Latest news with #IbroxDisaster
Glasgow Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Scottish football is a victim of Broken Britain - MSPs need to act not just our clubs
With Falkirk winning the Championship and promotion back to the Premiership amid scenes of wild rejoicing, Lewis Ferguson becoming the first man from this country to lift the Coppa Italia since 1985 and James Forrest of Celtic being presented with his 26th medal, there has been much to celebrate. What a desperate shame, then, that those heartening tales have been somewhat overshadowed by the appalling conduct of the undesirables who attach themselves to every club's support. The final Old Firm match of the season in Govan was marred by the outcry over a Celtic fan holding up a mobile phone with 66 – the number of people who died on Stairway 13 in the Ibrox Disaster of 1971 - and mocking the Rangers support. Read more: Last weekend at Tannadice, the Aberdeen player Jack MacKenzie required extensive medical treatment after being struck in the head by a seat which had been ripped out and thrown in the direction of the pitch by one of the Pittodrie club's own followers. Then at Almondvale last night the Ross County assistant manager Carl Tremarco was spat on by a Livingston fan after the first leg of the Premiership play-off final had finished 1-1. All of the individuals responsible either have or will be dealt with by the relevant authorities accordingly. It is important to remember they are just three people out of tens of thousands. Still, those sickening incidents were not a good look for the game in this country. It is no surprise that our elected representatives have been asked to offer an opinion on the scenes of affray in recent days. Jon Swinney, the First Minister, condemned both the unofficial 'Celtic Title Party' at Trongate last Saturday and the MacKenzie flashpoint when he was campaigning in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election this week. 'I'm very concerned by what I saw,' he said. 'I understand supporters want to celebrate the performance of their team. But it can't be at the expense of other people. Throwing a chair that seriously injures an Aberdeen player and damaging and disrupting the centre of Glasgow shouldn't happen.' (Image: Roddy Scott - SNS Group) Swinney stopped short of demanding, as he had back in December following the appalling unrest on Argyle Street before the Premier Sports Cup final, of demanding that clubs have to do more to maintain order among their supporters outside of grounds. Which was just as well because that had been a ludicrous suggestion. Celtic and Rangers have tens if not hundreds of thousands of supporters. They cannot possibly be held responsible for their actions away from games. The troublemakers might never have stepped foot inside their stadium. If Police Scotland officers are unable to maintain order what possible chance do football club officials have? Anyway, is it not more of a societal issue than a sporting one? Does Broken Britain not need to be fixed before this sort of vile affray can be banished from our sporting arenas? Steven Ferguson, the County chief executive, was firmly of that view when he spoke after the Livingston encounter in West Lothian. 'I think it is a wider problem,' he said. 'There seems to be a bit of a culture creeping back into the game.' Former midfielder Ferguson played for Dunfermline Athletic, County, Ayr United, Brechin City, Dumbarton and Stenhousemuir in the 1990s and 2000s so he is well qualified to offer an opinion on the deterioration in crowd behaviour. The Celtic fan who mocked the Ibrox Disaster has been banned from Parkhead indefinitely and sacked from his job, the man who is accused of hitting MacKenzie with a seat appeared in court this week and police are currently studying video footage and trying to identify the Livingston supporter who spat on Tremarco. The perpetrators of these kind of acts – and the throwing of missiles at players on the pitch has sadly become almost endemic in Scottish during the 2024/25 campaign – are routinely punished. Read more: So why do these things keep happening? The low intelligence levels of those responsible probably has a lot to do with it. You will never rid the world of stupid. But perhaps it is time for the powers that be to start meting out more severe sanctions. A working group looking at how to tackle the increased use of pyrotechnics at matches has concluded that beefing up Football Banning Orders (FBO) – only five of which were dished out in this country between August and February this year – could be an effective deterrent. (Image: SNS) Amending the wording of the current FBO legislation so that the 'no pyro, no party' brigade, a group which has a growing number of members, can be barred from filing through the turnstiles in future is now being examined. It is vital that MSPs push through the changes which are urgently required. The SFA and SPFL, organisations which are run by the clubs for the clubs, can do their bit as well. The reduced ticket allocations which Celtic, Rangers and Motherwell were hit with for their fans use of flares and smoke bombs at the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals and final last year showed that action was, at long last, being taken in attempt to ensure the safety of spectators. Will there be more mass coordinated displays before the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final at Hampden this afternoon? Watch this space? If there is, it will underline that, as if it needed to be highlighted, tougher measures are required to maintain order inside Scotland's grounds.
