Young Rangers fan’s teeth smashed by bottle attack

Kieran Duffy with his father Robert at London Road Police Station in Glasgow. Picture: PA

Rangers fan Kieran Duffy was on a family outing to last Sunday’s Old Firm game at Hampden in Glasgow when his bus was attacked by a group of fans, leaving him in hospital.

His father Robert condemned the “coward” who threw a glass beer bottle in through the side door of their supporters’ bus when it was sitting in traffic on Cathcart Road, in the Mount Florida area, on the way to the match.

Police are looking for a man wearing green and a white beanie-style hat.

Kieran Duffy with his parents Robert and Amanda. Picture: Hemedia

Kieran, who was on the bus with his father and twin brother Declan, said: “I was scared – I didn’t know what had happened.

“I looked at my brother and saw he was crying. My hand was covered in blood and I realised something was wrong.”

Kieran, who required stitches, said: “I swallowed a tooth and one of them was cracked in two.”

Mr Duffy, 39, said: “I would say it is a cowardly act. He is a coward.

“They are not real football fans. I am hopeful that the real football fans in that group tell someone who was responsible for this.”

Around 50,000 fans attended the league cup semi-final which saw Celtic and Rangers meet for the first time in almost three years.

Mr Duffy said they set off from their home in the Springboig area of the city in the car but as they approached the stadium he thought it would be easier and safer to get on a supporters’ bus.

He said his season ticket-holder sons were “very excited” to be going to their first match outside Ibrox, and were laughing on the bus when a group of fans in the street began shouting abuse at the driver.

The door was opened and the bottle was launched inside.

Mr Duffy said: “It hit my elbow but I didn’t realise the state Kieran was in.

“He was drenched in blood. If it had been two inches up, we’d have been talking life or death. It could have been a lot worse.

“He’s been left with minimal scarring – the surgeon did a great job.”

Kieran and his brother had been looking forward to the match since the draw, he said.

“Minutes before, they had been laughing on the bus, they couldn’t wait. We were almost there and then it all just changed in an instant. I was on the ground, just about to collapse. Seeing your son in that mess, it knocked me for six. I nearly fainted.”

My Duffy called his wife Amanda, 38, who he said was “hysterical” when he told her what had happened.

Kieran was taken by ambulance to Yorkhill Hospital where he was treated overnight.

Celtic supporters have clubbed together to help raise nearly £2,000 for the youngster.

A total of 56 people have been reported to the Crown Office for football-related offences following the match, which Celtic won 2-0.

Police have appealed for witnesses. Statistics published on Monday showed that domestic abuse across the west of Scotland fell by more than one-third on the day of the Old Firm game.