Latest news with #UnionBears
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Union Bears scrap Rangers tifo for Champions League clash as ultras group issue statement
The Union Bears have confirmed that they have shelved plans for a tifo display at Ibrox tonight ahead of Rangers' Champions League showdown with Viktoria Plzen due to the effects of Storm Floris. Russell Martin's men take on the Czech side in the first leg of their third round qualifying showdown before travelling to the continent for the return fixture in eight days time. Should they emerge victorious over two legs, then they will face the winner of the tie between Club Brugge and Red Bull Salzburg for a place in the main section of the Champions League, which could see the club bank up to as much as £40million. READ MORE: Nico Raskin in bizarre Rangers booking while warming up as yellow card sparks on air confusion READ MORE: I fired Rangers to the Premiership title just months after turning down Celtic – and here's why I did it However, the players will not be welcomed onto a pitch by a huge tifo from the Broomloan Stand after the Union Bears reluctantly pulled the plug on the display. Their statement on X read: "Due to the wind/adverse weather we are reluctantly pulling tonight's planned tifo. "After weeks of work this decision is the last thing we wanted but we've been left with no choice. "In the absence of a tifo we urge all fans heading to Ibrox tonight bring a scarf and more importantly bring the noise and back the team right from the start. Martin is looking for a quickfire response from his players after tearing into them in the wake of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Fir Park in their Premiership opener with Motherwell. The former Southampton boss will welcome new signing Oliver Antman into the squad after he rubber-stamped a £4million switch from Go Ahead Eagles on Sunday. Rangers will however be without fellow new recruit Mikey Moore after the Tottenham loanee's paperwork to get the green-light from UEFA wasn't processed in time for the game because of his under 18 status. Norway international Thelo Aasgaard will still have to wait for his official Light Blues debut as he continues his recovery from an injury while striker Hamza Igamane has also been ruled out of the first leg clash against the Czechs. Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers pages and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here. Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
The National
2 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Union Bears unveil huge 'Penny Arcade' Rangers tifo
A massive display covered the Copland Stand featuring the words: "Step up and play". The tifo depicted a supporter, with the words 'No Surrender' across his back, playing on a slot machine with RFC on it. The machines showed a mixture of stars and Scottish domestic football trophies on their screens. Penny Arcade, which features the words 'Step up and play', has become a song synonymous with Rangers, with a charity single performed by Sammy King released in 2011. The tune is regularly played before matches at Ibrox. Read more: The huge display comes after the Union Bears group had to "reluctantly pull" a tifo planned for the Champions League tie against Viktoria Plzen. The supporter group scrapped the plans due to weather conditions caused by Storm Floris during the week. A group statement read: "Due to the wind/adverse weather we are reluctantly pulling tonight's planned tifo. "After weeks of work this decision is the last thing we wanted but we've been left with no choice. "In the absence of a tifo we urge all fans heading to Ibrox tonight bring a scarf and, more importantly bring the noise and back the team right from the start."
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside Ross ‘Miami' McGill's web of high-ranking mob allies fuelling violent underworld rise
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE DUBAI-based hood waging a violent gang war in Scotland is backed by number one mob boss Jamie 'Iceman' Stevenson, we can reveal. Ross 'Miami' McGill's meteoric rise through the criminal ranks has been rocket-fuelled thanks to the 'full protection' of high-ranking mobsters who still see the caged cocaine kingpin, 60, as the Godfather. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Former Union Bears chief Ross 'Miami' McGill has risen through the criminal ranks 7 Jamie 'Iceman' Stevenson, right, with his former sidekick Stephen 'Jimmy' Jamieson 7 Ross McGillhas been flaunting his luxury desert lifestyle while waging war in Scotland The details emerged after we revealed former Union Bears chief McGill, 31, had been given the task of telling Stevenson's former sidekick Stephen 'Jimmy' Jamieson, 42, he had been ejected from the mob. A source said: 'Ross McGill follows instructions directly from Stevenson via close associates, he is fully protected by Stevenson's network.' We have previously revealed McGill's close ties to Lloyd Cross - one of Stevenson's key gang cronies who was nailed for his role in their cocaine-in-bananas importation plot. McGill, of East Kilbride, is also said to have connections with Dubai-based super car dealer Robert 'Boab' McGuire, 36, who has vowed revenge on the hoods who murdered his brother Billy. 7 Jamie Stevenson and his cronies were nailed for their role in a coke-in-bananas plot McGuire, of Drumchapel, has shown off his luxury desert lifestyle in a series of rap videos dedicated to Billy, 25, who was knifed to death in Clydebank in 2020. We told how Brian Folan, 29, was jailed for life in 2022 for stabbing Billy who at the time was facing trial over an alleged gun attack in October 2019. Accomplice Corey Craig, 30, was sentenced to 11 years and four months following his guilty plea to culpable homicide. Co-accused Jordon Morrison, 28, was jailed for eight and a half years after he admitted to the attempted murder of Billy's friend John Higgins that night. And now we can reveal fresh details connecting McGuire and McGill to Stevenson's gang - including the drugs theft that sparked Scotland's ongoing turf war. We have reported since March on the brutal fall-out from the fake cash cocaine con that prompted McGill to launch a revenge campaign against associates of Edinburgh kingpin Mark Richardson, 38, and his allies in Glasgow's notorious Daniel clan. The INSIDE story of Scotland's biggest gangster - Jamie 'The Iceman' Stevenson Our underworld source said: 'McGuire has been an associate of McGill and Cross since their Union Bears days. 