A TERMINALLY ill football fan warmed the hearts of thousands online with his specially made Old Firm football top on derby day.

Former Glasgow firefighter Brian Macdonald wore the top, made up of half Celtic and half Rangers material, to encourage fans to look beyond the importance of the match, which ended in a 2-1 win for Rangers.

The 42-year-old was diagnosed with motor neurone disease earlier this year, and was forced to retire from the fire service after 13 years in Glasgow, including 12 years at Govan.

On Sunday, he wore the shirt to remember two of his own idols, who also battled the disease – Jimmy “Jinky” Johnstone and Fernando Ricksen.

Brian said: “I got one of my friends to make it especially for me after seeing a similar one – I wanted to wear their names on the back.

“Because of the game I thought I would stick it on for the first time.

“I don’t just want to help raise awareness of the disease in Scotland, but we need to show that it’s just a game, and we should be concentrating on the players that play in it.

“Jinky and Fernando are two legends from both sides.”

The top was made in Glasgow by Naomi McGleish, with hundreds of people sharing and and remarking on its significance.

Having moved back to Oban to allow family to support him, Brian was keeping a close eye on Sunday’s game.

He said he was proud to wear the colours of both sides, despite being a Celtic fan at heart.

He added: “Well done to Rangers for the win. Despite being a Celtic fan, Fernando Ricksen has become a huge part of my life with this condition. I hate when there is trouble at the Old Firm – it shouldn’t be about fighting and sectarianism.

“People need to remember, it’s about the football. Let’s try and get rid of the hatred in the game.”

The game itself saw some trouble on the pitch, with Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos being sent off in the dying moments.

As he was leaving the pitch, the striker appeared to make a throat-slit gesture after he was sent-off.

On his way off the pitch he was caught on Sky Sports’s cameras making the gesture seemingly towards a section of the home support.

There were claims that Rangers fans did not take part in the minute’s applause before the match.

A tribute was held ahead of kick off for former player Duncan MacKay, who died at 82 last week.

Off of the pitch, police reported a small number of arrests.

In total, four people were arrested. These included two men, aged 21 and 29, for breaches of the peace.

Another man, 33, was arrested for a licensing offence, while a 36-year-old was stopped by cops for reckless conduct.