THE FALLOUT

Rangers allege Morelos was racially abused and demand action

RANGERS have claimed Alfredo Morelos was subjected to racial abuse during Sunday’s Old Firm clash at Parkhead and have demanded ‘all measures’ are taken to identify the culprits.

The 23-year-old Colombian was sent off in the closing stages of the contest where Rangers ran out 2-1 winners and will now sit out the first three matches after the winter break. As he left the field, the striker appeared to make a throat-slitting gesture towards Celtic fans.

After footage surfaced on social media yesterday, Rangers claimed that Morelos had been subjected to racist abuse from the home stands.

And a Rangers spokesman said: ‘We believe Alfredo was racially abused and we would expect now that all measures will be taken to identify and deal with those responsible.’

Celtic last night vowed to investigate any instances of racist abuse aimed at

Morelos — but insisted that none had yet been reported to the club. ‘We are aware of the gestures made by the player towards Celtic supporters,’ a Parkhead spokesman said. ‘We have received no reports of any racial abuse but would fully investigate any should these be brought to our attention.’ Morelos was sent off by referee Kevin Clancy (below) after being shown a second yellow card for diving in a bid to win a penalty at the end of the game. He was left furious by the decision and made his feelings clear in the direction of the Celtic fans by appearing to make the gesture to his throat as he walked off. It is not yet clear whether the SFA compliance officer intends to take any action over that incident, as it would not be subject to Fast Track procedures, but Morelos was defended by his club yesterday. ‘There can be little doubt Alfredo is singled out for special attention, on and off the field of play,’ a statement on the club website read. ‘Indeed, some of the things said and written about him leave a lot to be desired and do nothing to suggest Scottish football is the most welcoming of environments. ‘Even Alfredo’s gesture as he left the pitch is now being portrayed in some quarters as something sinister when, in fact, it is a gesture used commonly throughout South America to indicate quite simply that something — in this case, the match — is finished.’ Morelos will now miss the Premiership matches against St Mirren and Hearts next month as the cumulative effect of an earlier red card against Motherwell means he incurs a two-match ban. The former HJK Helsinki player is already suspended for the Scottish Cup tie against Stranraer that marks Rangers’ return from the winter break on January 17. That is a ban carried over from last season after Rangers failed to overturn another diving yellow card from Clancy in their quarter-final replay loss to Aberdeen in March.