Rangers fans guilty of hooliganism, not sectarianism

[nach0king]

Sectarianism, fine. I didn't hear any during the Villareal first leg that I watched. But not depending on your definition of "bigoted", there may well have been some of that. What game were UEFA watching when in the 83rd minute of the 1st leg tie against Villareal at Ibrox, a large proportion of the crowd declared itself "up to its knees in Fenian blood"? :rolleyes:

http://www.uefa.com/uefa/Keytopics/kind=512/newsId=413276.html

Still, hopefully a monetary fine - small as it is - will convince those in the corridors of power at Ibrox to do something about the club's hooligan element.

[MothersAgainstRedBul redded]

Anyone see this video on American fan violence in MLS from Google Video?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1856085459753309626&q=mls&pl=true

[celtic76]

Anyone see this video on American fan violence in MLS from Google Video?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1856085459753309626&q=mls&pl=true
Just goes to show that hooliganism is not isolated to Europe but is a global issue.

[Burkies Ginger Mop]

Just goes to show that hooliganism is not isolated to Europe but is a global issue.

That is just bizarre!

Rangers take on the decision

"CHAIRMAN David Murray tonight welcomed UEFA's decision to clear the club of discriminatory chanting during the matches with Villarreal but insisted that the hard work must continue to stamp out sectarianism.

Murray said: "Rangers Football Club is delighted by UEFA's decision today to find the Club not guilty of discriminatory behaviour on the part of its supporters during both Villarreal matches in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

"UEFA have imposed a fine of 13,000 Euros for damages to the El Madrigal Stadium and its vicinity.

"Barry FergusonWe were confident throughout that the tremendous efforts made by the Club to tackle sectarianism, racism and all other forms of inappropriate behaviour over a protracted period would be recognised and acknowledged by UEFA.

"Few Clubs in Europe can match the sustained effort we've made in this respect over the past 5 years and even less would have been able within the tight deadlines imposed by UEFA to produce such comprehensive material to support this.

"We are grateful too for the many testimonials and expressions of support received from a wide range of individuals and organisations."

The Chairman, however, was quick to stress that sectarianism is still a problem and that fans have to realise that if they become involved in sectarian singing it could have punitive consquences for the Club.

Murray added: "None of this, however, should mask the fact that sectarianism remains a very serious problem within Scottish society and it now has to stop. Fans

"Nothing in our submission to UEFA denied this fact. A minority of our supporters are going to have to realise, and realise very quickly, that the controlling authorities in football, whether FIFA, UEFA, the SFA, the SPL or the SFL, are going to be obliged almost immediately to impose the heaviest possible sanctions for discriminatory behaviour.

"This, of course, could involve matches being played behind closed doors; a particular stand or stands being closed down; percentage reductions in authorised capacities; - points deducted; or in the worst case scenario suspension altogether from competitions.

"It's time for the 90-minute bigots to remain silent; for others to speak out, exerting a peer pressure on those that disgrace their clubs; and for the promotion of decent football songs and chants, of which there are many.

"There is nothing wrong with intense rivalry but it has to exist within a respectable environment where everyone, no matter their rPride Over Prejudiceeligion, colour, age, sex or background, feels completely comfortable.

"This is what Rangers Football Club has strived to achieve with the establishment of an in-house Sectarian and Racism Monitoring Committee; its Policy Statement, Blue Guide for Fans; Internal and External 10 point plans and numerous other initiatives, including the hugely successful Study Support Centre Education Programme.

"These fans now have to be totally committed as we move forward or the social, and perhaps financial, implications for Rangers Football Club could be severe."

[Teso Dos Bichos]

In examining the alleged discriminatory chants, the Control & Disciplinary Body admitted that the nature of the song concerned – “Billy Boys” - related to a social problem in Scotland. The body also believed that the disciplinary decision in this case had to be taken in the context of Scotland’s social and historical background.

After studying the evidence at hand as well as the statement of Rangers FC, the Control & Disciplinary Body conceded that supporters have been singing the song "Billy Boys" for years during national and international matches without either the Scottish football or governmental authorities being able to intervene. The result is that this song is now somehow tolerated.

