Ronald de Boer recalls referees allowing 'kicking everything' in ferocious Old Firm clashes

Ronald de Boer has revealed that the ferocity of tackling he witnessed in Old Firm derbies left him stunned — and that referees routinely waved away challenges he believes would have drawn red cards in the Netherlands. The former Rangers midfielder was speaking ahead of Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox.

De Boer, who played in 12 Old Firm fixtures between 2000 and 2004, recording five wins, five losses and two draws, recalled the moment the atmosphere transformed his Scottish team-mates. “You see the change in the Scottish players, a button turns: red eyes, they’re like angry wolves,” he told BBC Scotland. “They were in another world and they kicked everything that was green and white, vice versa also. I’d never seen so much kicking in my life in a football game. And the referee was like, ‘it’s okay’. Normally in Holland, it would be a red card or at least yellow.”

The Champions League winner joined Rangers from Barcelona in 2000 and went on to place the Glasgow derby on a level with El Clasico in terms of sheer intensity — a view he claims was shared by his former La Liga team-mates. “El Clasico, not far in comparison with intensity with Rangers v Celtic,” he said. “You feel it, even the Barcelona players say that, when they go to Celtic Park.”

De Boer also reflected on the global reach of the rivalry, noting that Scottish fans abroad never shy away from declaring their allegiances. “Everywhere I go, if I go to Dubai or Australia, and you meet Scottish people — ‘I’m a Celtic fan’ or ‘by the way, I’m a bluenose’ always — until they die. It’s unbelievable, it’s so in their veins and in their blood. It’s part of life as a Glaswegian.”

During his four years at Ibrox, De Boer won the Scottish Premier League title, two Scottish Cups, and the League Cup. Sunday’s cup tie will be played without away supporters at Ibrox following a ban imposed after disorder during last season’s Scottish Cup quarter-final. Celtic are managed by Martin O’Neill, 74, who returns to the club 20 years after his first spell in charge of the Hoops.