From the comfort of his armchair Ross Pilcher has blamed Celtic supporters for instigating ‘unsavoury scenes’ as they clashed with Ajax fans last night at the Como Cup.
Michael Gannon was in the stadium for the Record with Pilcher and everyone else watching a stream on Celtic TV.
During the match the cameras showed a few shots of supporters, when you are enjoying northern Italy in summertime there is a good chance that a few beers and some laughter will be around.
There was no hint of ‘unsavoury scenes’ on Celtic TV but that wasn’t going to stop Pilcher from delivering the sort of content that the Record website thrives on.
His claim seems to be entirely based on one short video clip on Twitter, he made it suit his narrative.
During tonight’s Ajax – Celtic match in Como, clashes broke out between the two sets of fans after Celtic supporters waved Palestinian flags.
Ajax Ultras are known for occasionally displaying Israeli flags in the stands. pic.twitter.com/Wfgb3i2gra
— Antifa_Ultras (@ultras_antifaa) July 24, 2025
Almost as soon as the final whistle blew the Record reported:
With Ajax cruising to a comprehensive win, there were unsavoury scenes in the stands, where fans were able to enjoy a beer from their seat while watching their team.
Except a number of Hoops fans decided to make their way towards the perspex barriers separating punters behind the goal and start launching their pint pots towards the Ajax fans and stadium security staff.
The sparked a response from the other side of the clear screens, with Dutch supporters making their way down from their seats to start returning fire.
It’s a desperate look from both sides, especially with a pilot scheme allowing Scottish fans to buy a beer at their own ground ahead of certain games operating back home this summer.
With a predictable headline going out at 9.30pm that story was guaranteed online traffic even though there was no basis in reality to it. Much like tales of billionaires and wealth off the radar.
BREAKING! Watch Celtic and Ajax fans clash as tempers flare and pints fly during Como Cup defeat 📹https://t.co/tGKL9hIGXE pic.twitter.com/pDCvwtxaLW
— Daily Record Sport (@Record_Sport) July 24, 2025
The video clip that appeared on Twitter showed less than a dozen supporters of each club lobbing the occasional plastic beer tumbler over a perspex barrier.
It certainly didn’t make for pleasant viewing but it was well short of ‘launching their pint pots towards the Ajax fans and stadium security staff’ as the Record claimed.
Had Pilcher witnessed that, being a savvy online reporter he would be able to back it up with video evidence.
At a guess he saw one video clip, knew the policy of his employers and quickly put together the story that would gain most attention.
The Record is of course one of Celtic’s preferred media partners.
While Brendan Rodgers saw through them for breaking an off the record briefing early in 2024 Celtic continue to provide the Record and other ‘newspapers’ with exclusive access to question a Celtic player before every match.
Celtic fan media outlets are denied that access unless it is for a new signing, fan websites and podcasts are on a rota for access to the general media conference which is released onto You Tube.
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1 Comment
by Valentine's day massacre
How can a ‘ clash ‘ between 2 sets of fans occur when a 12 feet high perspex barrier is between them ? This Pilchard scoop is the latest in a long line of daily Record hacks who are paid to print fabricated and dream up falsifications from that circling the drain of extinction Kharsi Roll ….ban them like the BBC !