THE scenes of drunkenness and violence that marred the UEFA Cup Final on Wednesday night are simply not acceptable. They are not acceptable in Glasgow and they are not acceptable in Manchester.
I, as a Glaswegian, am ashamed of the behaviour of some people on Wednesday night and I know there are many other Glaswegians who feel the same way.
Newspaper photographs and television coverage of people verbally abusing police and stewards and in some cases attacking them are appalling and very disappointing.
Rangers fans have enjoyed an excellent reputation following their team all over Europe this season as their UEFA Cup story has unfolded and they behaved very well.
And it should be noted that the vast majority of people who created a carnival atmosphere in Manchester on Wednesday, and I'm told it may have been as many as 200,000, also behaved very well.
But that does not change the fact that there was a tiny minority whose behaviour was unacceptable.
Nor does it excuse their behaviour in any way.
I understand that, the people of Glasgow understand that, and I want the people of Manchester to know that we are taking this very seriously.
Manchester is a fantastic, modern, vibrant city.
I visit regularly and I have always found it a warm and welcoming city with friendly people. Planning for the event was spot-on and discussions with Rangers, Manchester city council, Greater Manchester Police, Strathclyde Police, and Glasgow city council started as soon as Rangers won their semi-final game.
Everything that could have been done in advance was done.
Manchester is not to blame for what happened, Rangers Football Club is not to blame for what happened, the vast majority of Rangers supporters are not to blame for what happened.
Idiotic
The only people to blame are the mindless minority who acted in the irresponsible, idiotic and violent ways we have all witnessed.
I was at the game on Wednesday night and until word started filtering through about what was happening outside the stadium, I was having a wonderful evening.
The event was well staged, the supporters inside the stadium created a great atmosphere and, although for Glasgow's sake I would have preferred a different result, the game was exciting.
I think it is a great shame that all that has been forgotten because of the unacceptable behaviour of a mindless minority.
We should have been talking about a wonderful occasion and a great match today, but instead we are all thinking about the dreadful scenes in Manchester city centre.
There is now an inquiry under way into the events of Wednesday night and it is only proper that we all stand back and let that inquiry work out precisely what happened.
I have spoken to my counterpart at Manchester city council, Sir Richard Leese, several times over the last two days.
He knows that any help that the city of Glasgow, Strathclyde Police or Rangers Football Club can give the authorities in Manchester to get to the bottom of what happened and identify those responsible, we will give.
Glasgow is just as keen as Manchester to see the people responsible for this destruction and violence to be caught and brought to justice.
These people do not represent Rangers and they do not represent our city.
We want to see them punished for their behaviour.
Glasgow is just as unhappy at the behaviour of these people as you are in Manchester.
Finally, I'd like to echo one of the points made by Sir Richard Leese; that this incident should not sour relations between our two great cities.
The links between Glasgow and Manchester are strong and deep, and span across families, football clubs, business and civic life.
It would be a tragedy if those links were to be damaged by this and I sincerely hope that does not happen.
What do you think? Have your say.
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Gerard Hamill (16/05/2008 at 15:58)
Much to my regret much of the BBC's coverage had them singing in Piccadilly Gardens about being up to their knees in Fenian (basically Catholic) blood and F... the Pope. They were also giving it lustily with their "bouncy, bouncy" song, which actually stems from a reenactment of a mob who killed a Catholic in Northern Ireland by bouncing up and down on his head!
This abhorrent mentality comes from a perverted version of Calvinism, the predominant faith in Scotland, which gives them a notion of themselves as "the elite". Only they are God's people and they can treat everyone else as dirt. Similiar manifestations of this are what lies behind the situation in Northern Ireland. It was the grounding for white supremacy in South Africa and the southern states in the USA.
Rangers fostered this mentalty for decades by refusing to sign Catholics and are now reaoung the whirlwind. It gives me no joy to say any of this but it is Scotland's secret shame and nothing will change until those in authority face in to head on.
