Former Rangers star Nacho Novo has apologised to the family of Phil O’Donnell after a social media spat turned ugly.
Motherwell players Tony Watt and Declan Gallagher hit out at the former Rangers favourite after he referenced O’Donnell in a tasteless Instagram exchange.
Novo had earlier posted a mocked-up image of Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell controlling a Neil Doncaster puppet in the aftermath of the SPFL EGM result.
An online troll then hit back at Novo and claimed Rangers were ‘always cheated, never defeated’.
Novo has since deleted his subsequent reply in which he claimed Celtic used the death of O’Donnell in December 2007 to ‘cheat’ by requesting the postponement of an Old Firm tie the following week.
Novo told Record Sport : “It wasn’t my intention to say anything bad about Phil.
“I respected him as a player and I’m sure he was a good man. People who know me will tell you I’m not the kind of person who would ever say bad things about anyone who has passed away.
“I hope people understand that I wasn’t trying to cause any upset to Phil’s family and I know now I should have made myself clearer.
“My English is not the best and I am sorry that what I was trying to say has been taken to mean something different.”
Scottish football was devastated by the death of former Hoops midfielder O’Donnell on the pitch at Fir Park at just 35 from cardiac arrest.
He was a favourite with the Steelmen, breaking through with his local club before rejoining them later in his career after spells at Parkhead and Sheffield Wednesday.
Well striker Watt said: “Can’t believe the reply I’ve just seen, all because of today’s vote, from an ex-professional football player on Instagram. Disgusting.”
Scotland centre back Gallagher read Novo’s comment and posted: “‘Wow’ next to a rat emoji.
Three games were called off on January 2 2008 - the Old Firm clash, Hibs-Motherwell and Gretna-St Mirren as Gretna were playing at Fir Park, which had been turned into a shrine to O’Donnell by fans of Motherwell and other Scottish clubs.