Given this social and historical context, the Control & Disciplinary Body said it considered that UEFA cannot demand an end to behaviour which has been tolerated for years. In view of the above, the Control & Disciplinary Body ruled that, despite the behaviour of its supporters, Rangers FC had not infringed Article 5 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (Click here (http://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/19066.pdf)) and cannot be punished according to Article 6.
http://www.uefa.com/uefa/Keytopics/kind=512/newsId=413514.html

Article 5 states that Uefa will not tolerate conduct that is "racist, discriminatory, politically extremist or insulting". Keep on sweeping lads, there's still some room under that carpet... :rolleyes:


The following BBC article includes comments from Nil By Mouth and Scottish FA president John McBeth. You can find it here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4907724.stm

[nach0king]

Anyone see this video on American fan violence in MLS from Google Video?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1856085459753309626&q=mls&pl=true

800 fans for a FREE away game? For a 5 hour journey? Morton have taken similar numbers to Peterhead and it's a similar length of travel. And a bunch of people wearing different team's shirts? My God. I've been to an MLS game before and I don't recall the Dallas fans being that ********ing odd.

As for the violence, terrible security and terrible segregation. Awful stuff.

[Burkies Ginger Mop]

Interesting article.

http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/60456.html

[nach0king]

If they don't want anonymity, I'm sure they woudln't have to look too hard to find someone to put their name to a complaint. :)

Consideirng page 2 of that article says that there is 1) a rule stipulating that investigations have to be treated the same *regardless* of their origin and 2) no mention of anonymity and how that might affect the case was included in the disciplinary body's reports, one would have to assume that a) the aforementioned 2) WAS a concern, just one the body decided to keep to itself or b) a lot of people at UEFA are scared of this opening the floodgates and their actually having to police the game.

IMO, of course.

[TimBhoy]

Hooligans, should strand them in millport, cnuts.

[nach0king]

Millport: A fate worse than death :D*




















*please note that I actually spent a few happy Saturdays on Cumbrae and in Millport and that it is not, as previously advertised, a fate worse than death.

[TimBhoy]

Millport: A fate worse than death :D*




















*please note that I actually spent a few happy Saturdays on Cumbrae and in Millport and that it is not, as previously advertised, a fate worse than death.


I used to spend every holiday, every year, on Millport and can confirm that nacho is telling lies, apart from the crocodile is a fate worse than death, even the old croc loses it's appeal once you know it no real. Big disappointment that to me when I found out, ruined my 22nd birthday

[nach0king]

Wait... it's NOT!?

[TimBhoy]

Wait... it's NOT!?

eh, no sure my previous post made any sense *blushes*

[nach0king]

Looks like I spoke too soon:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/5011404.stm

Now, will the ostriches on this site now remove their heads from the sand and acknowledge that Rangers FC has a massive problem with bigotry?

[celtic76]

Looks like I spoke too soon:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/5011404.stm

Now, will the ostriches on this site now remove their heads from the sand and acknowledge that Rangers FC has a massive problem with bigotry?
These fines are a joke. I mean serisously large clubs pay this amount on weekley wages for a single player. Fines need to be in the $1M range and then maybee they will get there heads out from the sand.

[Catfish]

If I was a Rangers supporter, I would shout this pigs down. There is no place for this garbage in The Beautiful Game. I would do the exact same thing if Celtic supporters were shouting racists or sectarian drivel.

[Catfish]

Looks like I spoke too soon:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/5011404.stm
Now, will the ostriches on this site now remove their heads from the sand and acknowledge that Rangers FC has a massive problem with bigotry?
Funny how the article doesn't even mention what was said!

Honestly, I didn't know that "Rangers FC has a massive problem with bigotry".
I'm serious. I thought all that stuff was a thing of the past.
pity.

[King-James]

Funny how the article doesn't even mention what was said!

Honestly, I didn't know that "Rangers FC has a massive problem with bigotry".
I'm serious. I thought all that stuff was a thing of the past.
pity.

Like everywhere else, it's still same old same old. Scotland, Holland, Italy, Spain, etc...
People still get beat up just for wearing a Celtic or Rangers kit in Glasgow.

[Scottish_Morton]

Funny how the article doesn't even mention what was said!

Honestly, I didn't know that "Rangers FC has a massive problem with bigotry".
I'm serious. I thought all that stuff was a thing of the past.
pity.

The article doesn't need to mention what what said. Rangers fans sing several sectarian songs at every Rangers game. We all know the lyrics we'll, it's their favourite songs. You don't need to even go to a game to hear it, I'll hear it at least once a week from my street.

We also all know the songs Celtic fans sing and their liking for shouting 'IRA' in the middle of songs.

[Catfish]

The article doesn't need to mention what what said. Rangers fans sing several sectarian songs at every Rangers game. We all know the lyrics we'll, it's their favourite songs. You don't need to even go to a game to hear it, I'll hear it at least once a week from my street.
We also all know the songs Celtic fans sing and their liking for shouting 'IRA' in the middle of songs.
I may be a Celtic fan with Irish and English roots, but I completely am against IRA chants by Tic supporters. You woud think that these people would join the 21st century. I laugh when other countries in Europe call us racists, when they are in denial.