No Apologies- Shameful statement from Ibrox chief Andrew Cavenagh

After watching Celtic players and staff being attacked on the pitch at Ibrox on Sunday the home club has finally passed comment.

Earlier in the week their Fan Advisory Board had blamed Police Scotland for all issues.

On the pitch kicks were aimed at Julian Araujo.

A member of the Celtic medical staff was knocked to the ground. Marc Spencer, a 47-year-old Ibrox fan has been arrested for that incident.

Home fans charged 70 yards onto the pitch. One of them launched a firework into the Broomloan Road Stand, packed with Celtic fans.

He was seen being led away off the pitch by two Police Officers. That incident took place in front of the Main Stand at Ibrox. Where Andrew Cavenagh and his fellow directors were seated.

Pre-match Cavenagh got to listen to a bastardised version of The Best from Tina Turner.

He may have been duped a year ago as Dave King and Douglas Park desperately tried to offload their shareholding.

CAVENAGH DISCOVERS THE TRUTH OF HIS INVESTMENT

On Sunday Cavenagh discovered exactly what he had sunk his money into.

His buy-out probably cost in the region of £50m.

Over two transfer windows the club has spent around £40m on players.

Previously the club has reported annual losses in the region of £15m a year. With a dip in UEFA income this season and increased squad spending and wages losses for the 25/26 season are likely to be significantly higher.

All of that has been sunk for the benefit of a support whose racist actions brought a two year stand suspension from UEFA.

There were multiple issues around Sunday’s match that would terrify a sensible businessman.

Tonight the Ibrox club released a nameless statement. It has to be assumed that Cavenagh gave his profile before it was published on the club website:

FC STATEMENT

The disorder that occurred on Sunday was unacceptable and we condemn it unequivocally. Safety must always come first in football, for supporters, players and everyone working in and around the game. We also want to recognise the efforts of the many staff, stewards and emergency services who operated in extremely difficult circumstances on the day.

There are now a number of serious issues which require proper examination. For that reason, we agree that there should be a fully independent review into the events surrounding the match. That review must be thorough and wide-ranging, examining the decisions and actions of all relevant parties. Its scope must include the broader context around this fixture, from the initial decisions on ticket allocations through to the sequence of incidents that followed the match. All parties must be prepared to have their actions and decision-making subjected to proper scrutiny.

Where individuals are identified and convicted of offences connected to the match, the club will take action and impose appropriate sanctions, including the potential withdrawal of ticketing privileges and stadium bans.

As bland and non committal as it is possible to be. An exercise in walking on egg shells. Pandering wholly to the home fans. Those singing the Tina Turner add-ons and being on the pitch.

A similar statement is expected from Celtic before Martin O’Neill faces the media tomorrow at lunchtime.

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• Andrew Dallas and the WONKY VAR lines
• Fake News from STV
• Andytown News shine a light into the real events at Ibrox

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