The Ibrox club has declared war on the Union Brats. Celtic fans don’t care who wins.

Last night, as you may or may not know, the Ibrox club released a statement targeted at their own fan group, the Union Brats. That statement was extraordinary. The Brats were told that the club has given them the so-called singing section, and that if it feels the need, it will take that section away from them. The club has highlighted multiple instances this season where problems have emanated from that section, and they now wish to confront those problems directly.

I know a lot of Ibrox fans read this blog, and I know most of them were sceptical when I wrote a few weeks ago that the Union Brats had endangered themselves. When they attempted to walk out of the ground and got very little support from their fellow fans, I said they had created an issue that put them at existential risk.

Turns out, I was right.

If a set of malcontent supporters within a fanbase constantly causes problems for the board of directors, regardless of circumstances, that group will eventually find itself under scrutiny and, inevitably, under threat. If that group is stupid enough to behave in ways that bring the club embarrassment— even disgrace—then they are placing their necks in the noose.

Not only have they done all that, but the Union Brats have been stupid enough to do this at the worst possible time—when people are looking at bringing in outside investment. And not just any investors, but American investors who will be strongly protective of their own reputations.

If reports in some outlets are to be believed, these people hail from San Francisco—the most liberal city in the most liberal state in the United States. All the drum-banging and chest-thumping of the Union Brats will go down with them like a lead balloon.

Are the Americans forcing the club to act? Do they want the Union Brats sorted out—perhaps even gone—before they agree to a takeover? Or is the board simply sick and tired of these people?

Does it think that, in order to facilitate the takeover as smoothly as possible, it should hand the Americans a clean slate? I don’t know.

I suspect the Americans have made their displeasure with these people clear and have urged the board to act before they sign off on any share purchase. But it could just as easily be the case that the board is simply fed up with them.

I’m someone who likes to know the root cause of things, and this is a major rift between the Ibrox club and one of its leading fan groups. It’s clearly a big problem for everyone connected with the club, and it would be interesting to get to the bottom of it.

But one thing is absolutely clear: the Union Brats have made every mistake it is possible to make in terms of their relationship with the board. Even more incredibly, they have made themselves visible to the potential new investors for all the wrong reasons, and it’s hard to believe that people—even people across the city—can be this short-sighted and thick. But here we are. And there is no doubt that these people have placed themselves in great peril. They now have two choices to make.

Either they can show themselves up as cowards and ditch all semblance of defending their so-called cultural norms, or they can fight.

And personally, I hope they fight. I hope they dig in their heels. I hope they make it clear to the board that they will not be silenced, that their club culture is one they believe is unionist and Protestant and all that crazy stuff, and that they vow to defend it to their last breath. That would be amazing. A wee Ibrox civil war. Just what the doctor ordered. The best way to get any takeover off to a good start.

That would not be a bad thing for Scottish football as a whole.

It definitely wouldn’t be a bad thing for their club. What is in the best interest of their club is sometimes in the best interests of the rest of the game. And this is one of those occasions where it’s a no-brainer. If we can remove some of the more degenerate fans from that fanbase, that’s a win-win for everybody.

For all that, the Ibrox statement is laughable in places—particularly when it talks about the “great atmosphere” while, deep down, they must know that this “great atmosphere” is fuelled, at least in part, by people singing about being up to their knees in Fenian blood. It seems rather rich to praise that atmosphere while criticising those who create it for how they do so.

But all those contradictions aside, this is a pointedly aggressive statement that even talks about billing the fans for any fines the club incurs due to their behaviour. It also warns that the fans will be liable for additional costs, such as extra policing, stewarding, and security for their section.

This is heavy stuff. This is a no-messing statement, and it is aimed specifically at them. This isn’t a message to the fans in general or the broader support.

It is explicitly targeted at the Brats.

So, they need to get their little house in order. They need to get themselves under control. Otherwise, they’re going to have a lot more free Saturdays to walk around the Gallowgate in their gimp gear at 8:00 AM—when they know no one else is around.