Celtic’s brutal Old Firm afternoon at Ibrox has produced another flashpoint for supporters to argue about, with Haissem Hassan at the centre of a heated confrontation involving Rangers defender James Penrice.
The Hoops were completely outplayed as Rangers secured a statement 3-0 victory in the Scottish League Cup quarter-final, with Dan Neil scoring twice and Kevin Kelsy adding another to send Derek McInnes’ side into the semi-finals.
But while the scoreline will dominate the headlines, there was one particular moment that had supporters talking almost as much as the goals.
It came during an increasingly physical contest when Hassan was involved in a confrontation with Penrice.
The Celtic winger, who has already quickly established himself as one of the more exciting attacking players in Martin O’Neill’s squad, was clearly unhappy with the treatment he received.
And what happened next only added more fuel to an already fiery Old Firm encounter.
HASSAN WAS CLEARLY FURIOUS
Hassan has quickly become a player Celtic supporters have taken to since arriving at the club.
His ability to take defenders on, accelerate into space and create something from seemingly nothing has made him one of Celtic’s most dangerous attacking outlets.
That was precisely why Rangers were determined to make life difficult for him.
Hassan had already shown in recent games that he can cause serious problems for defenders in one-versus-one situations, with O’Neill previously describing him as a “handful.”
So when the match became increasingly physical, it was hardly surprising that tempers began to rise.
One particular challenge involving Hassan and Penrice appeared to leave the Celtic winger furious.
The situation escalated when the two players confronted each other, with teammates quickly becoming involved before the incident could develop into something more serious.
And according to the account surrounding the incident, Hassan was not simply annoyed about the challenge.
He wanted a response.
THEN CAME THE MOMENT THAT GOT EVERYONE TALKING
The confrontation became even more dramatic when Penrice subsequently booted the ball into Hassan’s face.
That moment immediately sparked another reaction from the Celtic player and drew players from both teams towards the incident.
Rangers supporters online celebrated the togetherness shown by their players, with one fan describing how the entire team immediately backed Penrice and how goalkeeper Ivor Pandur even ran a considerable distance to become involved.
From the Celtic perspective, however, the incident was viewed very differently.
For Hassan, this was no longer simply about football.
The winger looked visibly angry and appeared desperate to respond.
It was exactly the sort of moment that can turn an already intense Old Firm match into something far more personal.
WHAT DID PENRICE SAY?
And this is where the story gets particularly interesting.
The interaction between the two players has become a major talking point because of what was allegedly said in the aftermath.
Hassan’s reaction suggested that whatever was exchanged between the pair only increased his frustration.
Rather than backing down, the Celtic star appeared determined to give Penrice a response on the pitch.
That desire for revenge was obvious in the intensity of his reaction.
But ultimately, Rangers had the last word.
And they had it emphatically.
RANGERS COMPLETELY DOMINATED
Whatever Celtic hoped to achieve at Ibrox quickly disappeared.
Dan Neil opened the scoring before adding another, while Kelsy completed the rout as Rangers produced one of their most impressive performances of the campaign.
Penrice also played an important role in Rangers’ performance, providing dangerous deliveries and contributing to the attacking pressure that repeatedly troubled Celtic.
For Celtic, it was a nightmare afternoon.
The Hoops entered the game with a perfect domestic record but were completely outplayed by their biggest rivals.
The defeat also ended Celtic’s run in the competition and gave McInnes a dream result in his first Old Firm derby as Rangers boss.
CELTIC FANS WILL NOT FORGET THIS ONE
The most frustrating aspect for Celtic supporters is that the match never really developed into the contest many expected.
Instead, Rangers controlled the intensity, won the physical battles and punished Celtic when opportunities arrived.
Hassan’s confrontation with Penrice therefore feels like another symbol of an afternoon when Celtic simply could not impose themselves.
The winger wanted revenge.
He wanted to make a statement.
But Rangers made the biggest statement of them all.
A 3-0 victory at Ibrox.
And with another Old Firm meeting already looming at Celtic Park next weekend, the incident involving Hassan and Penrice could add another layer to what promises to be an explosive rematch.
Celtic now have an opportunity to respond.
But after what happened at Ibrox, the pressure will be enormous.
Because this was not just a defeat.
It was a statement from Rangers.
And judging by the reaction to the Hassan-Penrice confrontation, the bad blood from this one may not disappear anytime soon.
Game truly gone? Celtic fans will certainly have plenty to say about that.
