A BIG FOKKER.
This thread is now running into for a fifth year and it's time to remember as Rangers supporters we pay our license fees to receive a service from BBC Scotland.
A Europa League tie between Borussia Dortmund and Rangers is big news for Scottish football. Two games home and away and BBC Scotland's Sports News Correspondent, Chris McLaughlin and BBC Scotland's Chief Football Writer, Tom English have collectively written not a word. Comparatively little has been broadcast either. Both games coincided with Sellik's entry into the European Conference League, two games home and away against Norwegians, Bodo Glimp received live commentary from Liam McLeod with Pat Bonner and James McFadden adding colour. BBC Radio Scotland was, "right across events at the Rangers games' ie Richard Gordon and Richard Foster view a monitor in a studio and make occasional comments.
Borussia Dortmund were favourites for the Europa League, they sit second in the Bundesliga and, they travel everywhere in their own liveried Airbus aeroplane. From memory, Rangers have faced Borussia in European competition on four previous occasions and only lost the one tie. Sellik were bullish on the Conference tie, they were in it to win it, going all the way. Bodo were from inside the Arctic Circle, a town's population ten thousand less than the Stade de Gadd's capacity. The first games were played, Rangers kicked-off early in Germany and the 2-4 victory was quickly dismissed in favour of live commentary under the disco lights at Sellik Park. After a 1-3 defeat, BBC Radio Scotland was off air at ten O'Clock.
The next day and the day after was radio silence, no mention on BBC Scotland TV either. Saturday had a full list of fixtures but again no mention. Sunday saw Rangers visit Tannadice and PQ spirits picked up. A 1-1 draw had United's centre back, Ross Graham eulogised and his partner, Charlie Mulgrew lionised for telling BBC Scotland's interviewer that Rangers penalty claims were, "made up". Sellik defeated bottom of the table, Dundee 3-2 at Parkhead and the Dee's penalty claim in the last minute was not discussed. Monday's TV news carried footage of both games with the strap line, "Celtic move further ahead".
Thursday saw a reversal, ra Sellik live commentary up first. PQ's favourites fielded a weakened team and McLeod, Bonner and, McFadden lauded Ange's expediency for prioritising the league over Europe. Whatever happened to in it to win it? Sellik were out of Europe for the third time in one season having been vanquished 5-1 on aggregate. Across events at Ibrox was up next and Richard Gordon groaned at the penalty award. Half-time was quite perky, Dortmund were leading 1-2. BIG Dick was happier when McFadden said, "Dortmund have got the second, it will be whatever they want it to be". It took thirty seconds for Big Dick to announce the equaliser, stuttering whilst viewing, hoping for an offside. The game finished 6-4 on aggregate to Rangers at 21.53hrs, BBC Radio Scotland's football coverage was finished at one minute to ten.
BBC Scotland's news the next day(Friday) did show the Rangers goals and told the result but no discussion. The draw against Red Star was reported but no discussion. It is Saturday and BBC Radio Scotland have Off the Ball with RAB and Cowan opining the money spent by traveling Yahoos to visit the Arctic Circle, only to be confronted by a reserve team. Cowan praised the atmosphere at Ibrox and congratulated Rangers on the result. RAB Cosgrove stated, "Yep" and they moved on.
There is another BBC Scotland production on football, 'A View from the Terrace'. It is a one hour show with an eclectic take. I like it, the Host, Craig Telfer is a Stenhousemuir fan, the panelists are taken from a grouping including Craig Fowler(Jambo), Joel Sked(Jambo), Robert Borthwick(Jambo), Shaughan McGuigan(Raith Rovers), Robert Thewliss(Well), ....... The Producer is David Harron(Jambo). Promoting Scottish football is the show's raison d'etre, at all levels. Two shows straddling the tie and they don not mention the games, we would not know the tie took place. They did mention Bodo Glimt and they spent several minutes continuing the lionisation of Charlie Mulgrew and Dundee United's, "Dee-lightful defending against Rangers".
As stated, the tie was a BIG FOKKER for Scottish football and for PQ to arrive eventually at a passive state at best will be remembered. A View from the Terrace to entirely ignore the tie is as a result of pressure from Production. These several paragraphs are a record proving posterity will not be kind to BBC Scotland.