McLaughlin’s BBC article is both ignorant about Celtic fans and pushes the Ibrox line.

It takes a truly desperate piece of writing for me to want to subject it to the Full Jackson. On Friday night, just after I’d chucked it, I spotted this piece by Chris McLaughlin, and as we go into this game today, I thought it was a good segue into the game today. Yeah, it was that bad. It is an atrocious piece, especially for someone at the BBC.

Even the headline, with the use of that dreadful OF crap, had me grinding my teeth. When he says “away fans” I wondered; is there more than one set of “away fans” coming to this game? He means Sevco fans. So right away, we know where this is headed.

Away fans prepare for return to Old Firm clash

This is how he opened the article.

The nets are up, the police say they’re ready and both managers have welcomed a return to something approaching Old Firm normality. On Sunday, it’s over to the fans.

“Old Firm normality” would require a time-machine. You see though that he thinks that this game will be about fans rather than the two teams on the pitch? That tells you how confident he is that his favourite team might get a result. Instantly, he’s into the demented rubbish though as you’ll see here.

With wry smiles and rolling eyes, the majority of Celtic and (Ibrox) supporters would now admit to having missed each other these last two years.

I don’t know who he talks to in that ivory tower of his, that media bubble, but almost every Celtic fan I know regrets that we have to share a country with their supporters far less a football stadium. He is full of it. He’s clearly not spoken to as many Celtic fans as I have. The majority of our fans deplore their return. Missed them? I miss them about as much as I would miss a dose of the runs. I never want them back.

Critics have often described the fixture’s atmosphere in the past as poisonous or toxic and, while there are undoubtedly continued issues around sectarian singing, it remains Scottish football’s biggest spectacle and its most sellable asset.

Continued issues around sectarian singing. What a casual dismissal of a disgusting issue. And notice that he takes great pains not to point any fingers, or single out any specific songs. Gutless. Absolutely gutless. If critics have described it as poisonous and toxic then they are at least willing to call it exactly what it is. And Scottish football’s biggest spectacle? It’s a complete non-event here, all the important issues are decided. Scotland’s biggest game of late was when Hibs came to Celtic Park last; that was a game between the two on form clubs in the country. This is most certainly not.

The rivalry created by the fans makes it one of the most intense fixtures in world football.

Absolute rubbish. The only people who cling to this ludicrous view are those desperate to cling on to the coat tails of the Old Firm tag. Which means all of their supporters and virtually none of our ours. Perhaps he missed my initial point; we want nothing to do with their fans. Most of us do not want them in our ground.

It was for that reason that the SPFL stepped in last year to try and negotiate the return of away fans.

That is either unpardonable ignorance or it’s a barefaced lie. I don’t know which would be worse in a BBC Sports writer. To either not know the facts or to deliberately misinterpret them. The SPFL sat this one out for years. They would have continued to sit it out had Celtic not made an unequivocal statement that the Ibrox club’s supporters would not return to our ground until basic security conditions were met. That violated SPFL regulations; that’s the only reason they even bothered their backsides. They would have happily sat on the sidelines through another ten years of 750 ticket allocations … Celtic dragged them to the table kicking and screaming. McLaughlin’s attempt to make this sound like the governing body actually doing some governing is lamentable.

As Celtic’s dominance over their rivals took hold, (Ibrox’s) fans had, understandably, became increasingly frustrated at their rivals partying in their thousands inside Ibrox.

That should read “had understandably become.” But I’m damned if I’m cleaning up the bad grammar of a BBC journalist; let it be a testament to how dreadful their standards are. As to the general point, how idiotic is it? Is he suggesting that jealousy and frustration somehow justified their decision? Because that is garbage.

After appointing Steven Gerrard as manager in 2018, the club decided to sell season tickets in the stand historically set aside for Celtic’s visit and the away allocation was cut in 2018.

I knew when I read the headline that this was going to be one-sided shite. And I was right. What did this have to do with Steven Gerrard’s appointment? Damn all. It was about Odsonne Edouard, as we’ve already explored last week, with the seventh anniversary of his goal there in the 3-2 game. They acted out of malice and spite. It was only when they decided to cut the allocation that they sold the tickets for that area.

