Reasons Why We Hate R*ngers: Part 4
It may surprise regular readers that I’m not really one of those fans that seeks my joy by watching others fail. I sometimes shake my head at the merriment on messageboards or on blogs at the sheer orgasmic pleasure fans seem to take of their main rivals getting a beating or being delivered bad news.
It’s almost an obsession. It’s just a step away, for some, from being that next door neighbour that will pour petrol on their neighbours prized lawn then hide behind the curtains to watch his reaction.
I understand, and accepted, quite wholly, that there has to be an interest in your main rivals. You have to dislike, scorn and pity them in equal measure. You have to take great pleasure in reminding them of this.
I have an interest in them. But I’m not the mad one when asked did you see the r*ngers game the other night and I answer no, Holby was on to a look that should be reserved for people who admit that they watch Glee that I didn’t go out my way to watch my rivals play.
I get that look quite often from both Celtic and R*ngers supporting friends. One of them has a Michael Buble CD as well but I don’t judge him.
Of course there has been moments in history when your rivals are the gift that just keeps on giving in front of a global audience. Manchester 2008 was one such moment.
Once again those who followed the club to Manchester ensured that they were in-keeping with those people John Ure Primrose wanted the club to appeal to.
With fighting starting in Manchester a full 8 hours before the game kick off it cumulated with what has become known as the Battle Of Piccadilly. After a screen showing the game failed R*ngers fans failed started fighting with each other then turned on the Police when they arrived on mass.
39 Police Officers were injured during the clashes. BBC News 24 showed the clashes live. The condemnation of the riot was widespread. While the club claimed that the violence was carried about by supporters who don’t usually attach themselves to the club (the clue is in the word supporters) others saw through this and one academic mused that (r*ngers) had the biggest hooligan problem in the British game.
In the most shocking incident one Policeman was isolated and attacked by hundreds of fans. The officer said It was unbelievable when we got there, it was already in motion. It was frightening, on a different scale from any other match I have worked in my 23-year career. It seemed the vast majority were drunk and they just wanted to cause trouble.
This was just carrying on a tradition that R*ngers have. In their previous European Final in 1972 they became the only fans in history not to witness their club life a European trophy after they invaded the field of play, before the game had ended, and attacked Moscow Dynamo’s players as they attempted to get an equaliser.
The Moscow Dynamo coach commented we had the advantage and the momentum at the end of the game when r*ngers fans broke onto the pitch and attacked our players. R*ngers are still the only club that haven’t been able to defend their European trophy after they received a one year European ban for the trouble.
After the game UEFA president said The r*ngers fans behaved like savages. We must find ways to keep such people from football stadiums.
Prominent Scottish journalist Ian Archer summed up, very nicely, a club that started off with noble intentions but was so consumed by hatred, bigotry and greed they have become a monster.
This has to be said about Rangers…as a Scottish Football club they are a permanent embarrassment and an occasional disgrace. This country would be a better place if Rangers did not exist
No argument from me on that one.