'It's well known McGuire is in the process of exacting revenge on the three individuals serving sentences in connection with the death of his brother Billy. 'What's less well known is that McGuire provided McGill with information on the suppliers of the counterfeit currency that was used as payment for 12 kilograms of Jamie Stevenson's cocaine. 'Stevenson's network is investigating both the suppliers and buyers of the large amount of Sterling and Euro counterfeit currency used in the dodgy deal. 'And McGuire has requested assistance from Stevenson through McGill in plotting revenge on his brother's killer.' McGill, McGuire and Cross are loyal to Stevenson along with the kingpin's stepson Gerry Carbin who is said to have mended the rift with Stevenson that exploded during their trial. We told how the fearsome kingpin unleashed a tirade of abuse at Carbin when he was caged at the High Court in Glasgow in October last year. Security staff had to step in as the furious drug lord and his stepson traded insults in their courthouse cells. The pair's bust-up was sparked after Carbin, 45, broke ranks to admit his role in running their lucrative street Valium factory in Kent. 7 Lloyd Cross - one of the Iceman's cronies - who has ties to Ross 'Miami' McGill Credit: Cross, 33, had earlier entered a guilty plea to importing cocaine from Ecuador - further inflaming Stevenson who wanted the jury to decide their fate. But it's understood Stevenson - who eventually pleaded guilty mid-trial - has softened towards his underlings after having four years cut from his original 20-year stretch. Our source said: 'The rift between Carbin and Cross was smoothed over when Stevenson's sentence was reduced on appeal.' We told last month how Stevenson's former sidekick Jamieson faces extradition after he was nicked in Dubai following a gym bust-up with McGill. The pair clashed after months of violence in Edinburgh and Glasgow as a group known as Tamo Junto carried out firebombings, machete attacks and murder bids on McGill's behalf. 7 Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan were gunned down in the Costa Del Sol Credit: The Scottish Sun 7 The pair were blasted inside Monaghan's Bar in Fuengirola Cops have arrested 55 suspects as part of Operation Portaledge - a crackdown on the worst explosion of gangland violence in years. Tensions between rival groups escalated further after the murders of Lyons gang kingpins Ross Monaghan, 43, and Eddie Lyons Jnr, 46, on May 31 in Fuengirola, Spain. Scots cops dismissed a link to the Lyons' arch enemies in the Daniel crew while Spanish authorities claimed the double killing is linked to the decades-long conflict. Michael Riley, 44, of Liverpool, is in custody facing extradition to Spain charged with their murder.
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Climate
- Scottish Sun
Rangers ultras the Union Bears reveal they've had to SCRAP plans for tifo at Viktoria Plzen Champions League clash
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RANGERS ultras group the Union Bears have revealed that they've had to SCRAP plans to welcome their heroes onto the pitch against Viktoria Plzen with a massive tifo. The Gers fans group are renowned for their displays, particularly on European nights and other big games. 2 Rangers fans Union Bears Credit: Kenny Ramsay 2 How they broke the news But they've had to make the call to DITCH their planned display ahead of the clash with the Czech outfit. That's because of the high winds hitting the West of Scotland over the last few days which have left them with no choice. They wrote on X: "Due to the wind/adverse weather we are reluctantly pulling tonight's planned tifo. "After weeks of work this decision is the last thing we wanted but we've been left with no choice. "In the absence of a tifo we urge all fans heading to Ibrox tonight bring a scarf and more importantly bring the noise and back the team right from the start. "Union Bears, No Surrender." Russell Martin doubles down on Rangers squad criticism Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
The National
01-07-2025
- The National
Rangers staff 'shocked' by ex-ultras boss links to gang feud
McGill, 31, is said to be directing operations from Dubai in a gang war with Edinburgh mobster Mark Richardson, reportedly sparked by a £500,000 cocaine deal gone wrong. The Daniel crime clan is also allegedly involved. McGill, who joined the Union Bears at 14, led the group until 2021. His leadership reportedly gave him unrivaled influence at Ibrox, granting him access to all areas of the stadium – including no-access zones on game days. READ MORE: Scottish Labour MPs among group accepting cash from Israeli arms firm The ex-staffer, who requested anonymity for safety, told the Daily Record: 'Everyone at Rangers was completely shocked when it was revealed McGill is the man behind this gang war in Edinburgh and Glasgow. "We are talking about a guy who was given access to the stadium any time he wanted and was permitted into restricted zones on match days. 'He was trusted by the club more than most of the security staff and was respected by the players, managers and directors. "Nobody could have had even the slightest idea about his life of crime. We were led to believe that he ran his own business. "But it did seem strange that he just walked away from the club after being such a central figure for a number of years." The Record reported that a source claims McGill built criminal connections while travelling with the ultras, later fleeing abroad after the 2020 Encrochat crackdown exposed him. From Dubai, he formed a new gang, Tamo Junto (TMJ), and launched firebomb and machete attacks after allegedly being ripped off by Richardson's crew. 'McGill runs TMJ like the Union Bears,' one source told the Record, noting that the gangster 'command[s] loyalty' and doesn't know his men 'personally'. READ MORE: US oil giant Chevron to close Aberdeen offices in favour of London base The feud began in Edinburgh before spreading to Glasgow, with TMJ claiming responsibility for several attacks. Victims include Richardson ally David McMillan, whose home was torched twice before he was attacked with machetes. Steven 'Bonzo' Daniel, head of the Daniel clan, and family members were also targeted. Attacks included smashed bulletproof windows and a firebombing at Bonzo's home. The widow of gangster Kevin 'Gerbil' Carroll, Kelly 'Bo' Green, had her Drumchapel home attacked with her child inside. Despite over 40 arrests made so far, TMJ warned their war will rage on for 'many years.'
