Boruc fined over Rangers gesture

Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc escaped a match ban after a Scottish Football Association disciplinary panel chose to fine him the relatively small amount of 500 pounds here on Thursday following gestures he made to Rangers fans during the last Old Firm derby.

Boruc was also severely censured and warned about his future conduct. He has seven working days to appeal against the decision.

Photographs published in Scottish newspapers appeared to show the Polish international making a one-fingered salute during Celtic’s 4-2 loss to Rangers at Parkhead on August 31.

The keeper had a match he’ll want to forget, being beaten at the near post for Daniel Cousin’s opening goal and fumbling a cross which set up former Celtic striker Kenny Miller for Rangers’s fourth goal.

All that came on top of a day when some newspapers printed stories regarding his private life.

Boruc, 28, is nicknamed the “Holy Goalie” – but the epithet is more ironic than a nod to his miraculous saves.

Boruc is Roman Catholic, like more than 90 percent of Poles, thus fitting in with a long-held tradition at Celtic.

But he has regularly found himself in hot water for stepping over the line between displaying his faith and provoking Rangers fans, who are predominantly Protestant – and he has acknowledged he dislikes the club.

He makes the sign of the cross before games, but in 2006 was cautioned for breaching the peace after he did so and then went on to taunt the Rangers stands.

Last season he caused a stir by brandishing a Celtic flag during an Old Firm game at Rangers’ Ibrox Stadium.

And in June this year, he escaped disciplinary action after celebrating Celtic’s win over Rangers by stripping off his top to reveal a t-shirt with the slogan “God bless the Pope”, depicting the late Polish-born pontiff John Paul II, who is revered by most Poles.