Zenit St. Petersburg won the UEFA Cup, 2-0 last night, the game however was far from eventful as a dull and listless Rangers side failed to realistically threaten the Zenit goal for the entirety of the ninety minutes.
But that wasn't the real story.
The real story began early as a riot started when a large screen failure left a mob of thousands in Piccadilly Gardens (the largest of the fan zones) without a way to see the game.
Irate fans hurled their best your momma jokes (I'm sure) at the small force of riot police stationed nearby as the Manchester City event staff tried to make the task of moving them to another location, happen.
As that crumbled, news from inside did nothing to help matters as Zenit controlled the game from start to finish, thoroughly deserving their win. But for some Rangers fans that wasn't enough, following the final kick blowouts began, leading one Russian fan to be stabbed. He was taken to a local hospital the injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
All told 42 fans were arrested for various offenses. Six in connection to the stabbing
In a post match interview Kenny Scott, Rangers Security and Operations Manager said the following:
"Its very disappointing that the screen was incapable of operating at a critical time, it was a mainstay of the fan zones, and supporters have a reasonable expectation to see the match, but when its broken down then, I think they're understandably disappointed."
Catching himself quickly as the sharks in the media circled "but I have to say that... ugh... you have to balance that by saying that I never condone people who react in a violent and disorderly manner."
My opinion is simple, there is a fine line between fandom and fanaticism, Football fanatics, over the last 20 or so years have gone so far over the line collectively they can't remember where it even is.
When your own Security Manager, is sympathetic to the plight of the poor fans who attempted to maim a Russian fan celebrating one of the biggest accomplishments in Russian Football history. You know you have a problem.
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about 1 month ago
for comic relief, I love the English, I almost spilled my coffee when I heard the following "rioters shouted obscenities, and threw missiles at responding riot police" the visions that are still in my head are priceless.
about 1 month ago
175 000 Rangers fans in Manchester and there are 42 arrests. 25 000 people drunk squeezed in a fanzone that then doesn't work and the police won't let them out to see their biggest game in 36 years. Do the maths.
I'm disappointed this had to happen and ashamed of any Rangers fans that caused trouble. I am though very proud of most Rangers fans who made the trip and who danced and partied with the Zenit fans all day never even thinking of trouble.
A 'mob' of 25 000 I don't think so. That was an army of very proud and excited Rangers fans.
about 1 month ago
Most were fine as you say, but nothing has changed in 36 years, same in Barcelona in 72, there was even fighting at Ibrox
about 1 month ago
Once again the Scottish media are dancing to Murray's flute. Tabloid reports aren't of Rangers fans stabbing a russian fan or savagely beating police officers or even of smashing & looting shops. Carefully worded articles in the Scottish press are of riot police beating rangers fans and police dogs savaging supporters.
What is described by the same press as a "carnival atmosphere" is really an ugly frenzy of bigotry and songs celebrating the genocide of followers of the catholic faith. The same songs which have been ignored for decades by the Scottish media and the Scottish football authorities until of course UEFA make some noise. The same silence given to a century of an overtly sectarian signing policy only changed when, you guessed it, UEFA started to voice concerns.
But what's this? Grame Spiers, a Rangers supporting journalist who bears a likeness to young Andrew here, reveals(in the English based Times, of course) that Rangers beg Scottish journalists and editors to "play it down" as it's bad for Glasgow and Scottish Football. Not only that, he also reveals that Rangers employ a PR company for damage limitation purposes.
I grew up surrounded by those people who rioted in Manchester last night. Let me assure you, it may be a "minority", but it's a LARGE minority of thugs who follow Rangers. And as for sectarian bigots(90minute bigots or otherwise), it's an overwhelming MAJORITY who follow Rangers. They include among their midst followers of the BNP, Combat 18 and Ulster paramilitaries. Every summer, from May to September the west of Scotland is dotted with hundreds of Orange Walks, celebrating the anti-catholic Orange order. They would pàss directly below my bedroom window,a swarm of rangers shirts, more than a dozen times every summer on their way to the chapel. On reaching the chapel the overweight, tattoed orangeman who could burst his drum was rewarded with 100 pounds for doing so outside the Catholic place of worship. I carry a scar on my jaw after I was glassed by an Apprentice Boy of Derry for saying that yes, calling Pierre Van Hooijdonk a "Black Bastard" was offensive(I'm half nigerian).
There has been a silence on this for decades with a complicit Scottish media but in this internet age the vile, disgusting hate-fueled "institution" Glasgow Rangers cannot depend on their media friends to "play things down". It's there for all to see. And as Catholics in Glasgow and Scotland have at last reached a degree of equality(Lord Provost, Judges, Senior police officers even referees!)Glasgow Rangers and their abhorrent "anglo-saxon protestants only" supporters will have to accept that no, you aren't "the" people, we ALL are.
about 1 month ago
fustrated hooligans
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