A history of bad blood

Riot police move in as the crowd turn ugly at Pittodrie

BBC Sport Online catalogues the incidents that have marred matches between Aberdeen and Rangers.

Games between Aberdeen and Rangers have always carried an extra edge since the late 1970s.

The catalyst for the recent venom between the two sets of supporters was the 1988 incident involving Neil Simpson and Iain Durrant.

Here are some of the problems that have caused the rift among the Pittodrie and Ibrox fans:

1979: Then Aberdeen manager Alex Ferguson backs defender Doug Rougvie after he receives his marching orders in the League Cup final for a clash with Derek Johnstone.

1980: Rangers winger Willie Johnstone sent off for stamping on John McMaster.

1985: Rangers midfielder Ally Dawson is sent off for the second successive year against the Dons in 5-1 win for Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

A tackle on Iain Durrant sparked problems

1988: Iain Durrant is stretchered off the field following a tackle by Neil Simpson that keeps the Scotland international out of the game for two years with cruciate ligament damage.

1993: Aberdeen supporters hurl a golf ball impregnated with a nail at Rangers striker Ally McCoist at Ibrox.

1994: Rangers striker Mark Hateley is assaulted leaving Pittodrie after a 2-2 draw.

1995: An Aberdeen bar invites customers to urinate over Rangers videos playing in gents toilets.

1997: Aberdeen supporters jeer through one minute's silence for former Rangers player George Young at Ibrox.

1998: An article in Rangers' match programme brands Aberdeen fans "scum" and club captain Richard Gough claims that the Dons only play four times per season - against the Light Blues.

1999: Obscene anti-Rangers messages are removed from the official Aberdeen website.

2000: Fernando Ricksen launches a kung fu-style kick at Darren Young at Pittodrie and claims the Dons youngster needed "straightening out".

2001: Phil McGuire and Neil McCann are both sent off at Ibrox and former Rangers midfielder Tugay Kerimoglu claims that an unnamed Aberdeen player made comments about his recently-deceased mother.

2002: Players taken off the pitch after Aberdeen striker Robbie Winters is hit by a coin at Pittodrie. Some Dons fans race on to the pitch to confront Rangers supporters as match is halted for 17 minutes.