Neil Lennon made an unusual attempt to inject humor into a serious incident at Parkhead involving Rangers captain James Tavernier being targeted with missiles. Following Rangers’ 2-1 defeat on May 11, Lennon condemned the items thrown at Tavernier during a second-half corner kick, describing it as “awful” and expressing his disapproval. However, Lennon took a surprising turn when he joked about one of the missiles being a cannabis grinder, humorously connecting it to former striker Kenny Miller’s recent controversial comments about a red card incident involving John Lundstram.
Receiving chuckles from James McFadden and presenter Eilidh Barbour, Lennon quipped, “I hear it was a marijuana grinder or something like that. So maybe Kenny threw it down, who knows. But no look, I don’t want to make light of it, it’s unacceptable.”
While Tavernier wasn’t harmed by the incident, the act of throwing objects at players is unequivocally wrong, a fact that Rangers themselves have faced criticism for in the past. This incident highlights a disturbing trend of fan misconduct that extends beyond this particular derby clash, with players like Hearts’ Lawrence Shankland also coming under fire from opposing supporters.
Miller’s controversial stance on Lundstram’s red card made him an easy target for Lennon’s tongue-in-cheek remarks. Rather than focusing on the questionable decisions in the match, Miller’s attention was drawn to Lundstram’s sending off, diverting from more critical aspects of the game.
Rangers, who have faced a series of disappointments in Old Firm derbies, including this recent loss, have some self-assessment to do, particularly in their midfield performance. Mohamed Diomande’s struggles and Lundstram’s problematic showing underscored the team’s issues during the game.
In light of the ongoing title race and the need for introspection at Ibrox, incidents like the one involving Tavernier cannot go unpunished. It serves as a reminder of the need for mutual respect and sportsmanship in football, transcending the intensity of rivalry on the pitch.
