Scottish police to investigate Rangers and Motherwell brawl

Police are investigating a brawl between players at the end of the Scottish Premiership play-off final between Rangers and Motherwell.

At full time in yesterday's match, Rangers defender Bilel Mohsni kicked and punched Motherwell's Lee Erwin after being pushed by the striker.

Other players and officials from the teams then tried to break up the trouble with further scuffles breaking out.

It resulted in red cards for Mohsni, Erwin and Motherwell substitute Fraser Kerr.

Motherwell won the match 3-0 and the two-legged tie 6-1 on aggregate to maintain their place in the Scottish Premiership and confine Rangers to a second season in the Championship.

Motherwell fans also ran onto the pitch at the end of the match to celebrate in front of the Rangers support before being cleared by stewards and police.

Police Scotland released a statement “in response to the disturbance at the end of the Motherwell v Rangers match”.

Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said: "Police Scotland will conduct a full review of the circumstances and liaise with the appropriate partners, and decide how best to take the matter forward over the coming days."

Speaking to BT Sport after the game Erwin said: ”I tried to shake his hand to wish him all the best but he told me to ‘f’ off and reacted badly.

”I pushed him away and he reacted badly. A player at a club at that level should not be acting like that. It’s embarrassing for him and the club.”

Rangers manager Stuart McCall said he missed the incident, but described such behaviour as “unacceptable”.

He told the BBC: “If he has thrown a punch that’s disgraceful.

“But it’s safe to say he won’t be at the club next season. He’s out of contract.”

Motherwell boss Ian Baraclough said: ”The game doesn’t need it, Scottish football doesn’t need it. There were two teams battling it out over 180 minutes, they gave it absolutely everything.

“For one or two individuals to ruin it, tarnish it, is a shame.”