Ally McCoist feels sympathy for Granit Xhaka for the jeers he faced from Arsenal fans at the weekend, saying he was once left ‘heartbroken’ when he was abused by Rangers supporters.
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Xhaka has been left out of the Gunners squad for Wednesday night’s cup clash with Liverpool after he reacted badly to boos from the Emirates Stadium crowd during Sunday’s 2-2 with Crystal Palace.
As he slowly walked off the pitch when substituted, the Swiss midfielder cupped his hand to his ear, told the jeering fans to ‘f**k off’, stripped off his shirt and stormed down the tunnel.
His reaction enraged supporters, with some calling for the player to be stripped of the captaincy and others wanting him booted out of the club for good.
Others have had a more balanced view on the incident, though, with Jason Cundy criticising the Gunners faithful for their ‘disgraceful’ behaviour towards one of their own players.
And Rangers legend McCoist has told talkSPORT of how he was once heckled by Gers supporters, saying he ‘hates’ the abusive culture within football.
“I had a whole stand telling me where to go in my first year at Rangers, a whole stand of Rangers fans,” the Scot said on Wednesday’s Sports Breakfast.
“But it made me feel determined.
“I was devastated at the same time, it broke my heart and I was unbelievably upset, but it made me determined, 100 per cent.
“If that happened in the street, these people would be arrested for some of the things they say, the abuse and the language.
“But it’s gone with the territory for so long that it’s become accepted from players and other supporters. I hate it.”