The BBC capitulate to Sevco

One of the arguments for having a public service broadcaster is that they are not vulnerable to commercial pressures.

Consequently, as newspapers will baulk at the possibility of advertisers pulling out, the license fee-funded BBC can stand fast.

It will be no surprise to regular readers that the tabloids in Scotland long ago abandoned any pretence that they would subject the Ibrox shitshow to any journalistic scrutiny.

Glasgow is, after all, the city that came up with succulent lamb.

When the BBC stood firm against banning one of their reporters from Ibrox in 2015, it was a good day for the Fitba Fourth estate.

The apparent crime of the journalist was to file a piece that stated the Sevco support had indulged in “sectarian” singing.

In one sense, it would have been more newsworthy if they had not!

The BBC management at Pacific Quay was entirely correct to hold to the position that it wasn’t for any club to dictate which reporter the BBC would send to cover their matches.

Then today, this dropped.

I understand that it was stated to staff at Pacific Quay today that no one would be banned from Ibrox from now on.

Time will tell on that one.

Today, I spoke to one Pacific Quay insider, who was a bit mystified by,

It is understood that reporting restrictions on BBC journalists have been lifted by the Glasgow club.”

We both agreed that “it is understood” was doing a lot of heavy lifting there.

I think that it is fair to say that Sevco’s PR operation had a less than magnanimous take on the BBC statement.

Dear reader, we have to return to our old friend Moral Hazard.

It would appear that nothing has been learned by the media in Fair Caledonia since this entirely factual front page in June 2012.

The original Rangers crashed and burned partly because a good news narrative was churned out to the Ibrox demographic.

Sure, it sold papers and more or less guaranteed the safety of the reporters attending the stadium that Mr Bomber played for.

As the financial storm clouds loomed over Ibrox, it was outsiders who accurately charted what was about to happen.

So, if you thought it was already BBC Radio Sevco, brace for impact.

More succulence on the Licence Fee will likely be the outcome of this capitulation.

All this does is makes the need for the Fifth Estate on Planet Fitba greater than ever.

19 thoughts on “The BBC capitulate to Sevco”

  1. Phil,

    I was wondering… is the 25000 fee still payable at Ibrox?

    And, if so, will the BBC have to pay up? Surely a waste of licence fee money?

    Hail Hail

    Reply
  2. There must be a huge number of BBC Licence Payers like me who are absolutely sick of this grovelling and lying about original Rangers FC (IL) and it’s illegitimate off-spring Sevco. I cancelled my Licence 2 or 3 years ago in protest, and openly told them so but then relented as my wife was ‘going to bits’ about it and her health came first.
    How may we collectively inundate the BBC, (and Glasgow City Council) to force out the Truth in this matter once and for all. I’ve done all sorts of research etc., but will only approach this anonymously as to give out your name publicly could prove fatal for myself and other members of my family. And this is 2022, 10 years after it all began. I suggest something like the following as a collective or legal enquiry but don’t know how to begin.

    Questions to the BBC under FOI Act (I’ve checked and they ARE subject to this)

    Did the BBC recently pay £25000 (or any other amount) to get access to Ibrox after the ‘fall-out’ with the Ibrox company in 2015?

    Exactly what did the BBC apologise for, to The Rangers Football Club Limited and/or Rangers International Football Club Limited and where can this be verified?

    How many current Scottish football pundits at BBC Scotland openly supported the old Glasgow Rangers FC and how many support the company formed in 2012, Sevco Scotland Limited, which later (in 2012) changed its name to The Rangers Football Club Limited, the name under which it still trades today?

    Relevant similar questions should be asked of Glasgow City Council regarding the 150th anniversary (of Rangers FC) lie, what it is costing and who is paying for it.

    Reply
  3. Remarkable the amount of BBC references to the Walter Tull Cup tie involving Spurs and Sevco, a new team with no relationship whatsoever to the English league’s second black footballer. Tull quit football to fight in the 1914-18 war and never played for Sevco’s claimed ancestor, Glasgow Rangers. Most of his playing career had been at Northampton Town, as he appears to have been sidelined by Spurs due to good old-fashioned racism. When he joined the British army, he faced further racism. However, his commander at the football regiment, Major Frank Buckley – a future manager of Norwich City – seems to have ensured that Tull was promoted and trained as an officer. A campaign continues to have Tull posthumously awarded a Military Cross for valour in action for which he was recommended before dying in action on the Western Front in 1918.

