Call it what it is

 

Call it what it is

The General Manager of the club had had enough and decided to address the fans before a game from middle of the pitch.  His words were scathing and for once he pulled no punches with the people letting the club down…

“The greatness of the club has been smeared all over the world by an unruly mob, who spread destruction and venom wherever they go. It is to these tykes, hooligans, louts and drunkards that I now pinpoint my message. Rangers Football Club want no part of you, who spread viciousness with party songs and foul, obscene language. You are warned – do not use obscene language. Do not sing provocative songs.”

Those words were spoken by Willie Waddell almost half a century ago after disgraceful scenes in Barcelona where Rangers had played the cup winners cup final. They could have been spoken today in the light of the despicable behaviour of a hard core of people in the centre of Glasgow this weekend. There exists what Journalist Graham Spiers called ‘a white under-class’ which clings to Rangers like barnacles to the bottom of a ship. They seem to wallow in their prejudice and not give a damn the damage it does to the club they purport to love nor the reputation of Scotland as a decent country.

Everything is now a photo-op for their social media channels and they mindlessly post evidence of their own stupidity for the world to see. Amid the drunken brawls, the sectarian chanting, the assaults on Police officers, racist language, the drinking and pissing in the street and the total ignoring of a pandemic which has killed over 10,000 Scots, the decent supporters look on and wonder how the hell they can rid their club of this element. It is a forlorn hope.

Much has changed at Ibrox since 1972 when Waddell was in danger of being called out for hypocrisy for castigating the ‘venom’ and ‘provocative Party songs’ of supporters whilst the club itself was still discriminating against Catholic players. Their unwritten policy still had years to run and despite Waddell again speaking to the fans 4 years later after another riot, this time in a match with Aston Villa, it was 1989 before Rangers’ sectarian signing policy ended. With it ended the tacit approval by the club of the songs and actions of the bigots in their support.

Much has changed in Scottish society too since 1972; there exists now a confident and articulate Catholic population no longer prepared to put up with abuse their grandparents and parents suffered. Their days at the back of the bus are over. There is also, at long last, some sign that some of the political class, are now prepared to call this bigotry out for what it is. The First Minister of the country stated…

“I’m angry on behalf of every law-abiding citizen. In normal times, the violence & vandalism, and the vile anti Catholic prejudice that was on display, would have been utterly unacceptable. But mid-pandemic, in a city with cases on the rise, it was also selfish beyond belief.”

Alas, Frist Minister, ‘in normal times’ we see this behaviour enacted on our streets regularly. Not only in a sporting context but also in the triumphal parades we endure each summer which attract similar people to those we saw in George Square.

Let’s call it what it is; anti-Catholic and anti-Irish racism has existed in Scotland for far longer than association football. It found a vehicle to express itself in the sporting arena when clubs with a perceived Irish or Catholic identity were brought into being.

Scottish society needed a mirror shoved in its face to see the ugly wart of hatred which disfigured it. It is ironic that the mirror was supplied by those engaging in moronic, medieval behaviour, as they videoed their own debasement and posted it online for all to see. There seemed to be a societal blindness about this behaviour which was passed off as just some quirky historical feature of ‘the old Firm’ or a form of ‘sectarianism’ which both sides joined in equally. The truth is that if the sort of bigotry and aggression the Catholic population in certain areas of Scotland has long endured was targeted at Jews or Muslims, there would be a huge outcry.

We need a government prepared to act. We need a media prepared to report the facts honestly without falling back on the bullshit idea that when it come to this issue ‘both sides are as bad as each other.’ We need a Police force prepared to enforce the law. We need the decent Rangers supporters, yes, they do exist, to raise their voices and say enough! If you love your club and want to see it prosper as a modern, inclusive institution then you’re going to have to fight for it. The soul of Rangers has been dragged through the mud too often by the ‘People’ and their misplaced sense of superiority.

Scottish society is slowly waking up to this poison in its midst. It is to be hoped that those with the power and influence take the necessary action and don’t allow this moment to pass in a welter of mealy-mouthed statements and talk of ‘inappropriate behaviour.’

This abscess is in need of lancing, I hope we have politicians and sporting leaders with the balls to do it.