Ian Wright slams ‘vile’ Old Firm derby and ‘pro-Rangers’ media

[ian1964 10,761]

Former Celtic striker Ian Wright has condemned the “super-intense religious bigotry” that exists within the Old Firm derby. The ex-Arsenal and England hitman played for the green half of Glasgow’s divide for a brief period in the 1999-00 season under John Barnes. Writing in his new autobiography A Life In Football, Wright says he was “naive” prior to his move north of the border and that he wasn’t prepared for the hatred he would experience. He writes: “This wasn’t football, listening to songs being sung from the start to the finish of the game saying ‘**** the Pope and the IRA’, or you’re in your car and people start banging on the roof shouting ‘No retreat! No surrender!’ At first, I didn’t even know what they were talking about. “There was a vile atmosphere, fuelled by hatred, especially at the Auld Firm derby [sic]. Fans love to talk about it like it’s this unbelievable thing! It’s not an unbelievable thing: it’s a nasty, tense, unsporting environment of super-intense religious bigotry that’s nothing to do with sport.” Wright goes on to repeat claims, originally made back in 2000, that he was spat at by Celtic fans in the wake of the 3-1 defeat by Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Cup, the match that would cost Barnes his job as manager. He also states his belief that the media in Scotland were biased in favour of one half of the Old Firm. He adds: “The press up there seemed to be very pro-Rangers, too, so journalists had so much fun ridiculing me and my so-called lack of form up there.” Wright played 10 games for Celtic, scoring three goals. His autobiography A Life In Football is on sale now.

 

Read more at: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/ian-wright-slams-vile-old-firm-derby-and-pro-rangers-media-1-4241280

[aweebluesoandso 290]

Didn't he and some Selik player get attacked by their own fans, spat at and generally verbally abused?

[BlackSocksRedTops 3,806]

"The press up there seemed to be very pro-Rangers" Jeso, who is publishing this garbage? VIZ publications?

[ian1964 10,761]

"The press up there seemed to be very pro-Rangers" Jeso, who is publishing this garbage? VIZ publications?

 

It will be for the bottom feeders that saturate the comments section!

[cooponthewing 1,139]

He always was a complete no mark up here!. So jumps on the victim card to excuse the blatant fact he was pish! Funny how he managed to miss all the pro terrorist/IRA songs from the vermin yet hears songs from us?? Bitter chicken munching bam!!

[Oleg_Mcnoleg 50]

Bizare that he thinks the press favour Rangers. I suppose there's an element of the Scottish fitba press who just enjoy beaten folk when they're down. He got it, Delia got it, John Barnes got it, Cascarino speaks 'fondly' of his treatment too, etc. Currently our turn.

[limeburner 0]

At least hes not playing the "Race" card,its something i suppose.

Probably using it elsewhere in his tome ,no doubt.A true "look at poor me "victim if ever there was one.Best ignored.

[MacK1950 2,399]

He is a prat and will always be so a totally unlikeable person.

[SteveC 150]

Tin hat firmly on, but anyway, here goes:

 

He is a prat and there's much in this quote to take umbrage at (selecting our songs only) and to sneer at for inaccuracy (Springsteen's "no retreat, no surrender" rather than what we sing) and be gobsmacked by his self serving deception (the press are pro-rangers for saying he played poorly) but, the main thing he says:

 

"“There was a vile atmosphere, fuelled by hatred, especially at the Auld Firm derby [sic]. Fans love to talk about it like it’s this unbelievable thing! It’s not an unbelievable thing: it’s a nasty, tense, unsporting environment of super-intense religious bigotry that’s nothing to do with sport.”

 

strikes me as accurate except that it is unbelievable, just in another sense of the word.

[JFK-1 1,693]

Tin hat firmly on, but anyway, here goes:

 

He is a prat and there's much in this quote to take umbrage at (selecting our songs only) and to sneer at for inaccuracy (Springsteen's "no retreat, no surrender" rather than what we sing) and be gobsmacked by his self serving deception (the press are pro-rangers for saying he played poorly) but, the main thing he says:

 

"“There was a vile atmosphere, fuelled by hatred, especially at the Auld Firm derby [sic]. Fans love to talk about it like it’s this unbelievable thing! It’s not an unbelievable thing: it’s a nasty, tense, unsporting environment of super-intense religious bigotry that’s nothing to do with sport.”

 

strikes me as accurate except that it is unbelievable, just in another sense of the word.

 

No mention of support for terrorists who indiscriminately target and kill British citizens and soldiers of any religious persuasion at all renders his rant totally meaningless. What does disrupting a remembrance day silence with chants in support of terrorists who kill our citizens have to do with sport?