Popular Post RangersMedia 35,961 Posted May 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted May 19, 2021 https://theathletic.com/2597173/2021/05/19/explained-fallout-rangers-title-celebrations/ Quote It was the weekend Rangers had spent a decade waiting for. At last, Steven Gerrard’s side could lay their hands on silverware. Rangers’ league season had finished without them losing a single game after Aberdeen were emphatically beaten 4-0 on Saturday, with a 25-point held over runners-up Celtic. Gerrard’s team had triumphed in style but the celebrations held at Ibrox have since been overshadowed by the emergence of a video clip now being investigated by Police Scotland. The Athletic assesses the controversial fall-out to Rangers’ 55th title as Scottish champions. Where does the story start? Rangers might have sealed their first Scottish Premiership title in 10 years as far back as March 7, but Saturday lunchtime’s victory over Aberdeen was followed up by a long-awaited trophy presentation. Thousands of fans had gathered outside Ibrox for a fixture played behind closed doors, before marching to Glasgow city centre. An estimated 15,000 fans gathered in George Square, despite being urged not to congregate in large numbers by local authorities. Rangers players and staff stayed at Ibrox to celebrate and it was a video that subsequently emerged that has brought those jubilant scenes into focus. A short clip initially aired on TikTok and shared widely on YouTube and Twitter shows players singing along to the Neil Diamond hit “Sweet Caroline” in one of Ibrox’s corporate lounges. Although the audio is not particularly clear, it appears to suggest part of the chorus is replaced with the words “Fuck the Pope”. The deep religious divide between Rangers, a traditionally Protestant club, and Celtic, with its historic Catholic roots, is well established and the clip soon went viral on Monday. What has been the reaction? This is where the story takes a twist. By 2.40pm on Monday, Police Scotland had issued a statement via Twitter to say they would investigate the clip. “We are aware of a video circulating on social media apparently showing Rangers players using sectarian language while celebrating on Saturday,” they wrote. “We are assessing its contents and will liaise with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service as part of our enquiries.” Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s Justice Secretary and a Celtic fan, was quick to enter the debate. He took to Twitter to add: “I have also been made aware of this clip, if (and I stress if) this clip is genuine then any player or staff member found to be guilty of anti-Catholic hatred should be shown the door by the club. It is right Police Scotland investigate and determine the facts around it.” Yousaf added on BBC Scotland that any players “engaged in that anti-Catholic hatred should be booted out of the club”. Within two hours, Rangers had responded with a statement saying they were confident “no criminality took place”. “We are aware of a video circulating on social media,” said Rangers. “It is evident that this video was shared with an adjoining narrative which attempts to discredit our players and the reputation of Rangers Football Club. This highlights the dangers of ‘trial by social media’. “It is deeply concerning that this video has been taken as genuine and has been shared widely including by some political representatives who should be mindful of their influence and legal processes. “Our squad is richly diverse. Sectarianism is unacceptable and has no place in our club, which is underlined by our Everyone Anyone campaign. We are confident that no criminality took place, we have sought legal advice and look forward to cooperating with Police Scotland.” Rangers tried to encourage change with the launch of their “Everyone, Anyone” campaign in the summer of 2019 that “represents our core values and sends a clear message of inclusion, togetherness and zero-tolerance to all forms of discrimination — on and off the pitch… our shared bond is our love of Rangers and no one is excluded”. Have Rangers’ title celebrations been tarnished? Whether the video and its audio are genuine remains unclear but it was nevertheless a regrettable weekend for Rangers. Supporters revelled in the official end to Celtic’s dominance of Scottish football but the gatherings on Glasgow streets on Saturday have attracted widespread condemnation. Some ignored pleas to avoid COVID-19 breaches by gathering in large groups and scenes turned ugly when clashing with police. Twenty people were arrested and Police Scotland have warned there will be “many more” to follow over the coming weeks. Videos on social media have shown missiles being thrown at riot police and fighting among fans. Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Twitter: “Police still have a job to do, which restrains my comments to some extent — but to say I’m utterly disgusted by the Rangers fans who rampaged through the city would be an understatement. “I’m also angry on behalf of every law-abiding citizen. In normal times, the violence and vandalism, and the vile anti-Catholic prejudice that was on display, would have been utterly unacceptable. But mid-pandemic, in a city with cases on the rise, it was also selfish beyond belief.” Chief superintendent Mark Sutherland, Police Scotland’s divisional commander for Greater Glasgow, said: “This disgraceful behaviour which clearly endangered public and officer safety could not be tolerated and officers dressed in full public order equipment after appropriate warnings were given, moved in to disperse those present.” The