This might go some way to repairing the damage done after shameful scenes on Sunday
Celtic-Rangers is one of the most ill-tempered rivalries in sport to put it mildly. Once again on Sunday we saw the naked hatred between both sets of supporters, when a 10-year old Rangers fan was hit with a bottle which broke three of his teeth.
The child, who was on his way to his first ever Old-Firm Derby, also suffered a hairline fracture to his face ahead of the clash between the Scottish rivals in the League Cup.
He was injured when a bottle was thrown into a supporters bus by a man, who according to police, is believed to be a Celtic fan.
However, one Bhoys fan has decide to set up a fundraiser for the injured party, and is seeking donations from football fans to try and repair some of the emotional and physical damage the incident may have inflicted on the youngster. Rod Lee, of the Peterborough Celtic Supporters’ Club is the man behind the campaign.
‘I was just thinking about this 10-year-old boy, who got up on Sunday, excited for his team playing the biggest game in three years,’ Lee said. ‘I put myself in the position of that boy and thought of the memory that’s been created for him and that mentality of hope over hate became really important for me. I felt I couldn’t do anything. I don’t know the boy or his family. I just felt we had to do something. With any money we raise as a community we can say here, have a holiday, or go and see Rangers again, create a new memory.’
The game on Sunday, which Celtic won 2-0, saw 37 arrests but the incident involving the child was by far one of the most commented on and highlighted in recent days. So far the money raised is in excess of €680 and Rod is hoping that the funds can go some way to apologising for what happened.
‘We thought if we raised a bit of money we would go to the media and and try and get in touch with family that way to transfer the money with a note from all of us to say we’re really sorry, this shouldn’t have happened, we’re ashamed. We can’t undo the past but hopefully can make the future a bit better.’
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