Rangers fans have been left thoroughly embarrassed after images appeared to show the Lyon team bus being vandalised ahead of the club’s Europa League clash.
The side of the impressive team bus has been spray-painted with the term “RFC” as well as an expletive aimed at the Ligue 1 club.
le bus des joueurs de l’#OL tagué avant la rencontre face à Glasgow#RFCOL #Rangers
(Lyon Mag : https://t.co/fTwXkIDqQj) pic.twitter.com/e2J1cd2Wb6— OL+ (@OL__Plus) September 16, 2021
Rangers Ultras appear to have taken credit for the tag, but the move has not gone down well amongst the Ibrox support on Twitter.
Gers fans are well used to being lambasted in the press for the behaviour of others and this is yet another opportunity handed to the club’s detractors.
The issue here is the sensitivity surrounding Rangers at the moment – at times it’s very much felt like open season on the club and the support – and the wider impact this behaviour has on not just the group responsible, but the rest of the support by association.
If they want to make a statement, Ultras groups would be better served working smarter rather than reducing their often good work to playground graffiti.
It’s more negativity, more ammunition, more nonsense attached to the club and support. We don’t want to overblow it but at the end of the day, timing is everything.
No-one is asking Lyon to be welcomed to Glasgow with a red carpet but this vandalism does nothing more than show Rangers fans up and taint the French club’s experience at Ibrox.
The notion that it’s going to do anything else – such as fire both groups of players up – is utterly ridiculous.
Rangers fans are in no rush to endorse the behaviour – which is sure to cost a pretty penny to resolve – and the club’s fans have been shaking their heads in the aftermath of it.
Here’s a selection of tweets from embarrassed supporters criticising the group which took it upon themselves to vandalise the Lyon team bus:
https://twitter.com/Sneddon0472/status/1438460440544256002
Vandalising the Lyon bus is utterly pathetic.
— Garry Carmody (@GarryCarmody) September 16, 2021
https://twitter.com/kenny47110/status/1438446918548475912
I'd love to know who thought there would be something to gain from vandalising Lyon's bus and why. It takes a special kind of stupidity to think that's a good idea. At a time when plenty are happy to take aim at Rangers fans, the morons have given them an open goal.
— Andrew Dickson (@mrandrewdickson) September 16, 2021
Vandalising the Lyon team bus is pathetic, needless and embarrassing. Reflects badly on the club as a whole and the decent majority of fans. Grow up.
— Elaine (@ecm_242) September 16, 2021
Whoever was involved in doing this to the Lyon team bus should be ashamed of themselves pic.twitter.com/Tj7oEd2vkz
— Kevin Geddes (@Geddes1989) September 16, 2021
Don’t really understand the notion to spray paint Lyon’s bus at all. What was the point?
— Iain (@CemetryGates89) September 16, 2021
Spraying the Lyon team bus is an absolute riddy
— Fahdy (@Fahdy824) September 16, 2021
Tagging the Lyon bus…why? 🤷🏻♂️
I get that much of the scene is about one-upmanship and making a mark, but this action seems crass and needless.
Graffiti without art or expression is just vandalism.
— Graeme Hanna (@graeme818) September 16, 2021
Spray painting the Lyon bus is just a riddy. How can people continue to shoot themselves in the foot so much? It will likely just cost Rangers money to fix it. Pathetic.
— Kirst 🌻 (@kirsten93_) September 16, 2021
That lyon bus, was there any need really?
— Craig (@CraigGPBFB) September 16, 2021
Rangers are preparing to face Lyon in their Europa League opener this evening with the Gers set to welcome the Ligue 1 club to Ibrox.
Whilst both sides don’t have their injury issues to seek, Lyon will be without £76.5m worth of talent for the clash with Rangers.