Frank McAvennie Dismisses Rumours of Martin O’Neill Dropping Celtic Duo Over Pub Video
Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie has rubbished speculation that Martin O’Neill dropped Julian Araujo and Tomas Cvancara as punishment for their involvement in a post match pub celebration following the Scottish Cup victory over Rangers.
Online rumours suggested the pair faced disciplinary action after footage allegedly showed Araujo “swinging from the rafters in a pub” while Cvancara held up a phone displaying a message taunting the Ibrox club. The gossip claimed O’Neill had specifically instructed his squad to maintain a low profile, only to be confronted with unwanted headlines the following morning.
McAvennie, speaking on the Let Me Be Frank Podcast, rejected the theory outright, drawing on his own experiences as a player. “My manager said that to me all the time,” he recalled. “Never worked. I never got dropped. I was always ready for the game. You have to have your best players on the park.”
The former Scotland international expressed disbelief that O’Neill would sideline key personnel during a crucial stage of the title race. “I can’t see Martin sacrificing players if we are going to try and win the league. That’s our best players. I can’t see Martin doing that. I can’t see Martin sacrificing that.”
The factual evidence supports McAvennie’s scepticism. O’Neill has already clarified the genuine nature of Araujo’s injury, while Cvancara actually played and scored in a penalty shootout against Motherwell a full week after the alleged incident, directly contradicting claims of a disciplinary exile.
With Celtic trailing in the title race and seven matches remaining, McAvennie argued that O’Neill cannot afford to indulge in such distractions. The need for a reliable goalscorer and fully fit squad takes precedence over punishing players for celebrations that occurred after a significant cup triumph.