Scottish Football Association also “condemned the behaviour in the strongest terms” on Monday. “While the majority of the club’s fanbase will have celebrated this achievement safely and in line with COVID-19 guidelines across the country and beyond, the scenes witnessed in and around Glasgow’s George Square have brought embarrassment to the national game,” they said. “Scenes that require the First Minister, Justice Secretary, Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Federation to issue condemnatory statements, and images that dominated the news agenda throughout the weekend, represent an abomination not a celebration. “Those responsible for sectarian singing, for vandalism and for inflicting physical damage may attach themselves to football but cannot be considered football fans.” Rangers said a “small minority” had “behaved inappropriately and in a manner not reflective of our support.” Given the alleged content of the video, is sectarian singing still a major issue? Rangers and Celtic, Scotland’s Old Firm, have attempted to clamp down on bigoted chanting in recent times but it is a stain on the Scottish game that has yet to be fully shifted. As recently as 2019, UEFA ordered Rangers to leave 3,000 seats empty for a Europa League play-off tie at home to Legia Warsaw for racist chanting. In the same year, former Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes was subjected to “sad Orange bastard” calls from Celtic fans during the Scottish Cup semi-final. Current Scotland boss Steve Clarke, then in charge of Kilmarnock, was also on the receiving end in 2019. “They can call me a bastard or a wanker. No problem, thanks, guys. But to call me a Fenian bastard, come on. Where are we living? The Dark Ages?” Neil Lennon, the former Celtic boss and a Catholic, has also spoken regularly of the abuse he has suffered. “You call it sectarianism here in Scotland, I call it racism,” he said. “If a black man is abused, you are not just abusing the colour of his skin, you are abusing his culture, his heritage, his background. It’s the exact same when I get called a Fenian, a pauper, a beggar, a tarrier.” Nil by Mouth, the charity established in 2000 to challenge sectarianism in Scotland, called the latest scenes from the weekend “utterly depressing” and added, “there is NEVER any moral, sporting or cultural excuse for such bigotry and actions.” The same charity launched a Sing Something Else campaign in 2018 in an attempt to move away from sectarian chanting. Subscription cancelled. I'd encourage other fans who have one to do the same. GA1972, Prince George, magic8ball and 18 others 21 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForeverAndEver 70,941 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 Dweebs Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plumbGER 24,518 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 Arsehole bastards Bad Robot and MurrayWilson 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ps95v7 387 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 Is there no end to Tarriers Hurting?? ”their pain is our joy” 🇬🇧 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tugay17 Battery 107 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 Never heard of them, probably just as well. Bears r us 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronzy 25,953 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 Probably still going to keep my subscription as it’s only a pound a month and I really like their Serie A and Bundesliga stuff, this makes me glad I don’t read any of their Rangers content though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUEDIGNITY 33,610 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 Is it the athletic wing ! HG5 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post RangersMedia 35,961 Posted May 19, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted May 19, 2021 11 minutes ago, Rangers_no1 said: No offence, but no idea why anybody would have subscribed to such a shit site in the first place. That Rangers fan who works for them spoke some amount of shit, will never forget his article on Brandon fucking Barker. Their NBA and NFL coverage is absolutely unrivalled. All of the best Lakers and Giants writers are now employed by them Willis, Billythebear77, born a blue nose and 4 others 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForeverAndEver 70,941 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 22 minutes ago, Rangers_no1 said: No offence, but no idea why anybody would have subscribed to such a shit site in the first place. That Rangers fan who works for them spoke some amount of shit, will never forget his article on Brandon fucking Barker. What did he say? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronzy 25,953 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 7 minutes ago, ForeverAndEver said: What did he say? Brandon Barker is the best winger in Britain right now and is the heir to Ronaldo’s throne. Was a good article tbf Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clemdog 39,389 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 Pathetic. Not sure we can continue to ban journalists though - need to keep some onside (not that they're helping themselves right now). Sparkle 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post SPWF 8,117 Posted May 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted May 19, 2021 Every one of the guy’s previous articles are about English football. Why is he writing about a subject he clearly knows nothing about, nor cared about until this week apparently? Bears, Johnstone Burgh, They Gnu and 