Engels incident could have been far more serious, warns Rodgers, after Celtic midfielder was struck by coin just above the eye during Ibrox defeat
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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers warned that midfielder Arne Engels could have suffered a serious eye injury if a coin tossed by a Rangers fan had struck him an inch lower. The Ibrox club vowed to help police track down the culprit after Engels went down holding his head while preparing to take a corner in the latter stages of his team’s 3-0 Premiership defeat.
![[Referee Don Robertson hands over the coin that was thrown from the crowd towards Engels]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/02/19/93686245-0-image-a-113_1735847257871.jpg)
The 21-year-old Belgian, who had come on as a substitute, carried on after appearing to suffer no lasting effects. But manager Rodgers said the consequences could have been far worse. ‘An inch lower, (it) would have been right in the eye,’ said the Northern Irishman. ‘It’s obviously not great for the game, but, yes, I think he’s okay.’.
![[A police officer puts the coin thatwas thrown at Celtic's Arne Engels into an evidence bag]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/02/19/93686251-0-image-a-114_1735847261386.jpg)
Engels’ team-mate Alistair Johnston called on supporters to show more respect for the safety of players. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers comforts midfielder Arne Engels at full-time at Ibrox. Referee Don Robertson hands over the coin that was thrown from the crowd towards Engels.
A police officer puts the coin thatwas thrown at Celtic's Arne Engels into an evidence bag. The incident took place in the corner usually frequented by visiting supporters until Rangers and Celtic stopped providing away allocations for derby games. ‘If that hits him in the eye then it’s probably a pretty serious matter but I would just caution everyone to be smart,’ said Canadian full-back Johnston.
‘It’s humans out there, someone’s son, so let’s refrain from chucking things at guys’ heads. ‘Ideally you don’t want anything thrown on the pitch. The words and chants are one thing, you get through that. But you just hope everyone respects the players on the pitch no matter who they play for.’.
