Rangers have been taking yet more stick on BBC Scotland as two commentators – seemingly out of touch with football supporters – gun for the club.
Rangers are at loggerheads with the Scottish Government over the celebrations of supporters in the aftermath of the club being crowned Champions of Scotland once again.
This was a huge moment in not just Rangers’ esteemed history, but also in British and world footballing history.
Rangers pointed to this in a letter to first minister Nicola Sturgeon where the club also detailed the number of engagements they made regarding the situation with relevant stakeholders.
Despite this, Rangers fans have been called a “disgrace” with the scenes in George Square branded “shameful”.
On BBC Scotland’s Debate Night, Rangers were once again the hot topic of discussion and two interviews – later uploaded to the programme’s Twitter account – show just how out of touch some are with the reality of football fandom.
The Scottish Trades Union Congress general secretary Roz Foyer was on the show claiming that “Rangers should have shown some leadership” and recommended an “online event” to prevent the scenes.
Foyer would then compare a similar event started by the STUC for people who wanted to protest the murder of George Floyd with the Rangers celebrations, despite thousands turning out in Glasgow for those protests.
Another contributor – named only as an “audience member” for the show – was then filmed demanding “some action should be taken” – presumably towards Rangers – regarding the celebrations.
This audience member incorrectly claims “although there was liaison” before the game “there was no action” taken by Rangers whilst the events were unfolding.
Rangers repeatedly told supporters to disperse from Ibrox Stadium.
She also describes the supporters – taking part in a celebration ten years in the making – as “rampaging” through the streets in a visibly distasteful take.
These appear to be two individuals who generally do not know what it means to not just football fans, but Rangers fans, to be crowned Champions.
To be fair to Debate Night, they also included commentary from one Rangers fan who tried to explain the club’s standpoint on the situation.
This was a special moment for supporters and whilst no-one is sitting here condoning the breaking of rules, people spend their entire lives devoted to football and it is utterly ridiculous that the celebrations should be taken out of their context by people who quite simply cannot relate.
The notion Rangers should be punished for this is ludicrous – how can those within the football club control what happens outside of it? Are we to punish supporters for celebrating?
This clearly happened at an inopportune moment and what these commentators and politicians do not understand is that if it happened again tomorrow, it’d still be the same outcome.
Football means so much to so many and this kind of coverage stands only to drive a bigger wedge between clubs, supporters and the authorities.
Whilst there might’ve been some unrealistic commentary regarding the incident on the BBC here, reports are suggesting they are “keen” to resolve the ongoing dispute they have with Rangers.
