Mixu Paatelainen taunts Dundee fans after late equaliser

Mixu Paatelainen was ushered back to his technical area by police amid wild scenes towards the end of another dramatic Dundee derby yesterday. But the Dundee United manager doesn’t expect to hear from the Scottish Football Association after he taunted rival supporters when his team scored a late equaliser in the 2-2 draw at Tannadice.

Paatelainen led the celebrations when United rescued a point against ten-man Dundee in time added on. The home side trailed to a Kane Hemmings double at the interval but were given hope when Dundee goalkeeper Scott Bain was sent off after 50 minutes for fouling Billy Mckay, who scored from the spot.

The same player scored a header in the dying moments to spark delirium in the home stands – and home dug-out.

Paatelainen had already complained that stewards were not doing their job in placating Dundee fans, who the manager accused of shouting abuse that “would make you blush”. The Finn did not spare them when United equalised, pointing out individuals in the crowd and cupping his ears as if to say “I can’t hear you now”.

He was also photographed making a provocative arm-pumping gesture. Paatelainen appeared to question Dundee United’s segregation arrangements and also criticised the stewarding. “Opponents’ supporters are right behind us. I don’t know why they are there, but they are there,” he said. “It was at some points quite difficult to concentrate on that game because of that.”

Although Rangers player Andy Halliday was recently given a second yellow card for gesturing towards the Morton fans from the centre-circle at Cappielow, Paatelainen is not expecting any retrospective disciplinary action from Tony McLennan, the SFA’s compliance officer. “No, surely not. Why? What have I done? I would be very surprised if there was any action. It’s part and parcel of the game.”

He was adamant something “should have been done” to stop the tirade of abuse he claimed he had to endure during the match. He complained that Dundee fans behind him in the Jerry Kerr stand indulged in abuse he found particularly insulting.

“The stewards were not doing their jobs,” he said. “There were no stewards stopping the abuse from the Dundee supporters right above us. That was all. The stewards were having a chat in a group somewhere else and not doing their jobs. That was it, nothing else.

“It was total and utter abuse. I am glad not everyone could have heard because it would make you blush. Whatever you want to call someone, it was all there. I understand Dundee supporters will give us plenty stick and pelters.

“There’s no problem at all, it’s part and parcel of the game. It belongs to the game. But I cannot understand the stewards not doing their jobs. But it was amazing how quiet they [the Dundee fans] got at the end.”

There was also a disagreement between the two coaching teams at half-time – specifically Dundee manager Paul Hartley and Stuart Garden, the United goalkeeper coach – after a clash between Greg Stewart and Paul Dixon shortly before half-time.

But Hartley laughed it off at the end: “It was great stuff, wasn’t it? They felt Stewart had a kick out, we felt he didn’t. But that’s football and it is great.”