The Herald Scotland
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish football is a victim of Broken Britain - MSPs need to act
What a desperate shame, then, that those heartening tales have been somewhat overshadowed by the appalling conduct of the undesirables who attach themselves to every club's support. The final Old Firm match of the season in Govan was marred by the outcry over a Celtic fan holding up a mobile phone with 66 – the number of people who died on Stairway 13 in the Ibrox Disaster of 1971 - and mocking the Rangers support. Read more: Last weekend at Tannadice, the Aberdeen player Jack MacKenzie required extensive medical treatment after being struck in the head by a seat which had been ripped out and thrown in the direction of the pitch by one of the Pittodrie club's own followers. Then at Almondvale on Thursday evening the Ross County assistant manager Carl Tremarco was spat on by a Livingston fan after the first leg of the Premiership play-off final had finished 1-1. All of the individuals responsible either have or will be dealt with by the relevant authorities accordingly. It is important to remember they are just three individuals out of tens of thousands. Still, those sickening incidents were not a good look for the game in this country. It is no surprise that our elected representatives have been asked to offer an opinion on the scenes of affray in recent days. Jon Swinney, the First Minister, condemned both the unofficial 'Celtic Title Party' at Trongate last Saturday and the MacKenzie flashpoint when he was campaigning in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election this week. 'I'm very concerned by what I saw,' he said. 'I understand supporters want to celebrate the performance of their team. But it can't be at the expense of other people. Throwing a chair that seriously injures an Aberdeen player and damaging and disrupting the centre of Glasgow shouldn't happen.' (Image: Roddy Scott - SNS Group) Swinney stopped short of demanding, as he had back in December following the appalling unrest on Argyle Street before the Premier Sports Cup final, of demanding that clubs have to do more to maintain order among their supporters outside of grounds. Which was just as well because that had been a ludicrous suggestion. Celtic and Rangers have tens if not hundreds of thousands of supporters. They cannot possibly be held responsible for their actions away from games. The troublemakers might never have stepped foot inside their stadium. If Police Scotland officers are unable to maintain order what possible chance do football club officials have? Anyway, is it not more of a societal issue than a sporting one? Does Broken Britain not need to be fixed before this sort of vile affray can be banished from our sporting arenas? Steven Ferguson, the County chief executive, was firmly of that view when he spoke after the Livingston encounter in West Lothian. 'I think it is a wider problem,' he said. 'There seems to be a bit of a culture creeping back into the game.' Former midfielder Ferguson played for Dunfermline Athletic, County, Ayr United, Brechin City, Dumbarton and Stenhousemuir in the 1990s and 2000s so he is well qualified to offer an opinion on the deterioration in crowd behaviour. The Celtic fan who mocked the Ibrox Disaster has been banned from Parkhead indefinitely and sacked from his job, the man who is accused of hitting MacKenzie with a seat appeared in court this week and police are currently studying video footage and trying to identify the Livingston supporter who spat on Tremarco. The perpetrators of these kind of acts – and the throwing of missiles at players on the pitch has sadly become almost endemic in Scottish during the 2024/25 campaign – are routinely punished. Read more: So why do these things keep happening? The low intelligence levels of those responsible probably has a lot to do with it. You will never rid the world of stupid. But perhaps it is time for the powers that be to start meting out more severe sanctions. A working group looking at how to tackle the increased use of pyrotechnics at matches has concluded that beefing up Football Banning Orders (FBO) – only five of which were dished out in this country between August and February this year – could be an effective deterrent. (Image: SNS) Amending the wording of the current FBO legislation so that the 'no pyro, no party' brigade, a group which has a growing number of members, can be barred from filing through the turnstiles in future is now being examined. It is vital that MSPs push through the changes which are urgently required. The SFA and SPFL, organisations which are run by the clubs for the clubs, can do their bit as well. The reduced ticket allocations which Celtic, Rangers and Motherwell were hit with for their fans use of flares and smoke bombs at the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals and final last year showed that action was, at long last, being taken in attempt to ensure the safety of spectators. Will there be more mass coordinated displays before the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final at Hampden this afternoon? Watch this space? If there is, it will underline that, as if it needed to be highlighted, tougher measures are required to maintain order inside Scotland's grounds.
The Guardian
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Police investigate ‘unacceptable' Rangers banner shown during draw with Celtic
Scotland's first minister, John Swinney, condemned an 'unacceptable' banner displayed by Rangers fans after police launched an investigation into a giant image of Graeme Souness holding a shotgun. A tifo display in the Copland Stand before Sunday's Premiership match against Celtic depicted former Rangers manager Souness holding a double-barreled shotgun, with the words 'Take aim against the rebel scum' underneath. It was one of several flashpoints that resulted in police involvement after the 1-1 draw. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the banner and inquiries are ongoing.' Swinney said it was 'vital' to have respectful behaviour at matches and that the Scottish government would 'reflect' on the display. Mr Swinney continued: 'Obviously there was a banner displayed which was unacceptable at the weekend. I don't think that was an appropriate image. But it's for the club to reflect on that issue, to address any issues and for the police to make their judgment about that matter as well.' Several items, including a glass bottle, were also thrown into Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo's penalty area in the second half. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the incident and inquiries are ongoing.' Rangers released a statement at the weekend, condemning the bottle throwing and making clear the club did not approve of the image. It said: 'Rangers Football Club condemns the actions of the individual who threw a bottle during today's match. This behaviour has no place at our stadium. 'Steps have already been taken to identify the person responsible, and the club will take the strongest possible action once their identity is confirmed. We also acknowledge that the tifo displayed prior to kick-off crossed a line and was unacceptable. Our approach to supporter displays has always been built on trust, with the responsibility placed on groups to exercise good judgment. 'We will reflect on how these displays are managed and engage with supporter groups to ensure the right balance of trust, responsibility and oversight is maintained moving forward. Rangers is proud of its passionate fanbase, and we all share a duty to protect the standards and reputation of our club.' Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Police also confirmed they were studying footage of a Celtic fan at the match who appeared to be mocking the deaths of 66 Rangers fans during the 1971 Ibrox Disaster.
