Scotland’s Shame face a hammering from UEFA with closure threat

The Union Bears are at the centre of a UEFA probe that could result in a heavy fine or even the partial closure of Ibrox.

Seven minutes into last night’s Europa League defeat from Lyon a series of fireworks were let off from behind Jack Butland’s goal forcing the match to be stopped with the fourth official seen in talks with Police Scotland on the side-lines.

Shamefully TNT commentators Rory Hamilton and Ally McCoist claimed that the fireworks were set off from outside the ground despite the evidence to their right hand side.

The Union Bears have been relocated this season to the Copland Road Stand, at the final whistle in front of a near empty stadium Phil Clement led his players to salute the fans who stood under a banner reading RANGERS RIOT CREW.

With more and more fans doubting the brilliance of A Proper Football Manager Clement is keen to keep the Union Bears onside as the traditional autumn sacking season gets underway with his side treading water domestically and in the UEFA Europa League.

The Sun reports:

Now SunSport understands Belgian match delegate Johny Vanspauwen has submitted his report to European football’s governing body – with the flashpoint right at the very top.

Last month Servette were heavily punished for a similar incident during their Europa Conference League play-off against Chelsea.

The Swiss side – whose supporters also let off fireworks and flares – were hit with a whopping 43,000 euros fine.

In addition, the section of their stadium normally used by Servette’s so-called Ultras is to be closed for their next European match.

UEFA are likely to ask probing questions about the security checks carried out that allowed hundreds of fans into Ibrox with flares and fireworks and the lack of activity from stewards after the fireworks incidents.

The Ibrox club have given the Union Bears free reign at Ibrox despite a string of criminal incidents from the group.

In December 2022, ahead of a match against Celtic Police Scotland uncovered weapons and drugs in a unit used to store ‘tifo materials’.

Twice in 2019 UEFA were forced to close sections of Ibrox as punishment for racist songs from the Union Bears.

Fortunately the SFA and SPFL have never taken any action against the repeated racist songs and chants at Ibrox with TNT broadcasting chants about the Pope and the Vatican last night without any comment from Hamilton or McCoist.