Gerrard urges UEFA to punish Porto for missiles

STEVEN Gerrard has called on UEFA to take disciplinary action against Porto after his Rangers players were struck with missiles as they celebrated a goal in their Europa League game in Portugal on Thursday night.

Connor Goldson and scorer Alfredo Morelos were hit by coins and cigarette lighters thrown by the home supporters just before halftime in the Estadio Dragao in a Group G match which the Glasgow club drew 1-1.

Gerrard revealed he was disappointed that match official Nikola Dabanovic had failed to take action despite being told what had happened by Goldson and shown the objects which came onto the pitch by the centre half afterwards.

However, the Liverpool and England great is hopeful that European football’s governing body, who have forced Rangers and other clubs across the continent to close sections of their grounds for offensive chanting, come down hard on the Primeira Liga club.

“It’s certainly something UEFA need to look into because we don’t want to see it and it’s dangerous,” he said. “There isn’t [any justification for it]. And that is why there should be punishments and repercussions for it.

“Reading Connor’s interview, he said that he showed the coins and the lighter to the referee but he didn’t want to do anything about it and that is disappointing. That is what UEFA need to look at it. The referee has a responsibility to protect the players so I will be very interested to see if that is in the report.

“The fans are guilty of it. Connor is not going to make this up. We can’t do anything except hope that UEFA and the referee put it in their report. UEFA are normally pretty consistent so I will be interested to see what the outcome is.”