Rangers Fans in Testimonial Shame Game

It was a game that was supposed to celebrate former Stirling Albion owner and chairman Peter McKenzie. However the testimonial was overshadowed by a large element of Rangers fans singing sectarian songs.

Stirling Albion had to issue a warning to a section of the Rangers support over singing during the first half of the match, including an announcement over the PA system at half time.

A spokeswoman for Central Scotland Police said: “There was sectarian singing from the visiting support, leading to warnings from the club during the first half. Towards the end of the half there was discussion between police and the club about pausing the match to allow further warnings to be delivered. It was decided to wait a short time and deliver such warnings at half time. This was done by the club. At no time did the police recommend that the match be called off for fear of another Rangers riot.”

The Central Scotland Police spokeswoman added: “Increased policing and stewarding during the second half led to a reduction in this behaviour. The focus of police was to ensure the safety of all people attending and no arrests were made at the time.

“Events will, however, be subject to further review including liaison with clubs via the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland football sub group. It is disappointing that so-called fans have seen fit to disrupt this event and to tarnish the name of their club in this way.”

Fans were also warned about setting flares off as well as fireworks.

A Stirling Albion club spokesperson said: “I think the Rangers fans were playing up and over-reacting a bit to what was happening with a number of police. The firecrackers going off created a dangerous situation as well. Their was a suggestion the game should be stopped but not abandoned.”

New York Times and STV Football writer Graham Ruthven, who was in attendance at Doubletree Dunblane Stadium, said on his twitter page last night:

Announcement made over tannoy here at Stirling. ‘Please refrain from singing songs of a sectarian nature. Those who do will be ejected.’

This latest sectarian singing incident comes just under three months after the Ibrox side were fined €40,000 and their fans banned for one European away game after sectarian singing in their two Europa League ties against PSV Eindhoven.

And only a day after First Minister Alex Salmond announced a 40-point initiative to tackle a range of problems, including sectarianism.

Salmond said: “We should have dealt with this sooner. Which sponsor would want to invest in a tarnished product? I hope there won’t be another season like the last one. There is a ‘screw the nut’ element to this which all decent fans understand. I don’t want to take passion out of football or badges of identity. But sectarianism is hating other people. The future of Scottish football is at stake. Sometimes things need to come to a head before you get consensus for action. There is a realisation that something which used to be tolerated at Rangers FC should no longer be tolerated.”

 

What's your beef with the mighty Rangers?

 

You keep shaming this great country of ours. The rest of the world will be thinking all scots are racist bigots. Not on.

 

eddie

Stop posting this ****e on GC and keep it to the Celtic board.

Medro got banned for posting stuff like this and it would be unfair if you didn't receive the same treatment.

 

Announcement made over tannoy here at Stirling. ‘Please refrain from singing songs of a sectarian nature. Those who do will be ejected.’

The above line from the guy's twitter implies that the fans who stopped singing would be ejected, is it any wonder they didn't stop?

 

Didn't they threaten to abandon a PSF due to Sectarian singing? Softies.

 

John Reames Memorial Cup

Lincoln vs Celtic, a little bit more serious than nasty songs.

 

Yeah, they burnt a St Georges cross (Which is very offensive, even more so than Nasty songs), threw bottles (One which injured a little girl) and got their arses kicked by some Lincoln fans

[video=youtube;ORzwY4YT6II]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORzwY4YT6II[/video]

 

The irony in that statement

 

nothing ironic about it, what do you have to say about the actions of your clubs fans medro?