Healy apologises to Celtic for flute gesture
Monday, 21 Jul 2008 22:05
Healy is alleged to have made flute-playing gesture
Fulham striker David Healy has apologised for making a flute-playing gesture during Saturday's pre-season friendly against Glasgow Celtic at Craven Cottage.
The Northern Ireland striker made the gesture – a reference to the Orange Order parades in Belfast – after allegedly being abused by Celtic fans.
Speaking on Ulster television Healy - a boyhood Glasgow Rangers fan – issued a public apology.
"I am supposed to be a role model and I can only apologise," the 28-year-old said.
"I can guarantee from my point of view it will never happen again.
"It was one of those regrettable incidents that somebody said something and I made a silly gesture, which ultimately I regret.
Paul Gascoigne was once fined by his then clib Rangers when he performed a similar gesture while warming-up at Celtic Park in 1998.
A spokesman for Fulham said: "The team is in Korea for pre-season. The club is looking into the alleged incident."
Fulham won the game 3-1, with Bobby Zamora scoring on his debut.