Barry Ferguson Rejects Charlie Mulgrew’s Celtic Peace Offering After Tennent’s Sixes Flashpoint

Barry Ferguson has made it clear that he is not one for cuddles after refusing to embrace Celtic favourite Charlie Mulgrew during an awkward reunion on Go Radio’s Football Show.

The former Rangers captain and ex-Celtic defender came face-to-face for the first time since their heated exchange at the Tennent’s Sixes tournament, where the Hoops legends edged out their Glasgow rivals in a dramatic 5-4 final victory.

What followed was an animated celebration from Mulgrew, who later admitted that he had taunted Ferguson and Ian Durrant on the Rangers bench after Celtic secured the trophy.

The former Parkhead defender also left his friend Andy Halliday hanging after the final whistle, while footage subsequently emerged showing the reaction among Rangers players in their dressing room following the defeat.

With emotions still a talking point, Ferguson and Mulgrew revisited the incident when they returned to the radio show.

Ferguson initially played down the suggestion of a serious falling-out, joking that he had to intervene to stop Mulgrew from celebrating excessively after the game.

Mulgrew was equally keen to put the matter behind them, explaining that the intensity of the occasion had contributed to the reaction from both sides.

“We never fell out,” Mulgrew insisted, acknowledging that the emotions surrounding the final had been heightened by the significance of beating their rivals.

The former Celtic defender added that he would have understood Ferguson’s disappointment had the result gone the other way, describing the victory as an incredible feeling.

Ferguson, meanwhile, suggested that there had been more to the post-match scenes than television viewers had witnessed.

He explained that he had heard plenty of discussion about the footage that had not made it onto camera, but maintained that he had no problem with the way Mulgrew celebrated.

The Rangers legend pointed out that he had simply gone onto the pitch and shaken hands after the final, insisting that the incident was now in the past.

Mulgrew explains why Celtic’s victory meant so much

Mulgrew also offered an insight into the emotions behind his celebrations, revealing that Celtic’s victory had felt comparable to winning a league title.

The former defender explained that the intensity of the tournament had built throughout the weekend, making the final triumph particularly satisfying.

He also recalled the frustration of suffering a heavy 7-1 defeat on the Saturday before the final, which added another layer of motivation ahead of the showdown with Rangers.

According to Mulgrew, the Celtic legends faced a Rangers side with greater energy, making their eventual victory even more rewarding.

He also admitted that seeing former Liverpool and Rangers midfielder Charlie Adam celebrate during the tournament, alongside being nutmegged twice by Martyn Waghorn, had contributed to his determination to win.

Those moments helped turn the contest into a fiercely competitive encounter, despite the players having retired from professional football.

Ferguson offered his own assessment of Rangers’ performance, insisting that his side had been impressive throughout much of the competition but ultimately ran out of energy.

The former Ibrox skipper revealed that he had relied heavily on the same group of five players and had begun to notice signs of fatigue during the semi-final.

Rangers had established a 4-2 advantage in the final before Celtic fought back to secure the 5-4 win, leaving Ferguson disappointed despite his team’s overall showing.

Nevertheless, he praised the organisation of the tournament and the opportunity to reconnect with former teammates, opponents and other familiar faces from his playing career.

Ferguson finally gets an uncomfortable cuddle

Despite the competitive tension, Mulgrew was determined to finish the radio appearance on friendly terms.

The Celtic favourite announced that he intended to give Ferguson a cuddle before the programme ended, setting up an awkward exchange between the pair.

Ferguson immediately made his position clear, declaring: “I am not cuddly guy.”

However, Mulgrew was not prepared to accept the refusal and proceeded to embrace his old rival regardless.

The moment provided a light-hearted conclusion to a reunion that had revisited one of the tournament’s most talked-about incidents.

Although Ferguson initially resisted the gesture, both former professionals made clear that the flashpoint had not developed into a lasting feud.

Their exchange offered a reminder of the fierce competitive instincts that remain among former Celtic and Rangers players, even when the stakes are no longer tied to professional league points or major trophies.

For Mulgrew, the 5-4 victory was a moment to savour. For Ferguson, the defeat remained disappointing, but the former Rangers captain appeared content to move on from the celebrations and the controversy that followed.