Vaclav Cerny Dismisses Criticism Over Controversial Celtic Park Celebration
Vaclav Cerny has addressed his controversial actions at Celtic Park during Rangers’ dramatic Glasgow Derby victory on Sunday, but his response has only added to the embarrassment.
Celtic had staged a spirited comeback from 2-0 down to level the match, and with momentum swinging in their favor, they looked poised to snatch a late winner. However, Rangers’ Hamza Igamanne stunned the home crowd with an 88th-minute goal against the run of play, securing a crucial victory.
While the thrilling encounter should have been remembered for the dramatic finish, Cerny’s behavior overshadowed the moment. The Rangers midfielder ignited fury in the stands when he celebrated the goal by spraying water towards Celtic fans seated in the family section, triggering a heated reaction from the crowd.
Cerny Dismisses Responsibility for Celtic Park Controversy
More than 48 hours after the match, the Czech international has seen the backlash sparked by his actions and the outrage among Celtic supporters. Given the intense nature of the fixture, one might have expected a hint of regret from Cerny for needlessly stoking tensions. Instead, he brushed off the controversy entirely.
Speaking to iSport, Cerny played down the incident, saying:
“I don’t want to say much about it, nor can I. Honestly, it seems a bit absurd to me. The stands are so close, and there was an open bottle of water… I didn’t even realize what was happening at that moment. I just ran. It’s a derby.”
Cerny’s Lack of Accountability Draws Criticism
At 27 years old, Cerny is well aware of the fierce rivalry between Rangers and Celtic, making his response all the more surprising. Dismissing the fallout as “absurd” and claiming he “just ran” suggests he has little remorse for his actions.
Had he simply celebrated in the same manner as his teammates, the incident would have been a non-issue. Instead, his antics inflamed an already tense atmosphere and could have provoked a more serious reaction from the Celtic fans.
Fortunately, the situation did not escalate further, but it remains to be seen whether Rangers officials have addressed Cerny’s behavior ahead of the final derby of the season at Ibrox.
