Rangers fans have rallied behind a stern message from the Ibrox club after UEFA branded an offensive banner unfurled against Fenerbahce as racist.
Rangers have been charged by UEFA after fans in the club’s Ultras section unfurled a banner with the message: “Keep woke foreign ideologies out. Defend Europe.”
The slogan ‘Defend Europe’ has been widely adopted by far-right extremist groups and has a deep-rooted association with racist ideologies.
Whilst many Rangers supporters will not have known this, UEFA certainly do and now the Ibrox side are set to face sanctions for the behaviour of a bitter minority.
Such messaging is at odds with Rangers’ multi-ethnic, multi-religious squad and the Ibrox side has branded the behaviour as ‘deeply saddening and frankly embarrassing’.
Rangers have been clear that those espousing such messages are not welcome at Ibrox and it’s a sentiment wholeheartedly shared by the majority of the Gers support.
Rangers also face charges for the ‘throwing of objects’ and the ‘blocking of passageways’ in the penalty kicks victory over Fenerbahce.
The Gers also took the opportunity to criticise supporters once again for the ‘illegal’ use of pyrotechnics inside football stadiums, this time in the weekend’s Old Firm victory at Parkhead.
Rangers ‘disdain’ for ‘shameful’ for behaviour of fans
Dealing specifically with the racism charge, a Rangers statement reads:
“The club has been charged by UEFA after a handful of supporters displayed what UEFA describe as a ‘racist and/or discriminatory banner’ at last Thursday’s Ibrox meeting with Fenerbahce.
“Rangers is a modern, progressive football club, and we are fiercely proud of our diverse playing squads, workforce and support. For the club to be charged with such a matter in 2025 is shameful, and the disdain for those responsible will be shared by the overwhelming majority of our supporters.
”This charge will bring consequences for the club, while the club is also working to identify those responsible and will ensure they also face consequences.
“For the avoidance of doubt, if you do not believe in 2025 that absolutely everyone is welcome to follow Rangers whether at Ibrox or away, then Rangers is not the club for you, and you should disassociate yourself with the club immediately.”
Whilst at this stage the consequences are unknown, Rangers have previously suffered from partial stadium closures due to ‘racist behaviour and sectarian singing’.
As reported by Reuters back in 2019, Rangers suffered from a partial stand closure against Legia Warsaw after sectarian singing in a Europa League qualifier against St Joseph’s of Gibraltar.
Rangers would then see 3000 fans locked out of the 1-0 win over Feyenoord as punishment for singing in the away leg of the Legia tie, with the Gers also refusing take tickets for the trip to Young Boys as a warning to supporters.
Rangers fans laud club and send message to fellow ‘supporters’
That such charges are being once again brought against Rangers is a monumental embarrassment to the Ibrox club at a time of substantial change.
With a US takeover of Rangers close to completion, and a Europa League quarter final against Athletic Bilbao on the horizon, such headlines take a massive shine off the progress the club is making.
Rangers are clear that they will not be a vessel for extremist right-wing views with the club working hard to weed out those who continue to bring its name into disrepute.
Rangers fans too – who like every football club’s support suffer from being labelled guilty by association – have a message for those espousing misguided and racist ideas.
Given Rangers are on the verge of an American buyout, fans have also warned that those with backwards views are simply slowing down the Ibrox side’s progress.
One stated: “The club is about to go even more global under new stewardship and we all need to get on board with that progression.”
Another concurred, adding: “The American investors won’t be keen on that type of reputational damage. That behaviour is risking the future of the club. You know exactly the groups involved, you put them centre stage.”
Another supporter took aim at the Union Bears for trying to be a ‘lite’ version of Celtic counterparts the Green Brigade with these ‘edgy’ and ill thought-out banners.
With Rangers now potentially facing a partial stand closure – perhaps even for the Europa League Quarter Final with Athletic Bilbao – one supporter summed the situation up perfectly.
