“That seems a bit OTT”, an English friend of mine remarked the today when he saw the netting Celtic will deploy on Sunday to contain the visiting support. And then I showed him the banner that was proudly displayed at Ibrox last night.
“Ah, ok, now I get it”, he said.
Too bad we can’t say the same for our mainstream media.
Far Right Fixation Fuels Fears
For those who haven’t seen it, the banner, apparently the work of the Union Bears, was, in fairness, far more legible than their usual, lego-like efforts.
However, the message was downright sinister:
“Keep Woke Foreign Ideologies Out, Defend Europe”.
It is ironic though, considering Rangers barely stayed in Europe as their mostly foreign team failed to defend two goals from an astoundingly mediocre Fenerbahce side.
Also, I’ll bet the vast majority of those holding the banner probably supported Brexit. Schrodinger’s Bear, simultaneously defending Europe from “woke” whilst also wanting out of there at all costs.
At Least Their Spelling Has Improved
In all honesty, I don’t know what’s more shocking, that these mutants feel empowered to so brazenly show off their foreigner hating, far-right views or that they managed to cobble enough braincells together between them to spell “ideology” correctly.
As usual, the mainstream media silence is deafening.
This is Why Celtic Park Needs Nets
Of course, these same fledgling fascists were the first to start crying on social media about “inhumane” treatment, when Celtic made the correct decision to erect safety netting around the away supporters’ section for Sunday’s Glasgow Derby.
Well, if you want to act like animals, then you’ll be treated like animals, was the response I immediately thought of. Thankfully though, I’m not in charge of Celtic’s PR.
But jokes aside, it’s a fact that where the far right goes, violence usually follows. And the Union Bears have previous form for it. We all saw the videos of them marauding down Argyle Street at New Year, looking like Smurfs on smack.
These are the people who embarrass the many decent Rangers fans out there, some of whom, I am honored to call friends.
An Ignorant Minority? I’m Honestly Not Sure
I keep trying to convince myself that these muppets are the minority, that most Rangers fans are, like my friends, fundamentally good people, who just grew up supporting a different team from me.
But the more their own club continue to pander to this lowest common denominator, the harder it is for me to speak up for the decent Rangers fans out there.
2012 was a chance for reset things, to cast aside this skin of evil that enveloped the old Rangers. But no, instead we got orange away strips, “sash bashes” attended by club staff and former players, and more written statements defending the indefensible than a criminal lawyer with ADHD.
Bad Behavior Should Never be Rewarded
Until very recently, I worked as a school teacher. In my almost 20 years of teaching, I learned that there are various ways to deal with disruptive behavior.
The most effective, in my opinion is to set a good example, to praise positive behavior at every opportunity.
But the one thing you must absolutely never do is let violence or intolerance go unchallenged. Call it out, let it be known that its not on.
Rangers have failed to do that for the past 13 years, since this new club was born, and this is the end result. An entitled group of neo-nazi neds who think they are untouchable.
Win or Lose, Violence is Always Near
I’ve even heard some murmurings all be them few and far between among the Celtic support saying that the netting is an overreaction. Ask Arne Engels what he thinks about that.
In January, with a few minutes to go, and their team 3-0 up, what was on the minds of the mindless at Ibrox?
“Am gonnae hit that fenian wae a coin!”
Thankfully, Engels wasn’t badly hurt. Rumors that the police took possession of the coin and used it to buy a dozen Rangers shares are, at this time, still unconfirmed.
I’m sure though that young Arne is glad there will be some kind of safety barrier between him and the visiting support on Sunday.
Food For Thought for the 49ers
I’ll close today by asking a question. I wonder, what did Rangers alleged new owners-in-waiting think of last night’s banner?
Afterall, there are few places in America more “woke” than San Francisco. We’ve seen this all play out before. From the US to Singapore plenty of potential investors have thought better of investing in Rangers once they learned what the club’s fans were all about.
I’ve got to admit, I’d find it absolutely hilarious if these knuckle dragging numpties scared off yet another serious investor with their own stupidity.
In the meantime, for any decent Rangers fans going to the game on Sunday, I am sorry you’ll have to watch through a net. I hope you can police your own, purge this plague from your support and we can all just get back to watching football.
I hope, but I won’t hold my breath.