This evening, the fans of Scottish football’s teams will be almost as one in wanting the German team to win against the club from Ibrox. The media will say it is shameful and the Ibrox fans, who know this already, will say it proves that the whole country can’t stand them. And you know what? Let’s not sugar coat it, but they are right.
They will ascribe various awful motives to this, some may even moon-howl that this a manifestation of sectarian hatred. It is cobblers and their whinging has no teeth. For Celtic fans there are any number of reasons for not wanting them to win, not least of which is that Seville is a beautiful city that we would rather was spared their invasion, but in truth the fans of every club in the country have some justification for feeling as they do.
If Ibrox is a friendless club that has damn all to do with the hatred of the rest of us and everything to do with the limitless nature of the loathing that pours out of there and in every direction. Ibrox is a vomitorium of bile and bitterness which you cannot be exposed to for any sustained period of time without developing some pretty strong feelings of your own.
For Celtic fans, this is all very easy. Take away our own personal detestation of a support which wants to wade up to its knees in fenian blood and there are still plenty of reasons not to want them to win, first amongst them that it’s not what rivals do.
This is even more so in the context of Scottish football, where there really are only two major clubs and a distinct absence of Sky TV money sloshing around the game. To move as far ahead of them as we possibly can it is important that we be the only side in the Champions League Group Stages, and anything that gets them close to automatic qualification is unthinkable.
So right there is a reason based on cold, hard pragmatism and let’s not kid ourselves here, even if these Peepul didn’t hate us already that would be reason enough for them not to want us to do it if we were in their shoes. They didn’t in 2002.
For fans of other clubs, there are reasons galore too. Maybe they are sick and tired of hearing those disgusting songs in their own grounds or perhaps its Ibrox’s arrogance which inclines them towards supporting Leipzig. And there are pragmatic reasons here too.
Foremost amongst them is the way Ibrox’s standoff with the SPFL now threatens the commercial deals on which some of these clubs depend … it is a big ask to expect those fans to support that club when that club is seeking to damage the governing body as much as it can and does not care at all what collateral damage it leaves in its wake.
The truth is, that club has attempted to make a virtue out of being hated, and they are good at it.
Scottish football will be cheering on RB Leipzig tonight because, to be blunt, there are few, if any, neutrals here any longer … just them and everyone else, and they’ve spent years making it that way.
It is ridiculous to expect the rest of this game to wish them well.
RB couldn’t score enough goals for me tonight.
They are due, without doubt, an absolute pummelling from someone…hopefully tonight is the night…mon the RB..spare Seville the turmoil.
Yep, their own behaviour is the reason no-one will back them but they are too blinded by irrational hatred to see it. Apparently “introspection” is yet another word these peepul gave ever learned the meaning of, just like “decency”, “tolerance”, “honour”, “liquidation”…
gave ever = have never. Damn stupid thumbs…
I have no doubt the scum will smash up Leipzig plazas and squares I hope the polazi smash I to them and it is highlighted in all media outlets what the vermin scum are all about and not swept under by the bigoted Scottish media
No one likes them. They don’t care? lol. HH
You just know the songs of WW II will be belted out about 10 German bombers being shot down by the RAF but ironically these same orcs will be displaying Sieg Heil gestures. The bigoted anti Catholic bile & upon defeat (or a win) the strasse’s will be destroyed, wrecked & good save those gracious benches & statues!
Rangers FC (“Woody” Forrest’s most hated club in Scotland) beat Dortmund who are 9 points ahead of RB Leipzig (most hated club in Germany) in the Bundesliga.
I cannot see why Leipzig, is the overwhelming favorite? Must be the German media. We could be watching an extremely hard fought, energy sapping game. Most semi-finals are.
They had issues first half of the season but having got past that they are apparently now the best team in Germany. I don’t care if it’s a slog or a doddle as long as they put the scum huns to the sword.
In any sport: nobody likes a cheat.
James, I don’t get, where you get the idea, that fans of other Clubs detest the huns songbook. It has always been my experience of opposing fans that they would happily join in with the huns songbook, especially when any of them are playing us. They may not like the unwarranted hubris from THEM, but I think you are exaggerating the Anti hun feelings that exist. I just don’t buy into that.
They get out what they put in. Hatred. 4 or 5 for RB would be prayers answered.
Way way wrong jamrs plenty of ” reversible scarf”fans of the posion clubs like Motherwell are amongst the worst! Anyone but Celtic is the motto of ” brigadoon” Scotland! Amazed you dont know this many if the club I mentioned openly admit it!
Coming from the area I would counter that with plenty tims support Motherwell. Having attended Our Lady’s high it was clear that there was a number of Motherwell fans, not as many as Celtic but a fair number none the less. I have a number of Tim friends who support them as well as a number of family members. They chose to support their local team, simple as that.
Of that club I mentioned even