Violence & Brawls ·
The Ibrox confrontation that went to court
Rangers and Celtic drew 2–2 on 17 October 1987 after three sendings-off. Four players later denied charges of conduct likely to provoke a breach of the peace; Woods and Butcher were found guilty and fined.
In the 17th minute at Ibrox on 17 October 1987, Celtic’s Frank McAvennie collided with Rangers goalkeeper Chris Woods as Woods collected a passback. The confrontation drew in Terry Butcher and Graham Roberts. By the end of the afternoon, three players had been sent off and Rangers had recovered from two goals down to draw 2–2. The incident would eventually bring all four players to court, where they denied charges of conduct likely to provoke a breach of the peace.
The Herald’s retrospective account describes Woods exchanging blows with McAvennie while holding him by the throat. Butcher pushed McAvennie away; Roberts then became involved, also holding the Celtic player by the throat, while Butcher tried to restrain him. A punch appeared to be thrown, and McAvennie fell. The account does not identify who threw it. Once order was restored, Woods and McAvennie were sent off and Butcher was booked.
Roberts took over in goal for Rangers. Celtic went ahead through Andy Walker in the 33rd minute, and a Butcher own goal doubled their lead two minutes later. Butcher was sent off in a separate episode in the 62nd minute, for a foul on Celtic goalkeeper Allen McKnight. Rangers were left with nine players against Celtic’s 10. Ally McCoist pulled a goal back, and Richard Gough’s late equaliser secured the draw.
The recovery did not soften the response of Herald sports journalist Jim Reynolds. Writing after the match, he rejected the idea that the players’ behaviour had added excitement: “It is downright hooliganism, which, but for the admirable restraint shown by the fans, could have led to something much more serious.” The Herald’s later retrospective also reported that 62 supporters had been arrested.
Woods, Butcher, Roberts and McAvennie all attended their trial in April 1988. For Butcher, the prospect of appearing in court had seemed unlikely. Recalling the proceedings years later on the SPFL’s Warm-Up show, he said: “We thought it would be dropped, that there would be an enquiry, a fine, a ban, but then we were summoned to court.”
Butcher described himself in that later interview as “a normal, peace-loving guy”. He said he had not wanted to upset his father by acquiring a criminal record and recalled his disbelief at being asked to stand in the dock.
The court did not reach the same result for everyone. Roberts received a not-proven verdict. McAvennie also left without a conviction: The Herald records his case as not proven, while two other retrospective accounts describe the verdict as not guilty. Woods and Butcher were found guilty and fined—Woods £500 and Butcher £250.