2 others 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johanhentze 14,019 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 Find it very strange that they are writing about something that isnt sport. There is fuck all "Athletic" about fans in the square. TheFamousPigeon 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post born a blue nose 90,384 Posted May 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted May 19, 2021 Wait to you see the amount that will come snivelling back when we are back we’re we belong in a period of total domination. contrary to what bens said above (although a do get it) I say fuck them, our strategy going forward will be spot on with the team and staff involved at all levels. fuck the handwringers never forgive, never forget. G13, mearns loyal, Willis and 6 others 9 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
VanVeenRangers 2,508 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 That Jordan Campbell has went very quiet in the last 4 or 5 months. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TartanTeddy 754 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 5 hours ago, psb07158 said: Their NBA and NFL coverage is absolutely unrivalled. All of the best Lakers and Giants writers are now employed by them The NFL coverage is great - same in Chicago, where the best writing on the Bears and Cubs is now on the Athletic rather than in the big two newspapers. Never really found their football coverage particularly strong - either seems a bit fan based (Jordan Campbell) or from people who seem to have no clue what's going on. Wouldn't cancel over one misguided article, but also would subscribe for football coverage on it in general, but it's certainly a must for US sport now Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo17 1,388 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 Cancelled my subscription fuck them. They were good a couple years ago but that article is total pish Sparkle, Billythebear77 and born a blue nose 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearInTheToon 1,575 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 36 minutes ago, MorelosRangers said: That Jordan Campbell has went very quiet in the last 4 or 5 months. Yeah, he had his access for press conferences/direct interviews removed after he slated the club’s slow response to the child sex abuse report a few months back. Kinda fucks his whole ability to be the ‘designated Rangers reporter with close access to the club.’ Have to say, I thought he was overly harsh. Reaped what he sowed… Billythebear77 and VanVeenRangers 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
esquire8 41,914 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 8 minutes ago, BearInTheToon said: Yeah, he had his access for press conferences/direct interviews removed after he slated the club’s slow response to the child sex abuse report a few months back. Kinda fucks his whole ability to be the ‘designated Rangers reporter with close access to the club.’ Have to say, I thought he was overly harsh. Reaped what he sowed… Bridges burned during that time. Still writes about the club but more of a review style rather than breaking news. Think after this the Athletic will find it hard to get access to the club, even after slightly amending the paragraph. Billythebear77 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGM_72 3,534 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 1 hour ago, GabrielTomato said: Pathetic. Not sure we can continue to ban journalists though - need to keep some onside (not that they're helping themselves right now). I'd suggest that this sort of thing comes as a result of that type of strategy. Completely agree it's pathetic, though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doron 118 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 Just cancelled my subscription. I gave his article as the reason for cancelling. A shame because a lot of the US sports coverage is very good. Looks like a lot of bears have done the same. Sparkle, Bakbear and Billythebear77 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluenoz 30,287 Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 i usually like reading their articles. This one not so much as it suggests guilt in the video which makes it a bad article but the rest is pretty much correct whether some people want to believe it or not. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bakbear 3,563 Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 Cancelled my sub and gave the reason. Journalistic integrity needs to be brought back Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUEDIGNITY 33,610 Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 13 hours ago, psb07158 said: https://theathletic.com/2597173/2021/05/19/explained-fallout-rangers-title-celebrations/ Subscription cancelled. I'd encourage other fans who have one to do the same. Once they start this crap it’s time to cancel, definitely they are in league with the wrong people.👍🏻 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
graeme_4 34,000 Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 15 hours ago, Rangers_no1 said: No offence, but no idea why anybody would have subscribed to such a shit site in the first place. That Rangers fan who works for them spoke some amount of shit, will never forget his article on Brandon fucking Barker. I like the Athletic, mostly because the MSM is dumbed down to fuck and they provide a bit more detail, but I cancelled my subscription today. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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