THE SPFL RELEASE WHAT ARNE ENGELS SAID TO JAYDEN MEGHOMA ON THE PITCH,IT IS TERRIBLE,GAME TRUELY GONE

Weeks after one of the most explosive Old Firm derbies in recent memory, Scottish football has been dragged back into the chaos once again. Just when emotions had begun to cool following Rangers’ emphatic 3–1 victory, the SPFL’s latest disclosure has reopened old wounds, reignited fan fury, and sent shockwaves across the country.

At the centre of the storm?

A shocking on-pitch exchange between Celtic midfielder Arne Engels and Rangers youngster Jayden Meghoma—words that many are now calling “disgraceful”, “unacceptable”, and proof that the “game is truly gone.”

What was said, why it took weeks to emerge, and how it changes the narrative of that infamous derby has become the hottest talking point in Scottish football.

A DERBY THAT NEVER REALLY ENDED

The Old Firm clash itself had everything: goals, controversy, flashpoints, VAR debates, and raw emotion spilling over from the first whistle to the last. Rangers’ 3–1 win at Celtic Park was already being hailed as a statement victory—one that shifted momentum, dented Celtic pride, and reignited belief among the Ibrox faithful.

But even on the day, it was clear something darker was brewing beneath the surface.

Players squared up chest-to-chest. Tempers flared after late challenges. Several confrontations went unpunished. And in one moment—captured only partially by broadcast cameras—Jayden Meghoma was seen reacting visibly to something said by an opponent.

At the time, it was brushed aside as “derby passion”.

Now, weeks later, it looks far more serious.

THE MOMENT CAUGHT ON CAMERA

During a second-half stoppage, with Rangers firmly in control of the match, Arne Engels and Jayden Meghoma came together near the touchline. What initially looked like routine jostling quickly escalated.

Meghoma’s reaction was immediate. He pulled away. His body language changed. Teammates rushed in. Celtic players crowded the scene. The referee intervened—but no cards were shown.

Broadcasters replayed the physical contact.

What they didn’t replay was the conversation.

That silence has now been broken.

SPFL DISCLOSURE SENDS SHOCKWAVES

According to reports released following an SPFL review of referee and match delegate submissions, the league has now acknowledged the exact words Arne Engels directed at Jayden Meghoma during that flashpoint.

While the SPFL stopped short of officially charging the Celtic midfielder, the wording included in the report has stunned supporters across the divide.

The phrase—described by sources as “deeply personal, provocative, and entirely unnecessary”—was reportedly aimed at undermining Meghoma on a human level, not a footballing one.

Though not repeated verbatim in official statements, insiders claim it crossed a line that goes far beyond normal sledging.

Fans didn’t need to hear the exact wording to reach a verdict.

Social media erupted within minutes.

“That’s not football banter.”

“That’s disgraceful.”

“If that’s true, the game is genuinely gone.”

RANGERS FANS: “NO WONDER HE REACTED”

For Rangers supporters, the disclosure has sparked anger—but also vindication.

Many had questioned why Meghoma appeared so shaken during the incident, especially considering his age and relative inexperience in Old Firm fixtures. Now, fans believe they finally have their answer.

“People mocked the lad for overreacting. Turns out he was provoked in the worst way possible,” one supporter wrote.

Others pointed to the lack of immediate punishment.

“If roles were reversed, there would’ve been a red card, a ban, and wall-to-wall coverage.”

The feeling among the Rangers fanbase is clear: this wasn’t just derby heat—it was something far uglier.

CELTIC FANS DIVIDED

On the other side of the divide, reaction has been mixed.

Some Celtic supporters have dismissed the report as exaggerated, insisting that Old Firm matches have always involved verbal warfare.

“If players can’t handle words, they shouldn’t play derbies,” argued one fan.

But others are less comfortable.

A growing section of the Celtic support has questioned why Engels wasn’t immediately disciplined—or why the club hasn’t addressed the situation publicly.

“If he said what’s being suggested, it’s indefensible,” admitted another supporter.

“No badge excuses that.”

The silence from Celtic Park has only fuelled speculation.

WHY DID IT TAKE WEEKS?

One of the biggest questions hanging over the story is timing.

Why did it take weeks for this information to emerge?

Critics have accused the SPFL of trying to quietly bury the issue, releasing the details only after public pressure and internal reviews made silence impossible.

Former referees and pundits have weighed in, suggesting that such disclosures often happen long after the headlines fade—minimising backlash while technically ticking procedural boxes.

That explanation hasn’t satisfied fans.

“Transparency delayed is transparency denied,” one pundit said bluntly.

“THE GAME IS TRULY GONE”

Those five words have echoed across Scottish football since the report surfaced.

For many, this incident symbolises a wider problem: escalating behaviour, inconsistent discipline, and a failure to protect players—especially younger ones—from unacceptable abuse.

This wasn’t a reckless tackle.

It wasn’t a mistimed challenge.

It was words—deliberate, targeted, and personal.

And for a league already under scrutiny, it’s another black mark.

THE IMPACT ON THE RESULT

Lost amid the controversy is the football itself.

Rangers’ 3–1 win was commanding. Clinical finishing, tactical discipline, and ruthless efficiency dismantled Celtic on their own turf. It was a result that should have been remembered for footballing reasons.

Instead, it’s now forever linked to an ugly subplot.

Some Celtic fans have even suggested the incident disrupted their team’s focus—a claim Rangers supporters have laughed off.

“Don’t blame words for a 3–1 defeat,” one fan responded.

“We outplayed you. Simple.”

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

As of now, no retrospective punishment has been announced.

But pressure is mounting.

Pundits are calling for clearer guidelines on verbal abuse.

Fans are demanding consistency.

And players—on both sides—are questioning where the line actually is.

Jayden Meghoma, notably, has remained silent since the story broke. Many see that silence as dignified. Others see it as telling.

A DERBY THAT WILL HAUNT THE SEASON

Old Firm matches always live on in memory—but not always for the right reasons.

This one now carries an extra layer of bitterness. A victory overshadowed. A rivalry inflamed. And a moment that has forced uncomfortable conversations about respect, accountability, and where Scottish football is heading.

As fans argue, pundits debate, and the SPFL scrambles to justify its handling of the situation, one thing is certain:

This story isn’t going away.

Because when words on a football pitch become more controversial than the goals scored, it’s no longer just about rivalry.

For many watching, listening, and reacting, the verdict has already been delivered:

The game truly is gone.