Scottish Sun
05-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Sick Celtic fan who was spotted mocking Ibrox Disaster against Rangers SACKED from job
A VILE Celtic fan seen mocking the Ibrox disaster during Sunday's Old Firm match has been sacked from his high-flying job. Police have also launched an investigation into the actions of Darren Malloch who was filmed mocking the deaths of 66 Rangers fans who died after a stairway crush in 1971. Advertisement 2 Darren Malloch was caught mocking the victims of the Ibrox Disaster 2 Malloch has been dismissed from his construction job The 35-year-old, from the Glasgow area, is a project manager with Advance Construction Scotland who have since announced his employment has been terminated in the wake of the shameful images of their employee. A statement read: 'We can confirm that an individual has been dismissed from our employment, following an incident involving completely unacceptable behaviour at the recent Rangers v Celtic football match. 'As a company, we hold all employees to the highest standards of conduct, both inside and outside the workplace. 'In line with our disciplinary procedures, we will not tolerate or condone this behaviour. Advertisement 'We believe that Police Scotland is also investigating this incident, and therefore, we are unable to make any further comment on the matter.' Footage from the 1-1 draw between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox showed Mr Malloch holding up his mobile phone towards opposition fans with the number 66 clearly visible on the handset. That is the number of Gers supporters who lost their lives in the Ibrox disaster after a stairway crush at an Old Firm game on January 2, 1971. The warped fan can then be seen putting his phone away before showing the number six twice with his fingers - another reference to 66 deaths - and mimicking falling over with his hands. Advertisement In a further sad twist, a child can be seen copying Malloch's gestures. Malloch was a highly respected project manager for Advance Construction Scotland. Next season will be Brendan Rodgers' LAST as Celtic manager says Robert Grieve But after his image was shared widely on social media, the company dismissed him within hours following a string of complaints. Police Scotland also confirmed they were looking at the footage. Advertisement A spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the incident and enquiries are ongoing.' Celtic were approached for comment on whether they would ban Malloch for Celtic Park for life but have so far remained silent. Multiple attempts were made to reach Malloch himself for comment Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Glasgow Times
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
John Swinney condemns Rangers fans for ‘unacceptable' Graeme Souness banner
A display in the Copland Stand ahead of Sunday's William Hill Premiership match against Celtic depicted former Rangers manager Souness holding a double-barrelled shotgun, with the words 'Take aim against the rebel scum' underneath. It was one of several flashpoints that sparked police involvement following the 1-1 draw. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the banner and enquiries are ongoing.' Celtic fans were back in Ibrox after an away fans ban in the fixture (Andrew Milligan/PA) Swinney declared it was 'vital' to have respectful behaviour at matches and that the Scottish Government would 'reflect' on the display. Mr Swinney continued: 'Obviously there was a banner displayed which was unacceptable at the weekend. 'I don't think that was an appropriate image. But it's for the club to reflect on that issue, to address any issues and for the police to make their judgement about that matter as well.' Several items, including a glass bottle, were also thrown into Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo's penalty area in the second half. A glass bottle that was thrown onto the pitch (Andrew Milligan/PA) A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the incident and enquiries are ongoing.' Rangers released a statement at the weekend, condemning the bottle-throwing and making clear the club did not approve of the image. It said: 'Rangers Football Club condemns the actions of the individual who threw a bottle during today's match. This behaviour has no place at our stadium. 'Steps have already been taken to identify the person responsible, and the club will take the strongest possible action once their identity is confirmed. 'We also acknowledge that the tifo displayed prior to kick-off crossed a line and was unacceptable. Our approach to supporter displays has always been built on trust, with the responsibility placed on groups to exercise good judgement. A general view of the Copland Stand with a large banner (Steve Welsh/PA) 'We will reflect on how these displays are managed and engage with supporter groups to ensure the right balance of trust, responsibility and oversight is maintained moving forward. 'Rangers is proud of its passionate fanbase, and we all share a duty to protect the standards and reputation of our club.' Police also confirmed they were studying footage of a Celtic fan at the match who appeared to be mocking the deaths of 66 Rangers fans during the 1971 Ibrox Disaster. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the incident and enquiries are ongoing.'
