Tempers Flare at Rugby Park: Liam Scales in Post-Match Clash After Celtic’s Stunning Comeback
Celtic’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Kilmarnock on Sunday ended in scenes of high tension as defender Liam Scales became embroiled in a heated confrontation with Killie manager Neil McCann and young forward Findlay Curtis.
The match itself was a tale of two halves. Kilmarnock appeared to be cruising toward a famous win after a dominant opening period, with goals from Tyreece John-Jules and debutant Joe Hugill establishing a 2-0 lead. However, Martin O’Neill’s side mounted a fierce second-half recovery. Following a goal from Benjamin Nygren and a moment of magic from Sebastian Tounekti, Julian Araujo struck in the dying seconds of stoppage time to snatch all three points for the visitors.
The Post-Match Altercation
The late winner left emotions raw at the final whistle. As the teams gathered to shake hands, Scales reacted angrily toward Curtis, the 19-year-old Rangers loanee.
- The Spark: While the exact verbal exchange remains unclear, the friction likely stemmed from Curtis’s earlier celebrations, where he enthusiastically mocked the traveling Celtic support after Kilmarnock’s goals.
- The Confrontation: Scales refused the teenager’s handshake, prompting Neil McCann and Liam Polworth to intervene. McCann was seen in a spirited exchange with the Irish international while shielding his young player from the brewing row.
McCann’s Post-Match Reflection
Despite the late-game drama, McCann focused on his disappointment regarding the result, lamenting his side’s inability to see out the win.
“I’m so disappointed because I truly believe that we deserved something from the game,” McCann remarked. “The last [goal] today was the sorest clearly as it was right at the end of the game with a minute left.”
McCann acknowledged Celtic’s second-half pressure and tactical substitutions but pointed to his team’s failure to deal with “second balls” in the box—a recurring issue following a similar defensive collapse against St Mirren.
