Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...

[boabie 230]

I acknowledge that in my post. I know it won't stop a lot of things but it will stop criticism of one issue only which is constantly thrown in our faces. We could argue about the Hun word being used against us but currently that isn't possible.

 

I am of an age before political correctness outlawed the use of certain names to describe people of a different race or colour and these words are not longer in my vocabulary. To be absolutely honest I've never sung the offensive words in my life. By continuing to use these songs the club and supporters leave ourselves open to accusations of being in the dark ages and members of the flat earth society. I don't think this is the image we want for our club. I think we need to accept that times have changed. No whataboutery please. I am only concerned for the good name of one club. A move to totally outlaw these songs coming from the club would be very well received by most fair minded people.

 

I'll refer you back to my last post BM. If we stopped any rendition of TBB they'd go for another song. If the Rangers fans sang Kumbaya for 90 minutes we'd be accused of slighting our African bethren. Go back a few years - a potato was thrown onto the pitch at the mankdome - that potato became sectarian as it obviously referred to the potato famine. A famine which despite the claims by the downtrodden and repressed affected every person not only in Ireland but Scotland. What sort of twisted mentality demands government action on some idiot throwing a potato onto a football field ? Even worse, when did we reach the stage that anyone calling for that action could be taken seriously ?

Many years ago on another forum I said that we should draw a line in the sand and say no more. The fact we didn't is how we've reached where we are now. It's time to say no more and take these bastards to task.

[boabie 230]

I'm more concerned about the lack of condemnation from SPFL/SFA and Scottish Media sources than I am about whether a political party has any Rangers supporters within it because quite frankly its a red herring that is based in sheer conjecture.

 

For example the media are still reporting violence towards Rangers players and staff as 'alleged' when at least one Hibernian supporter has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in July. Which changes alleged an 'accusation' to be answered to an answered conviction. It is no longer alleged that a Hibernian supporter entered the field of play and threatened, intimidated and assaulted a Rangers player. Its a fact that he did!

 

That's what we should be concentrating on.

 

The agenda has switched from the hibs fans rioting to whataboutery on the Rangers fans songsheet.

Muirhead, John James, The tarred one, Speirs, and every other twisted feckwit with a hatred of us has joined in. Nobody wants to know about Hibs.

I'll make a prediction right now - we will be punished more than Hibs .

[ranger_syntax 4,422]

We are also toxic because of the songs we keep spouting out. I have recently hardened my attitude to this and now firmly believe we must stop it to move forward. If we don't we lay ourselves wide open for haters to have a go at us. If we didn't sing the songs they wouldn't be able to criticise us for that. We need to accept that these songs are unacceptable to the vast majority of people.

 

Yes, sing whatever songs that you like but people need to realise that there is a cost that goes with it.

 

Nobody will ever lift a finger to help us if we don't move on.

 

No one likes us, we don't care . . . ?

[Bluedell 5,679]

I don't believe the SNP are inherently anti-Rangers, no more than any other Scottish political party are.

 

 

When you say the SNP didn't support us in the current situation, what did you expect to happen?

I'd expect them to criticise Hibs and not to praise the "happy Hibees". I'd expect them to make some comment in respect of our players being assulted. It was different at the OF "shame game" when the going-on were niowhere near as serious. They had plenty to say then. I'd expect them to insist on an independent review of the police and not allow them to tell lies about the Rangers support.

 

What independent body is reviewing the police?

[MacK1950 2,399]

A law unto themselves sorry I forgot they are the law and beyond reproach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[boabie 230]

Derek Johnstone has his say -

 

" THE formation of Club 1872 is a really positive step for the supporters and for Rangers.

 

It will undoubtedly help the club in terms of the money that is raised to fund projects and it will give the fans a real say in how decisions are made at Ibrox.

 

But it will also give supporters a voice and that is as important as ever in the aftermath of events at Hampden on Saturday.

