Celtic fan sacked from job after 'completely unacceptable' mocking of Ibrox disaster at Old Firm game
Footage of him appearing to mock the disaster went viral on social media.
A Celtic fan has been sacked from his job after he was captured on camera appearing to mock the Ibrox disaster at the Old Firm game on Sunday. It comes after shocking video footage of the supporter mocking the disaster went viral on social media.
In the clip, the man, who has now been named as Darren Malloch, can be seen taunting the tragedy by displaying the numbers 66 on his phone screen. He then goes on to show the numbers with his fingers after putting his mobile phone away.
The vile incident was filmed at Ibrox Stadium during Sunday's Rangers v Celtic clash. The number is in reference to the 66 Rangers fans who lost their lives in the Ibrox disaster 44 years ago in a crush after an Old Firm game on January 2, 1971.
Malloch was a project manager with Advance Construction Scotland - however the company have since announced that his employment has been terminated in the wake of the shameful images.
A spokesperson for Advance Construction told the Record: "We can confirm that an individual has been dismissed from our employment, following an incident involving completely unacceptable behaviour at the recent Rangers v Celtic football match.
"As a company, we hold all employees to the highest standards of conduct, both inside and outside the workplace.
"In line with our disciplinary procedures, we will not tolerate or condone this behaviour. We believe that Police Scotland is also investigating this incident, and therefore, we are unable to make any further comment on the matter."
Earlier today Rangers Football Club slammed the "abhorrent" mocking of the disaster. It said that the tragedy, which took place in 1971, remains the darkest day in the club's history.
Police earlier confirmed they were investigating the clip, with inquiries currently ongoing.
A spokesperson for Rangers said: 'The Ibrox disaster remains the darkest day in our club's history and continues to affect a number of families to this day. The mocking and celebration of any tragedy is abhorrent, and has no place in any football stadium or society as a whole.'
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Furious football fans from all sides bashed the clip after it was posted on X.
One labelled it as "Pathetic behaviour", while another wrote: "Banter is one thing, but that's not banter. That's subhuman taking joy in others dying because they supported a team they hate."
A third encouraged the Parkhead side to ban the man: "Life ban for this scumbag @CelticFC."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the incident and enquiries are ongoing.'
The points were shared between the Old Firm rivals to Ibrox as the match finished 1-1 on Sunday, May 4, in a game which was not short of controversy on or off the park. Rangers slammed their own fans for the 'unacceptable' tifo display before the clash at Ibrox and the supporter who threw a bottle onto the pitch.
Ahead of the game, the Copland Road stand unfurled a huge banner with a famous photo of legendary Rangers boss Graeme Souness holding a double-barrelled shotgun in the direction of the Celtic fans with the words 'take aim against the rebel scum'.
That has angered Ibrox chiefs, with the club in the final discussions with Americans over a takeover.
A Rangers spokesperson said: ' Rangers Football Club condemns the actions of the individual who threw a bottle during today's match.
'This behaviour has no place at our stadium. Steps have already been taken to identify the person responsible, and the club will take the strongest possible action once their identity is confirmed.
'We also acknowledge that the tifo displayed prior to kick-off crossed a line and was unacceptable. Our approach to supporter displays has always been built on trust, with the responsibility placed on groups to exercise good judgement.
'We will reflect on how these displays are managed and engage with supporter groups to ensure the right balance of trust, responsibility and oversight is maintained moving forward.
