I think it is fair to say that the narrative is shifting toward the truth about the Ibrox klanbase.
Today the Ibrox issue was debated and discussed in the Holyrood parliament.
The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:
“There is never, ever any excuse or justification for hatred or bigotry and I unequivocally condemn anti-Irish racism and anti-Catholic prejudice
“It should be called what it is, and it should be called out.
“Scotland is a diverse, multicultural society. This diversity strengthens us as a nation, and that’s why it’s so important that we tackle all forms of prejudice and discrimination.
“I take the view that anybody who chooses to live in Scotland – whether they and their families have been here for generations or whether they have come to Scotland very recently – is home.”
The featured image is a club statement from Sevco apropos three of the Famine Song Ensemble at the weekend.
It is wonderfully amateurish, it’s almost as if Sevco have got a work experience worthy giving of their best in the media office.
Almost…
As your humble correspondent has stated on many occasions, the core organising principle of the Ibrox klanbase is anti-Irish racism.
Indeed, if this dignified chap is heeded in his clarion call, then the Ibrox matchday experience will, quite frankly, be unrecognisable.
It really is that profound.
The paranoia of a racist subculture finally being called out by people acting with good authority is a sight to behold.
A “pincer movement”, oh dear…
Now, my own trade has played a shameful role in covering up the crimes of Ibrox.
For generations, the reportage clouded the issue with the “sectarian Old Firm” narrative.
Now, finally, that is being challenged.
The mainstream media’s dalliance with the fitba blogosphere is an interesting development.
However, this is not Newsquest’s finest hour.
Now to be clear, if you are singing about a ‘famine’, ‘Fenians’ or telling anyone to ‘go home’ then you are hurting this club. No matter where you are or what you are doing, your actions are seen as a representation of this football club. Think about it.
So there you have it, dear reader. The Ibrox klanbase should refrain from giving voice to their visceral shared of the Irish community because it hurts the club. Apparently, racism being itself an evil and a profound wrong, didn’t enter into the analysis.
My friend and colleague Angela Haggerty wasn’t slow to call them out.
The title of this piece is taken from comments made by Professor Tom Devine during an interview on The Nine.
“…the roots of this lie in a certain part of Glasgow. A certain football team that seem to attract these people…”
Professor Devine is, of course, correct.
Ibrox is a gathering point and is the scene of the societal crime.
Then people who control that venue can either be part of the solution or continue to be the problem.
If that stadium finally, after many generations, stops being a safe space for racists, then Fair Caledonia will be a better, cleaner country.
The Ibrox klanbase cannot withstand forensic scrutiny of their diseased, toxic racist belief system.
This suite started in the summer of 2008, and the first issue it tackled was the Famine Song.
I was politely reminded many times that my campaign against that racist ditty would go nowhere.
The following year it in 2009 was ruled illegal by the High Court in Edinburgh.
After the criminal justice system battle was won, I knew that it would take much longer to turn around the culture on the core subject of the anti-Irish racism of the klan.
A dozen years later, the dial is moving, dear reader.
However, your humble correspondent still has much to do on this issue.
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It could be embarrassing for Japan-based Rangers investors having to explain to their clients and business associates why the club they support and invest in has fans that racially abuse Japanese sportsmen in Scotland……can’t be good for business….. might even limit your willingness to provide further investments….
Perhaps that explains why the supporters and bus involved were dealt with so promptly after the Kyogo Furuhashi abuse.
It is stunning to see how a racist views the world, apparently no-one is offended by racism, they just pretend to be.
Also, every other football club in the world has rivals. Rangers however have ‘enemies’. This is not normal!
The club* has a choice to make it can employ gobshoites from the DUP to speak for them as their official PR representative and pander to bigots by selling orange tops or it can wake up and realise that people like Jimmy Bell and John Brown are of a mindset not fit for the 21st Century. Scrape the surface of their Boardroom and I include the “serious professional” in that and they are just well suited bigots. It wasn’t so long ago they were singing these songs in the Directors box at Hampden lest we forget.
The problem is they rely on the staunch for the blue £ and the staunch rely on them to give them the vehicle that carries their supremacist dreams. They are well aware that every penny counts at the moment (hence the ridiculous pricing of their 3 game package)
Banning people for an indefinite period is toothless, it sounds good but in reality it could be a day a week or a year , a lifetime ban would be more appropriate .
A rock and a hard place
It should be noted that “The Rangers Review” is partnered by “The Celtic Way”, rumoured to have the same editor and is simply a grubby MSM attempt to perpetuate “The Old Firm”.
Phil. A nation owes you their gratitude
And the cry was “et tu Billy”?
Only that mob have the (lack of) mentality to add racist/sectarian lyrics to The Birdy Song – and it doesn’t even have any words to it!! 🤣
I have said before it would only take a few arrests per week for the whole thing to die out. I believe who people indulge in this behaviour do so because they feel secure and protected by the authorities. This is indeed a start and if it filters through to the Sevconia that they may indeed be the next three arrested and banned then it will soon come to an end, in practice at least. They are cowards and the thought of being singled out will have an effect on their behaviour.
The police cannot now use the excuse that majority ( although in the media it is a minority) are too many to arrest.
Three people lifted out of about a hundred,patsys
,
What may be needed is more foreign coverage.
James I agree whole heartedly. If the rest of the world knew what was going on and also how it was being ignored, especially with the climate thing in Glasgow coming up and all the foreign press. The more publicity it gets to shame Scotland something would definitely get done about it.
I watched the everyone/anyone video. Yep, people of colour there stating that they are Rangers fans and love the club.
Not quite clear however how many of those on the video were Catholic, Irish or both.
Exactly….can’t imagine a certain Japan-based Rangers investor would be happy having to explain to his Asian clients about the Kyogo Furuhashi incident…