Soccer

RANGERS fans unfurled a provocative banner before kick-off against Celtic in the final Old Firm match of the season.The final derby showdown of the season saw Hoops fans return to an away league encounter at Ibrox for the first time in more than two years.The players walked out to a raucous reception at IbroxCredit: PACeltic fans returned to Ibrox for the first time in more than two yearsCredit: ReutersA banner featuring Graeme Souness’ image was unfurled as the players enteredCredit: PAIt read ‘take aim against the rebel scum’Credit: KENNY RAMSAYThat’s after the fan lockout that had prevented away supporters attending matches at their rivals’ stadiums was finally ended before the previous clash at Celtic Park.The last time Celtic supporters were at a derby at Ibrox was to see a thrilling 2-2 draw back in January 2023.As the teams made their way out in front of a raucous capacity crowd, a giant display was unfurled in the Copland Stand.The massive tifo contained a massive image of Gers legend Graeme Souness pointing a shotgun.The positioning of the shotgun itself on the banner appeared to be pointing directly towards where the Celtic supporters were sitting.They’re sat in the opposite corner of the stadium from the display in the corner between the Broomloan and Sandy Jardine stands.The bottom of the banner carried the words: “Take aim against the rebel scum.”The image of Souness used in the banner is a real picture taken back in June 1982 ahead of Scotland’s World Cup clash against New Zealand.Most read in FootballJust over a month ago, Rangers were hit with a suspended stadium closure by Uefa in relation to a previous banner display.The ultras section, within the Copland Stand, unfurled a banner during the Europa League clash with Fenerbahce at Ibrox.It read: “Keep woke foreign ideologies out. Defend Europe.”What does Rangers takeover mean for the club – finance expert speaks outRangers subsequently blasted their own fans over the banner that was deemed ‘racist and/or discriminatory’ by Uefa.The club fumed: “It is, however, deeply saddening and frankly embarrassing that the club is now set to face significant sanctions for the actions of a very small minority.”Firstly, the club has been charged by UEFA after a handful of supporters displayed what UEFA describe as a “racist and/or discriminatory banner” at last Thursday’s Ibrox meeting with Fenerbahce.”Rangers is a modern, progressive football club, and we are fiercely proud of our diverse playing squads, workforce and support. For the club to be charged with such a matter in 2025 is shameful, and the disdain for those responsible will be shared by the overwhelming majority of our supporters.”This charge will bring consequences for the club, while the club is also working to identify those responsible and will ensure they also face consequences.”Rangers v Celtic player ratingsRANGERS: Kelly 7, Tavernier 7, Balogun 7, Souttar 7, Jefte 5, Diomande 7, Raskin 8, Barron 7, Cerny 5, Dessers 6, Bajrami 5.Gers subs: Hagi 1 (Bajrami, 66), Igamane (1 Cerny, 66), Rice 2 (Hagi, 83), Danilo 1 (Diomande, 90).CELTIC: Sinisalo 7, Ralston 7, Carter-Vickers 7, Scales 6, Taylor 7, Engels 7, McGregor 7, Hatate 7, Forrest 6, Idah 7, Maeda 6.Celtic subs: Bernardo 3 (Engels, 63), Yang  3 (Forrest, 63), Schlupp 1 (Taylor, 79), Kenny 1 (Idah, 84).Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More

DAIZEN MAEDA’S wife didn’t deliver.When it came to the stoppage time chance her husband had at Ibrox, neither did he.Adam Idah celebrates his equaliser with Celtic team-matesCredit: PACyriel Dessers after putting Rangers aheadCredit: GettyBut then this was an Old Firm derby at Ibrox that saw both teams labour.Mrs Maeda still hadn’t given birth with the Celtic forward having a wasted trip back home to Japan last week.By time up here, though, both Barry Ferguson and Brendan Rodgers were satisfied enough with the outcome – after 90-odd exhausting minutes – knowing neither of their Rangers and Celtic teams did enough to win it.Decisions and VAR checks could have gone differently, sure they could.But the two goals from strikers Cyriel Dessers and Adam Idah saw a share of the spoils on an afternoon when few could have any real complaints.Idah had a great chance to make it 1-0 to Celtic just 36 SECONDS before Rangers took the lead.The striker was put right through on goal but lacked the conviction in the moment.There was a little slip, sure. Most read in FootballBut that shouldn’t have prevented him from hitting the back of the net.Credit to Liam Kelly who made himself as big as he possibly could have made