'Rangers is proud of its passionate fanbase, and we all share a duty to protect the standards and reputation of our club.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
11 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Cash paid to ride Dumfries and Galloway Council buses wasn't banked for 10 months
An audit has revealed that when money was paid in, it went into the wrong bank account. Cash paid to use Dumfries and Galloway's buses wasn't banked for 10 months, and when money was paid in, it went into the wrong bank account. The concerns were raised following an internal audit of how cash is handled on Dumfries and Galloway Council buses. The local authority runs 18 bus routes across the region – six out of Castle Douglas, 11 out of Dumfries and one out of Stranraer. The audit was carried out in December and investigators found no money had been banked for bus fares for the Dumfries or Castle Douglas services since February. The Stranraer money had been banked three times – twice in July and once in December. However, no income was found for one route as 'the driver did not have a licence' to charge fares. The report for Thursday's meeting of the audit, risk and scrutiny committee, adds: 'The legality of operating the service was clarified with legal services.' The report calls for cash to be paid in to the bank 'at least every week', which is now being carried out. The report warns: 'If income is not being submitted this would not be identified. Funds could be stolen.' Auditors also found that while money from Stranraer was going to the correct bank account, the Dumfries and Castle Douglas money was going into a catering account. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. This had now been resolved. And the inspectors wanted to see one person made responsible for all cash and bus income given to the transport officer to avoid the risk of 'cash not being handed in in full'.
Daily Mail
19 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Tottenham star Micky van de Ven breaks silence on Ange Postecoglou's sacking after Europa League win - as Spurs close in on Thomas Frank appointment
Tottenham star Micky van de Ven has called the decision to part ways with Ange Postecoglou 'strange' after delivering the club's first trophy in 17 years last month. The former Celtic manager was dismissed by Daniel Levy after a hugely disappointing Premier League campaign with Tottenham finishing 17th, however he did claim the Europa League final. He beat a Manchester United side that had been almost as poor domestically, but it was not enough to save his job, as Spurs looked to part ways over the summer to give his replacement an opportunity to bed in and rebuild the side ahead of the new season. 'That was ultimately a choice from the club,' Van de Ven told Voetbal Zone of Levy's decision. 'We, as players, have little to say about that. Of course, he is the first coach in a long time who has won a trophy has had success at Spurs. So if you look at it that way, it is of course a strange choice. 'It is a choice from the club about which we have little to say, so we will see what happens now. Of course, we see some rumours about the Brentford head coach [Frank], who it will probably be. So yes, a choice from the club about which we have little to say. 'I think many of the players got along with [Postecoglou] well. And of course, what I say, he is the first coach who has brought success to Spurs in a long time. That also shows that he has a certain quality. That also means that he has a winning mentality. 100 per cent. 'From that, you would of course say that it is strange that he was fired. What we have shown in the Premier League is, of course, unacceptable. That would, of course, have multiple factors, but that would not only have been the coach.' As Van de Ven mentioned, Spurs are expected to appoint Thomas Frank as Postecoglou's successor in the coming days, with the Brentford manager's release clause set to be paid out. Mail Sport reported on Monday that Frank has a release clause thought to be around £10million, but those with knowledge of the situation believe it is heading towards a positive conclusion. Negotiations have now started, with chairman Daniel Levy representing Tottenham and Phil Giles, Brentford's director of football, in talks. Aside from the release fee, discussions are also likely to focus on Frank's backroom staff, and the level of compensation needed to allow them to follow him from west to north London. The Bees will demand suitable recompense for a manager who has been with the club for close to a decade and who has overseen a period of remarkable success. Frank arrived at the club in 2016 as assistant head coach and was appointed manager in 2018. In his first full season in charge he led them to the play-off final and followed it up with promotion to the Premier League. Over the past four years he has firmly established Brentford as a top-flight club.
The Herald Scotland
42 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Dor Turgeman told to make Rangers transfer by ex-Celtic flop
And Berkovic - who had a disastrous spell at Parkhead after Celtic splashed out a then-huge sum of £5.75 million for the Israeli international back in 1999 under John Barnes - reckons Rangers would be a good option for Turgeman. Berkovic said: "Rangers and Celtic are both big clubs who play in the Champions League often... but also in a very boring league. Read more: "But the big difference between going to Scotland and say somewhere like FC Copenhagen is that Rangers and Celtic are on British TV every week. "So if you are a star for them, you are watched by English Premier League clubs every week. That's the difference between Scottish and Danish football. "The problem would be to adapt. I can give you examples of dozens of our players who moved to Europe, America and Japan... and disappeared. "It's not easy for an Israeli player to play in zero degrees for six or seven months. It's not easy to live there."