What followed was seven years of ticket turmoil, not helped by the Covid pandemic.

What followed was the behaviour of the Ibrox club dredging every gutter that they could in pursuit of some narrow advantage in this affair, one that they are entirely responsible for, including exploiting the COVID pandemic itself, about as low-order a series of behaviours as you could ever wish to see.

Both clubs criticised each other over security arrangements and safety of the small number of travelling fans and inevitably drawbridges were pulled up completely.

Another statement which is either complete ignorance or lying through his teeth. A Celtic official was hit with something at Ibrox. Our players were pelted. Our fans were too. We asked their club to take our concerns seriously and they refused to. At that point Celtic refused an allocation for Ibrox. That was our unilateral decision. To avoid questions and scrutiny – that’s a laugh, considering everyone knew this at the time – they manufactured a story that they’d expressed concerns about Celtic Park and refused an allocation for our ground at the same time. Celtic fans returned to Ibrox for a spell; the behaviour of their supporters so shocked our club that we demanded security measures be enhanced. When their club refused we told them we wouldn’t be back at their ground and they were no longer welcome at ours as long as they ignored us on security. The two clubs jointly agreed on measures to take. We were ready to have their fans back. But when their club failed to take appropriate steps in the agreed timeframe we told them we would extend the ban for another game. Then, and only then, did they take this seriously. Then, and only then, did the SPFL finally get involved in this. That’s what happened here.

Some hardened fans said it was for the best and the absence of their rivals on match day didn’t affect the atmosphere but most soon realised that it just wasn’t the same.

A similar assertion to the one he made before, and just as ridiculous as his initial contention that most of our fans had missed theirs. The best atmosphere I’ve ever been at for one of these games was on that night in February a couple of years ago when there was not one of them in our ground. Most everyone I’ve spoken to is agreed on that. We would prefer that it had been kept that way. Because it wasn’t “the same.” It was better.

The negotiations to break the deadlock have been lengthy and delicate, involving the police, the clubs and the league. But with a deal now reached, everyone involved will be watching on with extra interest.

One club negotiated in good faith. The other was still trying to find a narrow advantage somewhere. Celtic has been straightforward in its dealings right from the start. There has been no “delicate” negotiating; we have been crystal clear on our stance. We want a restoration of the full allocation. Barring that, we just want our fans to be safe. This could have been sorted in five minutes … had their club gotten serious.

As part of the negotiations, both clubs agreed to install huge nets to prevent fans being struck by missiles. It’s an unenviable first for the Scottish domestic game and a depressing reminder of what often goes on during this fixture.

True. Celtic have installed nets to stop our fans being pelted by missiles, which is what happened the last time theirs were at Parkhead. We insisted that their club install netting to prevent our fans being pelted by missiles, which is what happened the last time we were at Ibrox. Any suggestion to the contrary is another lie.

Nets have been used for decades by clubs in many leagues across Europe but it was thought, until now, that UK stadia CCTV would be good enough to catch the culprits and deter those tempted to step out of line.

Yeah we all did, except that their club claims that the CCTV in an area where Celtic players were struck by coins and other objects was not working at the time.

Both clubs are hoping they won’t have to be permanent features.

Celtic is doubtless well aware that those nets are there to stay as long as their fans are coming to our ground, and they are definitely there to stay at Ibrox for as long as our fans are going there. Otherwise they won’t be. If McLaughlin is not smart enough to realise that he’s too dumb to be in broadcast journalism.

Hell, if he doesn’t realise that then he’s too dumb to work at the post sorting office licking the stamps.

Scottish football has been pushing for the police and the justice system to be tougher on unacceptable conduct inside stadia and the police’s approach to safety inside both grounds was a key part of the negotiations.

I have no confidence whatsoever in the police robustly policing this fixture. Police Scotland is on a permanent holiday when it comes to dealing with public order issues. They are content to stand and watch, as they have on numerous occasions, and then make arrests on the margins. God help us if we ever have serious civil disorder in this country. The rioting will last until the Red Bull runs out.

