The former Crystal Palace owner reckons that Police Scotland should not be involved amid a probe of the flashpoint
12:06, 19 Mar 2025Updated 12:32, 19 Mar 2025
Simon Jordan discusses Vaclav Cerny's celebration for Rangers against Celtic
Simon Jordan discusses Vaclav Cerny's celebration for Rangers against Celtic
Simon Jordan has told Rangers they should punish Vaclav Cerny for soaking Celtic fans on derby day.
And he warned Police Scotland and the SFA over turning the 'watergate' saga into a "four act play" in the wake of the derby day fallout.
Article continues below
Cops and Scottish football's governing body are examining the flashpoint that took place after Hamza Igamane's last-gasp winner at Celtic Park.
TV footage showed the Czech winger spraying a bottle of water in the direction of the home support during wild celebrations from the Rangers players and management.
Former Crystal Palace owner Jordan told talkSPORT: "We know the nature of the fixture, and we know this is a fixture which has denied away fans into the stadium - so we don't really want players inciting anything more than they will do by scoring goals and celebrating in front of fans.
"It's a stupid thing to have done. It's certainly a club matter, the club should be dealing with him. I am not sure what the police will do. I am not entirely sure what they can charge him with, but it's a silly thing to do given the tinderbox that game will be.
"Was it premeditated or was it simply emotion overcoming someone? It's a stupid thing to do. Fans are there for a slightly different reason that professional footballers - fans are there to support their club. They are not particularly balanced.
"The key is you are a professional, a professional footballer, so what he did there I think was bloody stupid; explainable to some extent. If he had run along the the touchline and made a hand gesture then there will be incitement there as well.
"But I am not sure where the police go with it, what is this insurgent? Is this a Donald Trump moment where they charge him with giving the Celtic fans licence to riot?"
Fellow pundit Danny Murphy added: "It was stupid. I don't see if being a police matter. He has got carried away. He will be fined by the club and he might even get a ban."
Vaclav Cerny sprays water at the Celtic fans
Vaclav Cerny sprays water at the Celtic fans
Host Jim White noted that it had become a police matter, with Murphy snipping: "Well, that is ridiculous."
Jordan cut in: "I think that is more optics. Again, I pose the point, what are you going to charge him with? Over-celebrating?
"So every time a player runs towards and oppositions fans the police get involved? I know he fired some water but he can say 'I was firing it in the air in celebration, it wasn't aimed at Celtic fans, there was no intent in my actions' - I'm not sure what the police are going to charge him with."
Liverpool hero Murphy said: "It's an easy one to solve; if you are physically involved with supporters then you are in the wrong. It doesn't matter what you squirt on them, you are in the wrong."
Pressed on if he would fine him, Jordan said: "I think so. If nothing else, to send a message that ultimately head this off at the pass.
"People are going to make a four act play out of this now; the old bill will make a four act play out of this, the SFA will make a four act play out of this and to some extent Celtic will make a four act play out of this because they got beat."
Article continues below
Listen to Record Sport's newest podcast,Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.