Prove it's a fer cop - Tranynors Blog

[ian1964 10,545]

By Scott Marley on Apr 18, 11 09:33 AM in

 

who is this scott marley?

 

Maybe now they'll get it. Now that UEFA have decided Rangers should pay for the songs, perhaps the singers will come up with something different, something more acceptable. Then again, maybe not.

 

These people do seem incapable of hearing what the rest of us hear. Neither the lyrics nor sentiments jar with them.

 

Apparently they believe they are protecting tradition. One of them said so on the radio the other night and he just couldn't see his argument was wide open to ridicule.

 

They continue to march to the beat of their own big drum but are so far out of step with decent society that they are an embarrassment.

 

But all of this has been said before. Their own club has warned them and told them to stay away, yet they stick to the club like a bad smell. Well, UEFA are no longer willing to tolerate the stench.

 

They are acting on reports into the behaviour of Rangers fans compiled by a group called Fans Against Racism in Europe (FARE.) These reports are extreme. They are damning.

 

Fare have detailed just about every sound and that's good. Those Rangers fans who provided the noises deserve to be banned from football and not just for two home matches. Forever.

 

But while this page of the paper has already made it clear FARE were absolutely correct to monitor the evening choir sessions involving Rangers' supporters, the clubs they visit should be made aware of the process used to select volunteers.

 

Let me repeat that I admire FARE's philosophy but without transparency they undermine their own work.

 

It is simply not good enough for Piara Powar, the executive director of FARE, to say to any club they have to accept his word that the vetting processes for selecting monitors is sound. More is required. Proof of proper procedure is needed.

 

But when I spoke with Powar in his London office a couple of weeks ago he was unable to explain the system. He couldn't say if he knew anything about the background of the person asked to monitor Rangers against PSV Eindhoven.

 

That isn't good enough, especially when the word of this monitor is about to cost Rangers �£1.5million. That's what they reckon they'll lose by playing their next two home matches in Europe behind closed doors.

 

Clearly there is a responsibility on Powar to explain FARE's system because he has to protect the integrity of the group's work. Also, all of the clubs being called to account throughout Europe because of fan misbehaviour are entitled to be given proof that the system is robust, if not entirely foolproof.

 

Apparently UEFA don't have much of a clue about the procedures either yet they choose FARE's reports over that of their own delegates.

 

Surely Powar can see that to make sure FARE's work cannot be questioned he must produce some evidence at least of the criteria used. It would be a spectacular own goal if the Rangers fans, who shame their club and Scotland, were to escape punishment on the basis that FARE can't demonstrate that their procedures are impeccable.

 

Also he has to understand he is already being viewed with deep suspicion by many Rangers fans because he has become an ambassador for a company called OnSide along with former Celtic player Paul Elliott. OnSide will operate in sports coaching and are a wholly owned subsidiary of Milestone Group in which Celtic director Dermot Desmond's son, Brett, has a stake.

 

Elliott has done some terrific work in the battle against racism and is not a man who would get himself involved in anything deliberately designed to hurt Rangers or any other club.

 

And Desmond's boy is a businessman. That's it but it's enough to make twisted fans make connections and see things that aren't there. Even so, Powar, for the sake of what FARE are trying to do, must know he should prove the process he used to find someone to monitor these Rangers games was, in fact, fair.

 

Wether he likes it or not, he's caught up in this country's particular madness which makes too many Rangers fans miss the point. If none of them sang the offensive songs, a few of which have also been deemed illegal, the club they claim to support wouldn't be in trouble. It really is that simple.

 

Forcing Rangers to play a couple of matches behind closed doors might bring one or two to their senses but UEFA probably haven't thought this one all the way through. They may have rushed to judgement without thinking ahead.

 

For instance, what will they do if Rangers lose their appeal against the bans, the support is locked out, but the songs are heard again when the padlocks are taken off? Will they impose further sanctions? Even heavier fines? Will UEFA ban Rangers from Europe altogether? If they do that, they'll have to send FARE all over Europe compiling reports which will shut the game down completely. There are appalling incidents of racism and sectarianism all over UEFA's campus and if they are determined to hammer Rangers they have to be as tough with everyone else.