Further to my story from yesterday about how Ibrox fans are openly planning to march from Ibrox to George Square in an act of mass defiance of the law, several Ibrox fan sites have confirmed the story with one actually saying this; “this time the powers that be can’t deny they haven’t been fully warned as (our) supporters gear up for the mother of all parties in George Square.”
Well, quite so. They certainly cannot deny that they have been fully warned. Which is exactly the problem here. They have the information to hand … but are refusing to act on it.
When The Sun published a story about the embryonic stages of these plans, back in May, Police Scotland offered assurances that no such scenes as happened when the league was clinched, would be allowed to happen again. They reminded the journalist that a ban on mass gatherings is still in effect. They made it clear they would have a plan in place.
Just the other day I pointed out what the current regulations are; today, Gavin Berry of The Daily Record wrote one a piece about the proposed “party” that was flagrantly dishonest. I’m going to do my line-by-line rebuttal of that piece now.
“(Ibrox) supporters’ group the Union Bears are urging fans to join them on a trophy day march from Ibrox Stadium to George Square to celebrate the club’s historic title success.”
Union Bears, who held a march a few years back emblazoned with stickers of a Celtic fan being kicked in the head, are actually urging many thousands of people to break the law. You would think that a responsible publication would point that out.
“Steven Gerrard’s Light Blues legends will be presented with the Scottish Premiership silverware following Saturday’s lunchtime clash at home to Aberdeen.”
Legends? As it’s the first trophy in the club’s history I think we can probably let that one past.
“It will be the first time in a decade the club have enjoyed such an occasion but they won’t be able to share it with the fans who remain locked out of football stadiums in Scotland due to Covid restrictions.”
It’s not just in football stadiums that restrictions apply.
Although the rest of this piece goes out of its way to make you believe that this is the case.
“But (their) ultras are planning their own party which will kick off outside the stadium after the fireworks and ticker-tape have died down inside.”
This is where the police need help from the club, and to a certain extent from the media. The club is dead silent. The media – in the guise of articles like this – is giving this a full endorsement. It is such irresponsible journalism … and you ain’t heard nothing yet.
“Union Bears said in a statement: “We are unable to confirm an exact time but we will be outside Ibrox after the match and once the trophy has been lifted, we will make our way to Govan Road/across from the Louden Tavern at Kinning Park.”
I bet when they broadcast this out on social media that they didn’t know that a national title would give their illegal gathering a ton of free publicity, but here it is.
“We would ask all supporters wishing to take part in the march to keep an eye out for members of the group outside Ibrox who will indicate when we are ready to head to the meeting point to begin the march. Please spread the word to all (our) supporters!”
No need, as The Daily Record has just done that.
“There was strong criticism after thousands of fans gathered outside Ibrox and at George Square over two days on the weekend Gerrard’s side clinched the Scottish Premiership title in March.”
Yeah in certain quarters. But in others there was stone silence.
“Incredible footage showed astonishing scenes as Gerrard’s car was mobbed as he was greeted by supporters on his way to the stadium for the match against St Mirren on March 7.”
Incredible in that not one police officer got involved to prevent those scenes. Incredible in that it was an act of mass criminality which the media both then, and now, have held up as if it was an example of high-jinks and nothing more.
“A victory that day all but sealed the title and there was a party in the dressing room but Celtic’s draw at Dundee United 24 hours later officially crowned them champions – and sparked more jubilant scenes in Glasgow city centre.”
‘Jubilant scenes’ which sent the virus numbers up, infected police officers, left a trail of destruction in their wake and which Civic Scotland finally condemned when Glasgow City Council demanded that the organisers of the mass illegal gathering pay the bill for the damage. Those weren’t “jubilant scenes” there was disgusting vandalism and people’s lives were put in danger.
“Fans descend on George Square and Assistant Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Bernard Higgins, branded those involved “completely and utterly irresponsible”.”
Which they were. Which they are this time. But which Police Scotland stood back and allowed last time and which some say they are willing to do so here. It’s a waste of everyone’s time condemning this if you simply allow it to happen all over again.
“Scottish Government restrictions have eased since then with bars and restaurants reopening and the sale of alcohol permitted outdoors.”
Scottish Government restrictions are partially eased. Bars and restaurants are allowed to serve booze outdoors where there is sufficient seating and it’s been illegal to drink in public spaces except in a licensed environment in Glasgow since August 1996, a law which has stood us in good stead in spite of a number of politicians who have tried, in vain, to do away with it in the years since. And here’s the thing; if what I’m hearing is correct, every local business which serves food or alcohol will have to shut on the day if large numbers of fans are expected in town … so organisations still reeling from the effects of this virus will be closed … and law breaking allowed instead. If my understand of this is correct it’s a national outrage which should be getting coverage, and isn’t.
“And across the continent fans have gathered to celebrate title success.”
We live in Scotland. We don’t live on the continent.
So this is a ridiculous piece of nonsense, which in no way is relevant to the matter at hand.
“Inter fans gathered at the Piazza Duomo in Milan en masse, with Ajax and Partick Thistle fans also staging celebrations.”
The first two examples are, like the previous comment, absolutely without relevance here at all since they took place abroad. The “but they are doing it so why can’t we?” argument is preposterous and can be safely ignored. The Thistle story is a nice try; there were 150 of them, on the other side of the Firhill Canal. They didn’t invade the city centre or surround the stadium. There was no time for the police to intervene. And nobody thinks it was okay. The comparison is ludicrous.
“Scotland is currently in Level 3 restrictions which allows groups of up to six people from six different households to meet outdoors.”
True, but this isn’t that. This doesn’t even come close to that. I pointed out what the social distancing guidelines, even in beer gardens, are at the moment … and thousands of fans in George Square is a very significant and serious violation of those regulations.
It barely needs to be pointed out here, but we’re talking, still, about a deadly virus with the potential for rapid spread, which has killed 10,000 people in this country alone.
This is not a joke, this is not a minor matter, this is not “none of our business” and it is not, as some gutless wonders on social media said yesterday, “embarrassing” to point out that it’s the job of the police to enforce the law and protect public safety.
That’s their job.
A bunch of self-entitled neds who want to gather in the public sphere and sing about being up to their knees in fenian blood because their club finally won a scrap of silverware should not be allowed to view the streets as their personal fiefdom.
We either have a nation of laws or we don’t.
The rules are for everybody or they are for nobody.
The Daily Record should be ashamed of that piece of fluff, a full page advertisement for planned criminality, and one which actively encourages the lawbreakers.