Police Scotland says its officers are well used to dealing with big football matches and have taken time to try and reassure the public that the ticketing change won’t phase them.

Nothing phases police officers who don’t have to do policing. Why should it?

What they have struggled to deal with in recent years, though, is the rise of violent clashes between ultras groups who associate themselves with both clubs, away from the grounds themselves.

Yeah cause “let’s stand and watch them and hope they get bored quickly” is not an effective policing tactic.

Officers were caught out and Christmas shoppers were forced to cower for cover in city centre shops when huge groups of fans chased and fought each other in chaotic scenes in Glasgow in December.

One set of balaclava clad guys came from one direction. The second group came from the other direction. In broad daylight. In busy streets. On the day of a derby. This is sounding an awful lot like Uncle Albert telling the story about how his ship crashed into the aircraft carrier they were supposed to be guarding because he failed to spot it. Caught out? I’ve watched that footage. They let it happen around them. In other footage, what I saw were cowardly Union Brats attacking pubs full of innocent people. Guess what? No police in sight. Don’t make me laugh. Like I said, I have zero faith in them at all.

Since then, Police Scotland has not hesitated to reach for extra powers that allows officers to stop and search those suspected of being involved.

Pure tokenism. They could use the arrest powers they already have. Let me make a prediction; they will allow dozens, or hundreds, of guys to walk about in dark clothing with face coverings and fireworks and not make a single arrest. But if you’re a young guy walking down the street on your own? Watch out, because there will be four of them round you demanding that you strip down to your t-shirt and skivvies.

For decades, this fixture kept the police stretched with drunken sporadic violence. But these days it’s the organised fighting that poses the biggest threat.

Rubbish, as anyone who has been in the city centre after any defeat for the Ibrox club can well attest. That’s not McLaughlin though or any of his ilk, hiding out in the suburbs largely ignorant of what goes on out on the streets.

What can be forgotten, though, is that the disorder and violence is the exception not the rule.

And what? That’s little consolation if you’re the one beaten, slashed or stabbed. “Statistically, you’ve been very unlucky here …” “Oh really? Well that makes me feel better then.”

The vast majority of supporters will go along to support their team and leave either delighted or deflated because of what happens on the field of play.

Yeah, they will. Even more would react like that if we banned their fans entirely from our stadium. The “vast majority” here will be 57,000 people in green and white. It’s the other 2,300 that some of us are concerned about.

Yes, they will also shout and taunt their rivals, take pleasure in their misfortune and bite back at their jibes, but they’ll do it whilst creating an atmosphere that is the envy of some the richest leagues on the planet.

It’s high time Scottish football was weaned off of this rubbish. It’s not true. It hasn’t been true since at least 2011. Our derby is viewed in the same way that Victorian England once viewed the “bearded lady.” It’s a freak show. We have nothing to teach El Classico, I can assure you. These teams play each other four times a year in the league, and usually another twice (barring unfortunate results like Queens Park haha) in the cup … it’s played out. It’s old hat. Many of them are like this one; dead rubbers because the big issues have already been decided. This fixture is nothing special, except for the hate.

Celtic are keen for a return to the pre-2018 ticketing arrangement that saw around 7000 away fans allowed to attend the fixture. (The Ibrox club) have made it clear that season ticket sales at Ibrox would make that impractical.

The Ibrox party line trotted out as if by someone too dumb to think straight, or who just doesn’t care for the facts. Celtic sells season tickets for the very sections their fans would inhabit should circumstances change. I had one of them until recently. You know what that ticket’s terms and conditions are? You buy it on the condition that you might not be able to use it for one of those games. Adding that to the respective season tickets at Ibrox would be a piece of cake. The club could set those terms if it wanted. It is not that it’s impractical. It’s just that they aren’t prepared to do it. Their hands are not tied except voluntarily.

For now, both clubs and their fans are united in the belief that the latest move is a step in the right direction at least.

No, it really isn’t, and the only people really promoting it that way are those who have spent too many years watching The Best Of Jorg Albertz DVD’s because their club hasn’t released a proper one since it crawled out of the grave of Rangers.