    Today when we remember the racism that Walter Tull suffered, we should also look askance at those who unapologetically claim the moral high-ground on a false prospectus in the continuing fight against racism, including anti-Irish racism. Football fans at Ibrox should, perhaps, see the match against Harry Kane’s lads, as a chance to repent and reflect on what they have ever done to combat racism, while fans at Paradise for the Norwich game can raise a toast to Maj Buckley, and other brave people who swam against the racist tide in the early part of the 20th century.

    If you want to know more about Tull, here’s a great link, and the source of all the above nuggets about the much-abused Walter Tull: https://spartacus-educational.com/FWWtull.htm

    Reply
  4. Phil, I was in Waterstones (The Fort, Glasgow) yesterday. I looked for Native Shore, but it was nowhere to be seen. I suspect a Sevco-ite has tampered with the in-store displays.

    Reply
  5. “As a kid you always dreamt about playing for the biggest clubs in the world, playing in the Champions League and winning trophies – that’s what Ajax is about. “They’ve got history…

    Calvin Bassey on moving from Sevco to Ajax!

    Reply
  6. Can’t help but wonder if this about turn has anything to do with the new Sportsound presenter, who makes it clear where his allegiances lie.

    Reply
  7. I don’t know whether either of Neil Lennon or Chris Sutton are press card holders or members of the NUJ. I would have thought given the number of games CS covers that he would be. If that is the case there should have been a blanket ban placed immediately on any coverage of any event at the crumbledome.

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  8. For me sevco 2012 is just a pawn in the battle of saving the union . Ibrokes is fertile ground for unionism and it must ,not only remain but be seen to be superior in Scotland.
    Money will be found to keep the show on the road ,whatever the cost

    I think the last independence vote gave the powers at be a real shock and they will be wary in the future

    Reply
  9. There is more than meets the eye in this statement by BBC ,the Unionist media will need the backing of the Klans fan base led by the Union Bears who have Carte Blanche to March through Glasgow with a police escort unabated.
    This bunch also have the support of many unionist MSP,s some who are die hard Rangers fans .
    I rarely listen to or watch any BBC Scotland sports programmes as you know what you are going to here and see .
    Utter Dross

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  10. We’ve got a referendum on our independence coming up in 2023. Pravda Britannia needs as many compliant unionist foot soldiers onside as it can muster. Military pun intended.

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  11. Not only have the BBC capitulated. I notice Glasgow City Council plan to host a 150 year anniversary reception on July 27 in The City Chambers.
    Now unless it is a similar ‘ reception’ to the one held recently in London, where they themselves were the hosts, I don’t think the public purse should be available to an institution with outstanding debts to The Council.
    Creditors :-
    Glasgow City Council £5000
    Glasgow City Council ( Council Tax ) £2000.81

    Reply
  12. All may be “welcomed” and we know how that can take on many forms, but will they be told to stay away as it is unsafe and out with their control? It’s a funny one when a business who cater for thousands of customers cannot guarantee the safety of all those within their premises, it’s even stranger when the visitor is not mixing with the general population and there is a heavy police presence along with “security” and they are a member of the press.

    I would have thought, surely it should be something looked at by the HSE, when a business cannot guarantee safety, when a premises has a no go area for those who run it, when they have information about potential harm being done to the press and it is not acted upon by the police…

    Scotland, the best wee racist country in denial…

    Reply
  13. I find this uncommon, but no less embarrassing for The BBC. Thankfully I don’t pay license fees, and don’t tune into any of their platforms. I also notice a very clear bias pro Sevco on the sky sports app. Feel free to make your own judgement, but it is very clear in the tone of the stories. They clearly have some working Hundercover down there. Again, thank the lord I don’t pay for a sky package.

    Reply
  14. BBC reporters are now welcome at Ibrox but I wonder if the same “privilege” will be granted to Mr Sutton and Mr Lennon who were not allowed to enter the stadium last season because the club couldn’t guarantee their safety.

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  15. This is a wider political game than a tiny fledgling club like sevco. UK town this and UK town that across bbc reporting of Scottish news. The battle has commenced and this sport scotland decision is merely one axis of their imperialist evil.

    Reply

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