Rangers’ celebration stance has been a highly-talked about part of the club’s AGM since last week.
One fan asked Stewart Robertson about the “thuggish” behaviour of Celtic players at Parkhead during their post-match celebrations. The supporter wasn’t happy at Celtic players goading the Rangers supporters after the game.
Managing Director Robertson responded by saying that players have a responsibility in their actions. He believed that supporters had to be sensible in their celebrations as to not incite supporters.
The irony isn’t lost on us at Rangers News after the weekend win over Hearts. So is the club just playing mind games with Celtic and their fellow rivals?
The reason we ask this question is the nature of the celebrations during the game. When both Connor Goldson and Alfredo Morelos scored, they looked to wind up the Hearts fans and gesture in front of them.
Is there anything wrong with that? Not for me, but it does go against what Robertson said during the week. Added to that, Andy Halliday appeared to goad the Hearts fans immediately after Rangers equalised on Sunday.
It’s all just banter between players and fans, and Scottish football in general needs to get a grip and realise that’s the case.
Are the club trying to kid everyone on?
Rangers, however, were very clear last week that gesturing and inciting supporters should be a no-go. With the players so provocative in their celebrations after the two goals against Hearts, was this really all just mind-games by Robertson and Rangers?
Make no mistake about it, people are talking about the Ibrox side once again. Rangers’ success is getting under many people’s skin this season, and some don’t even want to believe that the club are getting better.
Rangers have certainly enjoyed their rise under Steven Gerrard so far, and are enjoying saying what they think in their statements. It would hardly be surprising, therefore, if Robertson’s comments on player-behaviour was a tad tongue-in-cheek.
At the end of the day, football fans have a responsibility to behave maturely. If they want to should and criticise opposition players all game, prepare to be big enough to take it.
The only people responsible for fan behaviour is the fans themselves. They’re mature adults (or should be), and have to realise the consequences of their actions at football.
Therefore, it appears that Rangers are very much in the boat of getting it right up the opposition, despite Robertson’s comments. Quite right too.
