The current talk of Scottish football is the pyrotechnic display provided by Rangers fans in the Bob Paisley stand of Dens Park on Wednesday night.
As always, everyone from Police Scotland to the Scottish Government and journalists who support other teams, who have been guilty of similar offences, condemned the incident.
The pyrotechnics on display provided some stunning images and, rightly or wrongly, many of Philippe Clement’s Rangers squad couldn’t help but comment, including Nicolas Raskin.
Pyrotechnic display sees Raskin praising Rangers support
The Belgian Under-21 international is still waiting to find out what the prognosis is for the ankle injury he suffered against Hearts at the weekend.
However, this hasn’t stopped him from being impressed with what he saw against Dundee and with the support from the Rangers fans.
A simple, “what a support” from Raskin with a picture of the Rangers fans’ display demonstrated exactly how he felt about the traveling bears – a post he has subsequently deleted though.
The demand for tickets for away games is always incredible and, from the first whistle to the last, the union bears led the singing.
Under Philippe Clement, the Rangers boss has spoken about building the bond and synergy between the team and the fans after a long period of disconnect:
“We feel also the dynamic between fans and players is changing and it’s because of both sides. The supporters are positive to the players and the players are doing the right things on the pitch.”
Pyrotechnics remain illegal in Scottish football grounds which is why they have been so widely condemned but a quick look through the Rangers players’ social media accounts show that, like Nico Raskin, they have appreciated it from an aesthetic point of view.
You can guarantee that there won’t be any grown up discussions with supporters groups or research into safe pyrotechnics, instead Rangers will be the ones at the front and centre of the criticism when almost every other club has been guilty of using them in the past too.
Something tells me that we must be winning again…
