James Tavernier: Leeann Dempster furious after man arrested for confronting Rangers captain

James Tavernier: Leeann Dempster furious after man arrested for confronting Rangers captain

Police led the fan away after the skirmish

A "raging and furious" Hibernian chief executive Leeann Dempster said that "nothing is off the table" after Rangers captain James Tavernier was confronted by a fan at Easter Road.

The supporter attempted to kick the ball away from Tavernier as he moved to pick it up to take a throw in.

The two then laid hands on each other before the fan was led away by police.

Police Scotland confirmed that a 21-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the incident.

It comes just six days after Celtic's Scott Sinclair was almost struck by a glass bottle thrown from the crowd at Easter Road during Celtic's Scottish Cup quarter-final win.

And an irate Dempster told BBC Radio Scotland that the fan will be banned for life and that she will personally apologise to Tavernier.

"They've embarrassed this club tonight again, it's completely and utterly unacceptable," she said.

"What are we going to be talking about tomorrow? What is going to be on the back pages of the paper? What are you going to be asking me about? You're going to be asking me about this utter idiot.

"There is a big debate, a healthy debate going on in the Scottish game. But I'm going to bring it back to personal responsibility. Who thought it was okay to come in here with a glass bottle and throw it? Who thinks it's alright to jump over an advertising hoarding? Ninety-nine-point-nine per cent of the people in here don't think it's okay and we ought to remember not to tarnish these guys as well.

"This individual will be banned for life. He's in custody at the minute and that's where he should remain as far as I'm concerned.

"This person and people like him are going to feel the full weight of what we, and hopefully Police Scotland, can deliver."

'It's just lunacy' - reaction

Hibs manager Paul Heckingbottom on Sportsound

I should be here talking to you about how proud I am of the players and yet again I'm getting asked questions about fan misbehaviour. We need it to stop. It's sad I'm not here raving to you about how proud I am of the players. I have to speak about something else.

Former Dundee manager Neil McCann on Sportsound

It's just unacceptable, it's just lunacy. It's some idiot thinking he can enter the field of play. Stay away from the pitch, nobody wants to see you there. We should be speaking about how well Rangers have played in this match and some of the last-ditch defending from Hibs.

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