himself.Celtic fans demand ‘build him a statue’ after Daizen Maeda trolls Rangers during four-in-a-row title partyRangers v Celtic player ratingsRANGERS: Kelly 7, Tavernier 7, Balogun 7, Souttar 7, Jefte 5, Diomande 7, Raskin 8, Barron 7, Cerny 5, Dessers 6, Bajrami 5.Gers subs: Hagi 1 (Bajrami, 66), Igamane (1 Cerny, 66), Rice 2 (Hagi, 83), Danilo 1 (Diomande, 90).CELTIC: Sinisalo 7, Ralston 7, Carter-Vickers 7, Scales 6, Taylor 7, Engels 7, McGregor 7, Hatate 7, Forrest 6, Idah 7, Maeda 6.Celtic subs: Bernardo 3 (Engels, 63), Yang  3 (Forrest, 63), Schlupp 1 (Taylor, 79), Kenny 1 (Idah, 84).But it was a definitely miss more than a save.It wasn’t the first time, either, that Idah wasted a fantastic opportunity at that end of the pitch.Early on, with only eight minutes on the clock, he burst forward and had James Forrest supporting him to his right.A good pass and the winger was in.But that’s not what Forrest got and the chance was gone.Later, Idah would show he’s got something to offer in the penalty box when he did score.But it’s wasted opportunities like those which will make Rodgers believe he has to sign a new No9 in the summer.Celtic would have been kicking themselves that they were behind at half-time.They weren’t dominated by any stretch of the imagination. Rangers were denied the lead by a tight VAR call after 24 minutes when Nico Raskin had stepped half a yard off-side at a free-kick whipped into the box by James Tavernier.But Celtic’s press was making it extremely difficult for Rangers to get out of their own half and they should have made more of it.The home side were also finding it difficult to cope with the movement of Arne Engels who kept getting himself into little pockets of space between the Rangers midfield and defence. At left-back, Jefte didn’t know when to get tight on Forrest and when to drop off.Raskin came onto a game, though. The young Belgian was up for it, alright, and got better and better throughout the first-half.Celtic captain Callum McGregor tried desperately to rile him up – and should have been booked for a late challenge on him after half an hour – but Raskin ignored his taunts.If there was someone out there leading the fight for Rangers then it was him.When it came to Dessers’ goal, his finish was cool, calm and collected.Centre-back Liam Scales won’t enjoy watching it back as he was far too weak and timid in his attempt to stop the striker from scoring.But Dessers deserves top marks for being able to keep his composure, especially when he’s had so little involvement in the game until then.Incredibly, before he scored, he’d had just FIVE touches of the ball in the first-half.The game was literally passing him by.And yet, despite that, he was the man celebrating the opening goal as he took his tally for the season to 25.Celtic had to respond in the second-half, and did.Idah’s equaliser on 57 minutes was initially ruled out by an off-side flag with Daizen Maeda seemingly the guilty man.But a VAR check showed the Japanese frontman wasn’t anywhere he shouldn’t have been when Idah fired past Kelly.It initially looked like the Rangers deputy goalkeeper’s line of vision was impacted by Maeda, who was offside, but that wasn’t the case.With the game level again, it felt like Celtic would go up a gear. Rodgers took off Engels and Forrest and replaced them with Hyunjun Yang and Paulo Bernardo.But Rangers were always dangerous on the counter-attack, especially when Ferguson changed Nedim Bajrami and Vaclav Cerny for Hamza Igamane and Ianis Hagi.Cerny was clearly furious with Ferguson’s decision to take him off with the game in the balance.After trudging off, he elbowed the dugout perspex three times.Had he maybe shown that kind of aggression out on the pitch then maybe he would still have been out there.There was absolutely no doubting the Czech’s ability and quality. But he’s seemingly one who doesn’t seem to understand that these games demand more than that.Rangers were soon taking Hagi back off the park after he was hurt by a tackle inside the Celtic box.The Romanian claimed for a penalty but referee Nick Walsh was having none of it and VAR didn’t get involved either.It was maybe always drifting toward a draw.Yet in the final seconds of seven minutes of stoppage time, Maeda had a terrific chance to win the game.He sprinted forward from his own half and had young substitute Johnny Kenny to his left, but wrongly chose to go it alone.That gave Kelly a chance to smoother the ball and he did.Read More on The SunWithin seconds, the final whistle had gone and it was over.Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More