Ibrox Fans Defend Their Actions Amid Controversy

Simon Jordan has jumped to the defence of Ibrox fans that have been described as frankly embarrassing by their own club.

Last week the 2012 Tribute Act used that term when they announced that they facing UEFA charges over racist/discriminatory actions by their fans in a match that had been played a week earlier without any comment from the club.

This week the club was found guilty of three charges including racism, fines were imposed with the most severe punishment being a two year suspended closure hanging over the Copland Stand.

Now back in the sight-lines of UEFA it means that certain banners and songs allowed in domestic matches with the compliant SFA and SPFL will result in the closure of a stand for the next UEFA match.

TalkSPORT host Jim White knows the vile attitudes and thinking of Ibrox fans, he once posed as an Orangeman with Mark Walters because he loved the banter of it all.

Four mornings a week he shares a studio with Jordan searching around for controversy with the former Crystal Palace owner sympathetic to the views of the Ibrox fans under scrutiny.

Jordan chose to zoom in on the banner that while difficult to understand contains the phrase DEFEND EUROPE, basic research confirms that as a phrase captured by the far right in their opposition to immigration.

The current Ibrox squad contains players from Morocco, Brazil and the Ivory Coast.

On Monday the club website announced the punishments handed out by UEFA, the second paragraph cuts straight to the chase by mentioning songs without being specific on The Billy Boys which was banned by UEFA in 2006:

This punishment must serve as a severe and significant reminder to the small minority of supporters who bring the name of Rangers into disrepute. Any repeat of any discriminatory behaviour (and this also includes the singing of illicit songs) may result in the famed ‘Rangers end’ of our home being closed for a UEFA match.

Revealing the possibility of sanctions, last week’s statement didn’t mess around with describing the actions of the lauded, loyal bears:

It is, however, deeply saddening and frankly embarrassing that the club is now set to face significant sanctions for the actions of a very small minority.

Firstly, the club has been charged by UEFA after a handful of supporters displayed what UEFA describe as a “racist and/or discriminatory banner” at last Thursday’s Ibrox meeting with Fenerbahce.

Jordan didn’t discuss illicit songs, White opted not to bring up that issue as they discussed the topic on Wednesday morning:

There’s nothing racist or discriminatory about what that banner suggested. UEFA say there is but that’s because UEFA are being allowed to say it.

We’ve got football lecturing everybody, all day, every bloody day about every single cause. And when the fans have an opinion, all of a sudden it’s sit down, shut up, you can’t have one.

UEFA are in charge. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. The fans are supposed to be the lifeblood of football. When they want to have an opinion, they can’t have one.

Off air White could have played a recording of The Billy Boys to Jordan, I suspect he’d be able to sing it word perfect having spent many days and nights in the company of loyal bears.

Highlighting a banner that is difficult to understand is an easy cop-out. Knowing the background to the issue and the mentality of the fans behind it the use of DEFEND EUROPE makes the meaning of the banner crystal clear.

TalkSPORT is notorious for promoting those sort of views, just under a year ago Ally McCoist announced live on air his intentions to commit hate crimes at a Glasgow Derby, no apology was issued by the radio station who seemed content to go along with the views of the former Rangers manager.

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