Kris Boyd has admitted that he has no problem with celebrations like that of Celtic captain Scott Brown on Sunday, but believes that a line must be drawn somewhere.
Brown was sent off after celebrating with fans following his late winner against Kilmarnock last weekend, leading to widespread debate over whether or not his actions justified a second yellow card.
Killie striker Boyd has defended fans for invading the pitch to celebrate with the veteran Hoops man, but argues that there must be a limit to the behaviour of supporters.
Writing in the Scottish Sun, he said: “One thing I will say is that I don’t have a problem with fans jumping over the perimeter wall when a goal is scored, like Scott Brown’s late winner against us.
“When a goal like that goes in there is a real danger people at the front of the stand could be crushed, so I don’t blame anyone for stepping five yards onto the track.
“What is unacceptable is when teenagers are running all the way to the centre circle to goad players into a reaction. I mean, come on.”
OPINION
Boyd makes a very measured and astute point. Given the structure of the stand at Kilmarnock, it’s no real surprise that some supporters did spill onto the area surrounding the pitch, but there has to be a limit to this kind of behaviour, and last minute goal or not, it does not give away fans the excuse to act in the deplorable way that some did on Sunday. It’s one thing to get swept up in a rush of jubilation, but quite another to take a belligerent view of another team’s players and property, and in that sense a line was crossed. Whether or not Brown deserved a yellow card is another matter entirely. By the letter of the law he had to walk, but looking back on the incident, he did little wrong other than be met by an onrushing group of fans. He has little control over that kind of thing, and may feel relatively aggrieved, although the Hoops captain is big enough and daft enough to know that he had to go.