Scottish Masters’ surface comes apart mid-match as fans joke ‘rip stops play’

The Scottish Masters Cup was slammed as an 'absolute embarrassment' on social media and not because of the quality of football – but the playing surface.

Celtic, Rangers, Hearts and Hibernian all contested the 2023 tournament from the Braehead Arena in Renfrew which welcomed more than 4000 fans on Saturday evening.

Gary Hooper, Alan Hutton, Grant Holt and Jose Quitongo were among the players in action – but it was Ivan Sproule who almost ended the evening early.

The former Northern Ireland international was sprinting down the line as Hibs took on Celtic in one of the final matches of the evening – and accidentally ripped up the carpet.

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It wasn't for the first time that the surface had been pulled from the floor – leading to complaints from the players.

The fans in attendance also let out a boo as the match was briefly paused – with Celtic running out winners but the attention elsewhere.

One fan wrote on social media: "That surface has been an absolute embarrassment tonight."

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A second added: "Just a wonder no players were injured on that badly fitted carpet tonight." A third chuckled: "Rip stops play."

A fourth laughed: "Big fan of how they thought it’d be fine to get 40+ year olds to play football on concrete as long as they gaffa taped on some carpet."

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A fifth concluded: "This Masters is an embarrassment. That pitch is just dangerous."

BBC Scotland broadcasted the evening of football, with Emma Dodds presenting as the players contested with the floor.

The carpet had been ripped up during the Hibs vs Hearts contest earlier in the evening, with organisers sure to go back to the drawing board.

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