Steven Gerrard says alleged comment by Ross County's Michael Gardyne 'doesn't belong on a football pitch'

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has urged Ross County to get to the bottom of an alleged offensive remark by Michael Gardyne which angered his players in Dingwall on Sunday.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard was unhappy with an unspecified alleged comment made by Ross County player Michael Gardyne during the Ibrox side's 4-0 win in Dingwall on Sunday. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)

County winger Gardyne was booked by referee John Beaton in the immediate aftermath of a flashpoint which had seen his team-mate Iain Vigurs cautioned for a foul on Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos.

Several Rangers players, including captain James Tavernier and Connor Goldson, were visibly upset by Gardyne’s comment and complained to Beaton. Gerrard also approached the match official about the incident when the teams were leaving the pitch at half-time of Rangers’ 4-0 Premiership victory.

“I only heard what my players were saying they heard,” said Gerrard. “That wasn't good, that's what I can say.

“This is a situation for Ross County, their manager Stuart Kettlewell and the officials to deal with.

“But what my players are saying they heard, it shouldn't be heard on a football pitch. That's all I'm going to say on it.”

Pressed on what kind of comment it was, Gerrard replied: “I'm not getting involved in that, it's not my business. It's not my business to go there. But I'll be interested to see how it's dealt with by the opposition.

“I wanted to know if the referee heard what my players heard. He said he never, so from there I just moved on and went to do my half-time team talk and focused on the game.

“But what was apparently said, it doesn't belong on a football pitch.

“Look there's no place for it. There's campaigns for this kind of stuff to get it eradicated out of the game. We want to be at the forefront of backing these campaigns.

“But this wasn't one of my players, so it's not really for me to deal with, it's for Ross County and the officials to deal with moving forward.

“But we will continue to back every campaign if it makes the game better.”

County manager Kettlewell has promised to fully investigate the allegations.

"If it's something we deem out of order, he (Gardyne) will be punished, there's no doubt about it,” said Kettlewell.

“I know what John Beaton's version of it is. What I’ll have to do now is get it from the words of Michael Gardyne.”

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