For the Love of the Game.

[OlegKuznetsov 10,816]

I've always been interested in our history and even moreso in this 140th year. I have been reading historical records on the The Gallant Pioneers site. It's a fascinating story of how these fine young men fell in love with the new sport of football and honed their skills to the highest levels seen in Scotland. I urge you to visit and explore the site to learn more of this amazing story of sporting enthusiasm and prowess. It is, after all, a wonderful history and more importantly, our history. It's a history we are rightly proud of.

One can only imagine what such fine outstanding legends of the game would make of our current predicament and the modern Scotland that has concocted it. The disgust, anger and sheer bewilderment of these Gallant Pioneers would be surely guaranteed if they were to witness those currently involved in our national sport and its present climate.

Those most active seem to hate the game and are hellbent on killing it, going on all available evidence. How the game became so poisonous and bigoted would shock and bemuse our forefathers. It would be easy to point the finger at those who introduced bigotry to the beautiful game, or those who are currently fuelled by hatred and prejudice in their continued machinations of football Armageddon (which they glibly dismiss), but that won't fix the problem.

In the world of Scottish football, one thing is abundantly clear - there is no longer a place for gallantry in the game. That should sadden all involved, and not just you and I. If Scottish football cannot learn from and respect its history, it may not have a future. However, in its current state, does Scottish football even deserve a future?

With so much hatred and venom in the atmosphere, will attendances ever return to what they were? I suspect not. I feel we can only mitigate the effects at this point. However, it can not all be down to Rangers. After all the birchings, we cannot be the only ones to offer up the olive branch.

Perhaps other club's chairmen can show courage, character and judgement by distancing themselves from the disgustingly immoral and outrageous SPL retrospective match fixing scandal. One should not hold one's breath, but I still hope they can open their eyes and learn from outwith this narrow and parochial whitchhunt by looking to elsewhere such as Germany and it's example of Bayern lending money to a cash-strapped rival in Borussia Dortmund.

We cannot expect them to go that far. We do not need them to and they cannot offer such financial assistance in any event. However, the lesson remains- Rangers have taken their punishment of unjustified demotion for finishing second as well as the embargoes, deductions, confiscations and fines. The club and fans have moved on. The Chairman has made his apology for deeds done not by him or anyone present.

The rest of Scotland now needs to move on. SPL club chairmen must now take a stand for the sake of our national sport. We must be spared from further hatred and venom. We must look after the sport. The chairmen should now hold out an olive branch by stating that they do not support and will not participate in the tawdry spectacle of the SPL retrospective match-fixing scam. In summary, they should help to heal the wounds and do the right thing.

For the love of the game.