I CONFESS I did not reel back in amazement when I heard the news Police Scotland had decided not to punish Vaclav Cerny after his idiotic actions at Parkhead 16 days ago.
I wasn’t even one bit surprised that it took the law of the land over a fortnight to work their way through cobwebbed thinking to deliver their pronouncement.
The judiciary, in their infinite wisdom, washed their hands of Watergate and a spokesperson informed us: “We received information, enquiries were carried out and no criminality has been established.”
Fairly meaninglessly, the statement added: “Officers have engaged with the club and advice was given.”
Move along now, nothing to see here.
Okay, no one was hurt when the Rangers winger thought it would be a jolly wheeze to squirt water into the faces of Celtic fans as he went through his extremely provocative celebration routine after the visitors had scored what turned out to be the winning goal in the 88th minute.
LITTLE SQUIRT…Vaclav Cerny sprays water on Celtic fans as he celebrates his side’s third goal.
The daft party piece was not the point of the judicial exercise. Or, at least, it shouldn’t have been. Couldn’t the decision-makers pool their grey cells to focus on the bigger picture?
How about an angry reaction at a stadium that had 57,500 Celtic fans in attendance at that precise moment?
What if the insane antics of someone who knows as much about splitting an atom as he does the history of the-often fragile west of Scotland temperament had incensed a few individuals to exact their own instant retribution?
No one should ever take the law into their own hands, that goes without saying, but supporters can be emotional, highly-strung individuals and have been known to react when they believe they have been insulted.
It doesn’t take much to trigger illogical and ugly responses from some folk who masquerade as football followers.
It was around this time last year that a peabrain fired a bottle at Matt O’Riley after the former Celtic midfielder had tucked a penalty-kick behind Jack Butland.
HIT AND MISS…Matt O’Riley celebrates his penalty goal against Rangers at Ibrox last season as a bottle narrowly misses the Celtic midfielder.
The impromptu weapon didn’t strike the player, but that was more down to good fortune than some dullard’s precision in throwing missiles at folk who have somehow managed to irk their sensitivities.
And what can we say about the imbecile who ‘welcomed’ Arne Engels to Ibrox on January 2 when he launched a coin at the Belgian’s face as the Celt went to take a throw-in late in the game?
What triggered that flashpoint moment? The hosts were coasting three goals ahead near the end of a mystifyingly awful display from the champions when some lout fired the object that hit the player just above the eye.
We don’t need to elaborate on what sort of serious injury could have been inflicted upon the midfielder.
There was the usual outcry. We were informed the SFA and Police Scotland were joining forces to probe the dangerous and shameful occurrence. “We’ll root out the villains.” Blah, blah. We’ve heard it all before.
Even an apparent intellectual lightweight such as Cerny, who was on the pitch at the time of the Engels incident, might just have realised these can be volatile occasions where some sets of fans don’t need too much encouragement to spark a riot.
STARTLED…Arne Engels reacts after being hit just above the eye by a coin ay Ibrox in January. A concerned Cameron Carter-Vickers offers support.
The judiciary top brass, though, have missed an open goal to make a valid point to players and supporters alike that any such actions would be frowned upon. In doing so, I believe they have set a dangerous precedent.
The Czechia international escaped without any form of censure, not even a mild rap across the knuckles.
Police Scotland had been presented with the ideal opportunity to show the might of the iron fist, but, instead, they opted for the velvet glove. No verbal warning. Zilch.
As I said, no one was harmed by the player’s barmy actions. Likewise, there are no casualties if, for instance, an over-excited individual wants to make certain inflammatory hand signals to opposing fans.
As we are all aware, such ill-advised posturing may not be welcomed by the more unstable among the onlookers in the vicinity.
Tempers have been known to flare in such moments. I’m a born and bred Glaswegian. I know what I’m talking about.
Brendan Rodgers was on the button when he stated: “I think it’s a lack of respect if a player runs up a touchline and he’s squirting a water bottle in the supporters’ face. I certainly wouldn’t want my players to do it.
“I think we all know there’s a line that we shouldn’t cross.”
Cerny crossed that line and, as far as Police Scotland are concerned, got away with it.
Now let’s see what the SFA have to say when they eventually exhaust their probe and go public with their findings.
Can you feel the tension continue to mount, dear reader?
No, me neither.
ALEX GORDON
