Michael Beale fires Old Firm jibe at Rangers and Celtic after Sunderland FA Cup clash v Newcastle
Michael Beale has fired a jibe at Rangers and Celtic for the lack of away fans at Old Firm matches, following Sunderland’s defeat to Newcastle United.
The former Rangers manager saw his side beaten 3-0 in the FA Cup third round by Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light on Saturday 6 January, to crash out of the competition at the earliest possible stage.
Despite the result, Beale was quick to praise the atmosphere in the stands for the clash, suggesting that it “keeps football going” and used the opportunity to fire a quick jibe at his former club and Scottish football in general.
Speaking to beIN Sports (6 January) he said: “The noise in the stadium today was absolutely fantastic. Some derbies, we don’t allow the fans in, and I’ve had that both in Brazil and Scotland.
“So to have the derby with some opponents’ fans in and the fans working off each other, that’s what keeps football going.”
Another dig
Rangers supporters don’t exactly hold a lot of love for Beale and have been vocal in their criticism of the Englishman, both during his tenure at Ibrox and following it, but he seems to be doing his damndest to fire back at the Gers whenever possible.
Almost all Rangers supporters will agree with his assessment that Old Firm derby days would be much more enjoyable if supporters from both sides were allowed to attend fixtures, but there are plenty of other reasons they were miserable occasions during Beale’s tenure.
Maybe if the Gers had won more than one Glasgow derby during the former Rangers manager’s tenure, they would have had more exciting occasions and therefore had an atmosphere closer to that of the Tyne-Wear derby.
Rangers supporters will be relieved that they don’t have to listen to Beale’s excuses anymore and although they may have lost the first Old Firm clash with Celtic under Philippe Clement, the performance was much improved.
In other Rangers news, Gary Keown has suggested that the SFA has made Sky Sports look ridiculous after controversy during the Old Firm derby