Rangers receive PSV apology after unsavoury scenes pre-playoff game
PSV Eindhoven have sent an apology to Rangers for the behaviour of their fans prior to the Champions League playoff, according to Rik Elfrink.
The Dutch Cup holders were eventually beaten 1-0 by Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Light Blues thanks to an Antonio Colak goal in the Netherlands after a 2-2 draw at Ibrox the week prior.
Before the game, PSV fans made for a raucous welcome to the Philips Stadion but things quickly got out of hand and the Eredivisie high-flyers have apologised to the Bears for the incident.
“PSV have apologised to Rangers FC for the bus incident this week,” Elfrink said via his personal Twitter account.
“The club thought this was necessary because the reception was not PSV-worthy and wants to learn lessons from the incident, in consultation with all those involved. The excuse has been appreciated and accepted by Rangers.”
Respect
Given the magnitude of the game and the two teams contesting it, you can hardly condemn the excitement that the PSV and Rangers fans were feeling but a few stepped over the mark.
You have to give respect to the Dutch side for coming out and giving their apologies to the Scottish Cup holders when they could have left it having been beaten in their own backyard.
Ultimately, Rangers got the last laugh anyway in winning the game and setting up a group stage with Liverpool, Napoli and Eindhoven’s bitter rivals Ajax.
Relations between the two clubs won’t be affected by this, especially with Rangers accepting the apology from the hierarchy in Holland, so both outfits can move forward on their own path now.
The Gers have been the centre of some fan controversy themselves over the years but with the world’s eyes on Ibrox in the Champions League, no such drama can find its way to Glasgow.
In other Rangers news, Kenny Dalglish thinks some players may be getting fed up with the antics of one Light Blues player.