On Thursday, as we all know, the Ibrox club took their show on the road to Manchester, and it was a disgrace. Their conduct was appalling. They fought in the streets. They fought in the stands.
This is something UEFA will almost certainly come down on them hard for. And yes, we’ve said this before, and we know it hasn’t happened, but surely this time there will be sanctions.
To be honest, UEFA doesn’t need to look far to find reasons to act. But the days when Fans Against Racism in Europe (FARE) monitored every one of their games seem long gone.
Their behaviour in Manchester was disgusting. Some of the songs they sang were shameful—absolutely shameful. These are the kinds of songs that would once have earned them a heavy UEFA fine at the very least.
One of the more absurd elements of the commentary around this disgraceful episode was listening to Ally McCoist and others praise the atmosphere their fans created. It was a night of even greater shame, yet McCoist lauded it as if it were something to admire.
The Scottish media has mentioned the fighting, of course; that’s impossible to ignore with footage of it circulating everywhere. It even had a knock-on effect: Celtic’s game against Villa was branded “high-risk” in its aftermath.
This isn’t the first time Celtic has caught in the blowout from their fans’ behaviour, and it won’t be the last. It seems to happen with depressing regularity, and I fully expect us to be under heavier scrutiny than usual because of it.
In the midst of one of their religiously aggravated chants, McCoist praised them lavishly on the commentary. That’s not unexpected.
These are exactly the kind of party tunes he used to get up and stamp his feet to on a regular basis—the same ones he once boasted he would sing at Ibrox, even if it meant breaking the law.
It’s incredible that this has completely bypassed the mainstream media, with only Graham Spiers highlighting their fans’ disgusting behaviour and shameful songs.
The only other major figure to speak out was James Dornan, a long-time critic of the Ibrox support and their enabling club. Dornan, who sits in the Scottish Parliament, has consistently backed the introduction of strict liability in Scottish football especially as the clubs have failed to get their own houses in order.
What’s notable about Dornan’s intervention here is that he specifically called out McCoist’s comments and the context in which they were made. For him to praise the atmosphere while their fans were F@ing the Pope and up to their knees in fenian blood is exactly why this problem persists. People like McCoist give it legitimacy, and no one challenges him for it.
McCoist, of course, has been getting away with this for years, hiding his bigotry beneath a veneer of respectability—a veneer that too many people, who should know better, have bought into. At least Dornan called him out.
That should have been a moment of clarity for the press and for others in positions of influence, who should also have spoken up.
Because that’s what it will take: a concerted effort from the media, the political class, and the higher echelons of Scottish football to condemn this unequivocally and point the finger of blame squarely at the Ibrox club.
They are wholly responsible. They have no interest in tackling this problem, and until someone forces their hand, nothing will change.
I hope Dornan has not only spoken out but also contacted UEFA directly to ask when they’re going to take this seriously again.
Let’s not forget, it was UEFA’s intervention many years ago that forced Scottish football to confront the scandal of the Ibrox Songbook. And while the mainstream media tried to drag Celtic into it at the time, the focus on banning songs like “The Billy Boys” and “The Famine Song” did, for a while, reduce the problem.
But now it’s back with a vengeance, and only a handful of people are willing to talk about it. Meanwhile, McCoist and others get away with praising the Ibrox atmosphere, effectively endorsing those responsible. Until people stop excusing and legitimising this, those fans will never change the record.
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Hopefully these songs and disgusting displays of bigotry and violence,will be a thing of the past in football grounds, and the streets of foreign lands.If sevco doesn’t survive financially, which is looking like a distinct possibility, God willing. YNWA.
Yep if it happens I’ll need to call them The The Sevco then Billy !
And ye know the media here, when we go to A Villa, will be searchin and hopin for any reason and excuse tae make us out as bad. The slightest bit of bother or bad behaviour, will be scrutinised and highlighted tae the max. It’s always the tactic.
James as the World lurches towards Fascism and the hard right with the President of the USA openly preaching hatred of minorities, and threatening neighbouring countries with Trade Wars and even military intervention. I’m afraid the Ibrox mobs penchant for hatred of others is the least of our worries.
The press, broadcasting and Tech companies are hugely in the ownership of right wing billionaires who have facilitated the rise of the extreme right, and are weaponising the anti democratic racist rabble to take to the streets. Think JAN 6th in the US and the recent riots in England all based on misinformation and lies.
In Scotland a large number of that rabble turn up at Ibrox to support The Rangers and sing their songs of hatred, they travelled to Manchester and caused mayhem with the Scottish media saying as little as possible about it.
Chris McLaughlin laced his report on BBC Scotland with caveats practically apologising for bringing it up.
When the so called Mainstream Media fail to call out this behaviour Locally, Nationally or Internationally then those who support Democracy are in trouble.
A very good post that Micmac…
All I can say is thank fuck I’m getting old now –
Worrying times for the young ones in minority communities as you say !
Exactly.
But but but. It wisnae them , it was some big boys, chelsea fans dressed as rangers fans that did it and run away .
Same shoite different day .
Mccoist has always been an ugly wee orange bassa.
How he and the likes of the village idiot still get jobs in the meedja,
Imagine going into your workplace and spouting wrap like they do . My job would be gone in a heartbeat if I behaved like that.
The SFA and UEFA will do fuck all James.
Probably get more help from IKEA
I honestly believe the reanimated sevco support has been emboldened they are 100 times worse now than they ever were.we should have killed their grubby club off when we had the chance
We should indeed Sophie have not allowed Sevco to claim they’re The Dead Club…
They are really disliked in Manchester and with good good reason as well…
I stop off there for a few hours of drinking on ma way to see an unfashionable English team that I like a couple of times a year and a lot of bar staff ask casually in chat when I say why I’m down “Whose your favourite Scottish one then” – A lot of the time I say “Guess” and in Manchester they all say “Please say Celtic” !
That said saying Celtic in some places down there gets you an odd frown and comment…
Mostly BNP type ghetto Towns though that happens !
With regard to UEFA I look at who their key sponsors are these days and hold out little hope that those sponsors will apply any pressure. And when you see the corporate world kowtowing to the fascist regime in the US (which is behaving increasingly like gangsters every day) then it’s difficult to remain hopeful.
At least on the football pitch, with Brendan in charge we can keep them trailing in our wake.
Caption Competition Time Then….
What are The Red Devil’s fans saying to the clearly Sevco fan in the white Hoodie –
1) “Are you Paddy Stewart’s Bhoy”
2) “You’re no ‘Rangers’ any more – You’re no Rangers, You’re no Rangers any more” !
McCoists days are numbered in the punditry world. More recently I have seen articles which while they aren’t raising the bigotry concerns they are pointing out his petulance. His disregard when the conversation is about Celtic.
He is going to end up a pundit for Ibrox games & no more in the next year. I wouldn’t be surprised if that takes hold for the start of next season.
I’ve noticed Souness has vanished of the face of all these radio shows also. I think when he proclaimed Arsene Wenger wasn’t a “proper” football man probably confirmed what we have suspected for quite a long time. He talks absolute drivel & too many enablers around him gave his daft views weight because he was a “proper” footballer back in the day.
I hope McCoist joins Souness is the discarded pile soon enough.