Rangers face UEFA sanctions after bottle thrown at Bayer Leverkusen players

Glass container hurled towards players as they celebrated goal

Bayer Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby (L) picks up a Buckfast bottle that was thrown onto the pitch

Rangers are likely to find themselves in hot water with UEFA after an incident during last night’s 3-1 Europa League last-16 first-leg loss to Bayer Leverkusen.

As the German team celebrated Leon Bailey’s 88th-minute goal, a glass bottle was thrown from a section housing Rangers supporters in the direction of the players on the pitch.

French forward Moussa Diaby picked up the bottle after the event.

European football’s governing body has already issued partial stadium closures to the Ibrox side as a punishment for sectarian singing, with two earlier Europa League games going ahead with closed-off sections.

The bottle incident is unlikely to be glossed over by UEFA delegates and, given previous behaviour, Rangers will likely be braced for a hefty punishment.

However, any sanction may be delayed indefinitely, with the coronavirus pandemic likely to postpone European football competitions for the foreseeable future.