Nicola Docherty on Rangers touchline clash with Celtic Women boss Elena Sadiku as she reveals what REALLY happened

There was a special welcome to Scottish women’s football on Friday night as new Celtic boss Elena Sadiku jostled with Rangers full-back Nicola Docherty for a throw-in on the touchline.

The Swedish manager took charge for the first time since replacing Fran Alonso at Celtic but a winning start eluded her as Rio Hardy’s 95th-minute penalty sent Rangers into the SWPL Cup Final where they will face Hibs or Partick Thistle. Scotland cap Docherty dismissed the spat, saying: “We can all get a bit heated! It is just a bit of fun. It is a big game against your rivals and sometimes in the heat of the moment that can happen but it was fine.”

The victory means that Rangers can still dream of a clean sweep this season but Docherty is keeping her feet on the ground. She said: “It is one game at a time which is an old cliché, I know. But when you are representing a massive club like Rangers then you have to be focused on the game coming up.

“There is a confidence within the squad but we are staying humble because we have won nothing yet. We are never going to get too far ahead of ourselves.”

Meanwhile, the SFA Head of Scottish Women’s and Girls’ Football, Shirley Martin, has applauded the continued rise in female participation across all levels of the game. Figures revealed this week showed that there are 22,977 registered female players and Martin wants to see 25,000 registered players by 2025.

She said: “Our ambition now is to continue to grow and get even more girls taking part in the game over the next 12 months and beyond.”