Be Worthy

 

Be Worthy

Only twice in my life have I felt in real danger at a football match. One was in Nottingham in the 1980s during Celtic’s UEFA cup tie with Nottingham Forest. The other was when I was leaving Hampden Park after a cup final at the old stadium. Things got so dangerous on the crumbling old stairway at the back of the Celtic end that I opted to slide down the muddy hill at the side of the stairway. I got home wet and muddy but it was worth it to get away from the crush on the stairway. On both of those occasions I felt the icy hand of fear gripping my heart and it wasn’t something I ever want to experience again in a football stadium.

The reason for beginning this article by stating the above is to remind that tiny minority of Celtic fans who think that mocking the Ibrox disaster is acceptable that they are out of order.  There but for the grace of God could have been any of us in those days, such were conditions in stadiums around the country.  Let others wallow in that sewer if they choose to but be worthy of the great tradition of solidarity and empathy Celtic fans are known for. Those 66 fans were working class folk going to watch their team. It’s unacceptable to mock their memory, it’s not funny, it’s not banter- it’s sinking to the gutter.

The events at Ibrox stadium last Sunday are still the subject of heated debate in the media and the usual and very predictable polarisation has a lot of people blaming the other side. From the outset, when the DJ played the full version of ‘simply the best’ and thousands of home fans blasted ‘F*ck the Pope and the IRA’ into the nation’s living rooms, it was obvious that tensions were running high. I’m sure the shorter version will be in use at the next Rangers home game after that exhibition of medieval tribalism.

Radio phone in shows, the press and general media are quite happy to use the ‘Old Firm’ label when describing the disorder at the end of the game. The reality was that a few dozen Celtic supporters invaded the field after their team won the penalty shoot-out. There was no intent towards violence although a few were goading the home supporters still in the stadium. Surely such an outcome was predictable and the whole phalanx of police and stewards on duty should have been proactive and stopped it occurring in the first place? Similarly, at the other end, there was no concerted effort to stop masked ultras invading the field and heading towards the celebrating Celtic fans, and they weren’t heading up the field to shake their hands and say ‘well played, lads,’ that’s for sure.

Let’s be clear here; I’m not a journalist. I’m just one guy giving what I think and hope is a balanced opinion. As I saw it, there was only one side attacking Celtic staff, (for the third time in recent seasons) only one side was attacking police and stewards and only one side on the field was intent on violence. The throwing of flares into a crowded stand was criminally dangerous. Yes, any Celtic fans who mocked the Ibrox disaster or damaged the stadium are completely out of order and any who contemplated running onto the field should have asked themselves; what is the likely response to this from those in the opposite end? The Union Bears seemed to act with utter impunity as little effort was made to keep them off the field and even less to arrest those guilty of violent behaviour.

There are various voices suggesting ways to make scenes like those we saw last Sunday less likely to occur in the future. Among them are banning away fans or making the wearing of face coverings and masks illegal in public places such as football stadiums. They are worn for one reason only; to make identifying individuals virtually impossible. Another suggestion was relocating the ultra-groups to the top tier of the stadium from where field invasions are virtually impossible. I’m sure many measures will be discussed behind closed door although Rangers’ statement on the trouble at the game omitted any mention of their fans’ violence, sectarian singing or field invasion. Their focus was on reminding us that there will be an enquiry in time and focusing on the stupid graffiti in the away end…

‘What we can say now is that issues of stadium safety and the legacy of the Ibrox Disaster are deeply personal to this club. We were appalled to discover graffiti within the stadium referencing that tragedy. The memory of the 66 supporters who lost their lives in January 1971 deserves dignity and respect. To desecrate their memory is vile. It is cowardly. It is shameful. This is not football rivalry and it is not banter. It is the abuse of a tragedy that claimed 66 lives. Finally, it is important that the reputation of Rangers supporters is treated fairly in this discussion. Tens of thousands of people attended Ibrox on Sunday simply to support their team with pride and to watch a football match. We will not accept a narrative that ignores the full context of what happened.’

Whilst wholeheartedly agreeing that abusing a tragedy is utterly abhorrent, they could perhaps offer the same courtesy to the thousands of Celtic fans who had nothing to do with the graffiti and would be heartily sickened by it. It was likely the action of one or two immature individuals who lack the mental acuity to see how hurtful it could be. Rangers might also want to have a word with the stadium DJ who played the full version of ‘Simply the Best’ surely knowing that many of those thousands who were there to ‘support their team with pride’ would belt out their nakedly sectarian ad-ons?

Scottish football took a step backwards last Sunday. The rise of the ultras culture is part of what is going on. The colour and noise they bring to stadiums is laudable, but for some football is a vehicle for poor behaviour and a photo opportunity for social media. The re-emergence of sectarian chanting on the scale we witnessed from home fans at Ibrox last weekend is unacceptable but those who indulge in it are emboldened by the lack of action by the club and the inaction of the police. We’ve tolerated the intolerable for too long but alas history teaches us that football's governing bodies in Scotland will release a report condemning the actions of the minority at Ibrox and recommending certain organisational changes but do they actually have the will to grasp this poisonous nettle and pull it out by the roots?  

All clubs have their share of less cerebral followers within their support but we should never lose sight of the fact that most football fans are decent people. The fact that this particular fixture brings out the worst in some should spur the police, stewards and clubs to be more proactive in their planning and not be so easily caught on the hop when fairly predictable events occur. Some fans need to get a grip too or they’ll face being locked out of the very fixture so many of them love best. They'll also deny the opportunity to enjoy the game to the vast majority who know how to behave.