This site started in 2008, and the first issue it dealt with was a recent addition to the Ibrox song sheet known as the Famine Song.
It quickly became apparent that neither the football authorities nor the local media wanted to touch this outpouring of racist bile.
Consequently, the Ibrox klanbase thought they had found a fit-for-purpose replacement for the Billy Boys, the fascist anthem that UEFA banned in 2006.
The criminal justice system did step up, which led to the ditty being branded racist at the highest court in Scotland in 2009.
Lord Carloway presiding ruled in the case against William Walls:
“The court does not consider that the lyrics of this refrain bear any reasonable comparison to those of ‘Flower of Scotland’ or indeed ‘God Save the Queen’.
“Rather they are racist in calling upon people native to Scotland to leave the country because of their racial origins.”
He concluded that the Famine Song, at its core, “displays malice and ill-will towards people of Irish descent living in Scotland”.
In March 2011, a delegate from FARE attended a match between Rangers and PSV.
Held on Saint Patrick’s Day, the poor dears at Ibrox couldn’t help themselves.
The report by FARE on the discriminatory chanting led to a ban on away fans at the next match in Europe.
That turned out to be against Malmo, the Swedes prevailed, and Rangers exited from the UEFA Champions League.
Perhaps the absence of travelling support played a part.
I like to think so.
The thing is, they really needed the Champions League money.
This loss of revenue proved to be a fatal event as it led to the original Ibrox club going into administration the following February.
Now, it is rumoured that FARE will be in attendance at the match against Servette tonight.
Apparently, some in the Ibrox klanbase are crying foul at this surveillance.
They feel that they are being unjustly targeted.
I know, I know…
The main problem is that for generations, the matchday experience at Ibrox has been socially constructed around a nativist hostility to Glasgow’s multi-generational Irish community.
If that animus is excised, then what is left is anaemic and, well, a bit plastic.
So, by special request of UEFA, the Ibrox klanbase have to leave their racism at the turnstile.
There is an evident concern amongst some the People about the possibility of UEFA sanctions if they are their genuine racist selves tonight.
Dear reader that proves the point.
If there were consequences in domestic matches for discriminatory chanting, then the national game in Fair Caledonia might finally be fit for the 21st century and not the Edwardian era.
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From what I heard last night, FARE should have a lengthy report to file. They can’t help themselves because this IS their identity. They are defined by hatred, bigotry and hatred. They don’t have “Rangers*” songs. They have anti Irish songs and spleen venting hatred. Nothing else.
The only reason they are a big club is because of Celtic. They are an anti-movement, a reactionary club. All the anti-Catholic, anti-Irish stuff had to coalesce around one club, it could have been any of the Glasgow or Lanarkshire clubs at the time, the arbitrary circumstances prevailed to see them become that club.
A beacon for morons. If the Irish hadn’t moved in great swathes into the radical presbyterianism of Scotland, there would be no big clubs, it would be a backwater in terms of football. Like Welsh football.
Quite correct William.
Celtic were completely dominating football in the early 20th century and, in football terms, the establishment had no real focus for their anti-Catholic/Irish racism.
Step up John Ure Primrose, chairman of the struggling Rangers Football Club in 1912.
How does he challenge these Catholic/Irish upstarts?
Well it’s easy, develop the first Protestant only club and attract the worst of Scottish society to your fan base.
It would take around a decade but Primrose got his wish and established Rangers as the foremost club in Scottish football.
The rest is history.
Of course it wasn’t a Protestant only club.
It was a case of Anyone, Everyone except Catholics!
I am sure I heard the minority belt out a few off the known songbook. Maybe they changed the words so not to offend.
Be very surprised if UEFA impose any sanctions.
You must feel sorry for that outfit no one likes them
Was just at my end or did BBC cut sound out??
Phill, always one of my favourite sites on the internet. Keep up the good work.
Btw….. Sevco 56 Scottish League games, no penalties…then in Europe, penalty against them every 2 games.
Statistical anomouly obviously…
Im positive i heard their half time P. A. man making a plea for the neanderthals to stop singing “ditties” the could picture them as anti-Irish/Catholic haters ☘️🤔☘️
If my ears aren’t deceiving me currently, there’s another UEFA penalty coming down on the new klub very soon. HH
It also begs the question as to why uefa don’t force our governing bodies to clamp down on it.
No show without punch.Not worth their while turning up if they can’t vent their spleen.
The solution is simple, very simple: Don’t sing any racist songs at football matches. Or is this beyond the comprehension of the intellectually challenged Klan