Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo has said he was struck by an object thrown from the Rangers support during the Old Firm game and there were “30 or 40” missiles thrown including the bottle caught on camera.
Rangers issued a statement after last Sunday’s match at Ibrox, saying they had begun an investigation into what appeared to be an empty Buckfast bottle being thrown onto the pitch, close to the goal being defended by the Celtic keeper.
Sinisalo was seen removing other items from the turf before Rangers substitute Neraysho Kasanwirjo helped by coming on to the pitch and removing the bottle.
He now says around 30 or 40 missiles rained down on to the pitch and that questions need answered about the danger he faced.
“I see some mention that there was a bottle thrown at me but there wasn’t just a bottle,” the goalkeeper said at Celtic’s Friday media conference.
“I was hit with something, not in my upper body but in my lower leg.
“But it wasn’t just a bottle. There was lighters, vapes, coins, mugs, all sorts flying.
“You think of it, if that glass bottle that was on the pitch, what if it hits me or someone else, what happens then?
“What if it hits me in the eye and you can’t play football after that, what happens then? That’s the question that needs answered.”
Though not injured by the object that struck him, Sinisalo admitted it was difficult to look at images of the bottle afterwards and think about how the outcome could have been far more serious.
“I don’t actually know what it was [that hit me],” he said. “My bottle was right by the fans and I’ve gone over to have a drink and I’m not facing them so I don’t know what was getting thrown.
“Not something big because it wasn’t a big impact so probably a vape or something.
“So not just a bottle, quite a few things thrown at us.
“It’s not nice but you try and focus on the game because it’s such an exciting game and so much at stake every time you play.
“You can’t let them affect you because that’s what they want at the end of the day. I’m glad to say they didn’t.
SNS Group“You don’t think about it on the pitch but when you see the pictures of the bottle and go back in the changing room, you think ‘What if it did hit me?’
“I’m glad it didn’t because it could have been bad.
“No one wants it. I’m just trying to do my job. There’s not many jobs in the world where you get bottles thrown at you.”
The Finland international said it wasn’t for him to decide what action should be taken but that it was up to the governing body and Rangers themselves to investigate and deal with those involved, though he said it wassn’t just one or two individuals.
“It’s tough for me to say what needs to be done but I think something should be,” he said.
“I’ve never experienced it and I don’t know how they identify who it is. There’s a lot of them and I’m talking 30 or 40 objects that were on the pitch.
“It’s not just one individual so to identify them is probably hard in itself.
“It’s up to the authorities and the club there to decide what should be done.”
Sunday’s match was not the first time this season that there has been an issue with objects being thrown in the high-profile fixture. During the previous game at Ibrox, Celtic midfielder Arne Engels was struck in the face with a coin thrown from the stand.
Sinisalo cited previous incidents to highlight the scale of the problem.
“I know it’s not the first time it’s happened,” he said. “I was there when Arne was hit by something.
“Greg [Taylor’s] been hit, Joe Hart’s been hit, staff members have been hit.
“It’s not the first time it’s happened but whatever action needs to be taken is up to them.”
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
