

Police were called to the scene in the early hours of the morning. Three arrests have been made while the investigation continues.

"Police responded around 2.45am on Sunday, 3 April, 2022 following vandalism at Ibrox Stadium, Govan," a Police Scotland statement read. "Officers attended and three men aged 18, 22 and 25 have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident. Enquiries remain ongoing."

Mirror Football has contacted Celtic for comment.

Celtic keeper Hart identified glass in the goalmouth after returning for the second period (Sky Sports)

The game was the third meeting this season between Rangers and Celtic, and the second to take place at Ibrox. The Gers won the first meeting in front of their own fans, while Celtic were 3-0 victors over their rivals in February.

The two Glasgow sides are set to meet again later this month in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup. Hampden Park will play host to the April 17 clash, with Celtic aiming to move one step closer to a trophy they last won in 2020.

Both goalkeepers needed to be in top form after the break, with neither side able to add to their tally in a tense second half. Hart made a big stop down to his left to deny Fashion Sakala, while Allan McGregor kept Rangers in the game with a number of stops, the pick of them from Liel Abada's effort.

Just three points separated the teams before kick-off at Ibrox on Sunday. Rangers began the day behind their opponents, having won the title last season after an unbeaten campaign. However, after holding on for a victory, Ange Postecoglou's visitors are now six points clear of the reigning champions with a significantly superior goal difference.

"It's a massive win for us, there are not many games left so every win is important," match-winner Carter-Vickers told Sky Sports after the game. "All season we've shown that character, we keep pushing and that's what we did today."

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