 

All the supporters are as one and they will make themselves heard as one. They will defend the club and they will defend the fans.

 

There will be times where Rangers supporters are in the wrong, of course there will. No support, of any club, is perfect and we are all aware of that.

 

But when things are thrown at us then it is only right that they back their side and back their fellow fans. You can’t blame them at all for that.

 

In their statement on Thursday night, Club 1872 claimed that Rangers and the fans are ‘fair game by an unpleasant and active minority who attach themselves to several Scottish football clubs’.

 

It has not just been the last four years, but it has been prominent in the last four years when we have been down at our lowest. It is the easiest thing in the world to kick people when they are down.

 

There is no doubt in my mind that that has happened to Rangers. Whether people like me saying that or not, that is a fact.

 

Rangers are a bit like Manchester United down south. Nobody likes United because they are the big club, they are the successful club.

 

Everyone hates Man United and I don’t think there is any doubt that Rangers are filling that mantle up here just now. It is easy for people to have a go at Rangers Football Club.

 

How the events at Hampden can be turned around on the Rangers fans, I don’t know. If thousands of Hibs supporters don’t come on the pitch, there is no trouble.

 

You can’t start throwing blame at everyone else. You have to look at what the Hibs fans did.

 

They came on the park and caused mayhem. When you cross the halfway line, you are in opposition territory and you are goading.

 

They were tearing up the turf, they broke the goals and it was just malicious damage. That is not fans that are happy, that is vandalism.

 

At the launch of Club 1872 this week, Managing Director Stewart Robertson was asked a lot of questions about the Hampden riot, amongst other things, and he answered them honestly.

 

Nobody wants to see fans being goaded or attacked. There were Rangers fans on the park and they shouldn’t have been, and Stewart said Rangers will take action if appropriate.

 

But you can’t shift the focus as to where the blame for this lies. It is down to one club and one club only.

 

We have had stories coming out about the Rangers fans in the aftermath but the Police, the SFA and Hibernian have to hold their hands up and say they were in the wrong.

 

Club 1872 were quite right to come out with their statement. That is what they are there for. It will be good for Rangers and the fan base.

 

If, in the future, Rangers fans are found to have behaved inappropriately at any stage then they will, I am sure, say something about that as well. They have got to be honest and they will be.

 

Stewart didn’t say anything that I am sure plenty of people will disagree with. What would you rather have, thousands of people fighting on the park or people singing songs? We don’t want to hear any sectarian singing in Scotland and we don’t want people battling it out on the park.

 

There are no excuses here. The songs were song. But I would rather hear songs than see thousands of people fighting.

 

I don’t think anyone would differ. Of course, you don’t want to see any of it and we want everyone that goes to football matches to behave in an appropriate manner.

 

But, you can’t hurt someone with singing. These days, you are more likely to get jailed for singing than you are for being on the park.

 

We don’t want to see any misbehaviour at football and the SFA have to act decisively now. Back in ’72, UEFA didn’t mess about and Rangers were given a two-year ban, which was reduced to a year on appeal, after our fans came onto the park in Barcelona.

 

Within a few days, that was it. The SFA now need to act quickly and decisively.

 

These pictures were all over the world and it presents a really poor image of our game.

 

You cannot have players on the park fearing for their safety. If you go out and you are thinking ‘if their fans come on, we could be attacked’ then what is the point in playing the game?

 

While the SFA are investigating what happened on Saturday, they should be having a look at the conduct of their Vice-President.

 

Club 1872 called for Rod Petrie to be removed from office this week and I certainly agree with them on that.

 

He came out with the most ridiculous comments after the game and it took him another couple of days before he spoke again. There has been no public apology to Rangers.

 

He should not be anywhere near the SFA and should not be allowed to have a say in how our game is being run.

 

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/rangers/14522390.Derek_Johnstone__Club_1872_have_to_stand_up_for_Rangers_fans___and_the_Hampden_fall_out_proves_it/?