The Karney & Leese Ego Show [formerly Scrotnig] (16/05/2008 at 16:19)
Those who hold the city of Glasgow responsible in some way for what happened are little better than those who took part in the violence. An entire city isn't responsible for the behaviour of each and every citizen. Think about what you're saying!
Some of our own football fans have not exactly been angelic at major games across the UK and Europe.
Personally, I've never been to Glasgow, but the events of this week wouldn't stop me going.
Macaloon9 (16/05/2008 at 16:35)
The predominant religon in Scotland is Calvinism is it? Oh dear.
As for the origins of the bouncy, even Celtic fans have now dropped that particular lie.
I'm somewhat surprised you didnt bring up the old chestnut about the red tops of our socks!
A ramshackle band of gutter rats tarnished the good name of the Rangers Football Club on wednesday night after we had travelled across 9 countries this season without one single arrest. However it must be remembered that almost 200,000 fans partied the day away without causing trouble. Obviously the focus will be on the minority and understandably so but we cannot just ignore the fact that so many fans behaved well.
The only complaints in Barca were that we left our rubbish behind. Well I'm terribly sorry but I'm not sure where we were expected to place said rubbish given the total lack of bins (not to mention toilets).
Perhaps we are to sweep sweep said rubbish under Scottish football's bulging carpet that covers Celtic FCs many shames.
Yours in Rangers
Macaloon9
Tarquin, Hale (16/05/2008 at 16:40)
As you know very well, Rangers fans singing "The Bouncy" has nothing to do with jumping on anyone's head and Rangers never pursued a policy of not signing Catholics.
As Manchester United fans will tell you, Celtic fans regularly bring disgrace on Scotland . Save your mock outrage.
David Allen (16/05/2008 at 16:49)
when people in the "chattering classes" maintain such a blinkered view, denying that events such as this are a reflection on the state of scottish (british) society, nothing will ever change.
The scenes on wednesday evening were unforgivable, but are nothing like a true reflection of 99% of the Rangers supporters there.
What is more important is to ask why people view it as acceptable to be (literally) leglessly drunk by lunchtime? Add in bottles of 99p cider, and that is a societal problem.
Anyone with half a brain (or access to a dictionary) knows that a "fenian" is an Irish republican "freedom fighter," not a catholic person.
And Rangers fans along with fans from Russia (which we could see on ITV 1), Turkey, germany, Spain, and many other countries around the world engage in mass "bouncing" - are they all really jumping on someone's head??
Stuart Ferguson (16/05/2008 at 17:00)
Mr Manchester (16/05/2008 at 17:02)
God help Glasgow put on the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
Wilmslow Andy (16/05/2008 at 17:02)
MrJones (16/05/2008 at 17:03)
Daniel (16/05/2008 at 17:09)
The "minority" few hundred cretins who rampaged through the streets are to blame. These hardcore Rangers supporters will never be tamed unless Rangers football club is taken to task to force the issue.
To get a picture of what you guys in Manchester had to deal with I suggest you visit these Rangers "fans" sites to see the poison in its bottle.
http://www.followfollow.com/
http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/rstsite/
goaaaal, glasgow (16/05/2008 at 17:16)
the behaviour on wednesday evening was bang out of order! let the law deal with that and let the councils and other parties involved in the pre match build up deal with their watch as both mancunians and those who made the trip south desreve answers to the aftermath of what was an event that was vastly under prepared in more ways than one so from all decent minded rangers fans myself included who attended the event in albert square i extend my apologies firstly for the reflection it may have had on the city of glasgow toward mancunians and a very big thank you for the hospitality shown toward us even on my departure on thursday the gmp officers wished us a safe journey home which is a measure of the good nature of the people who may have felt let down by the behaviour of the animals in different areas of the city centre that previous night ,and of those who were subjected to mob rule from these thugs the event could have been better handled in an organisational sense but we cant always account for mindless thuggery so once again thank you
Steve Searle (16/05/2008 at 17:26)
mels, salford (16/05/2008 at 17:28)
Gerry Brady (16/05/2008 at 17:41)
You are a disgrace you do yourself and other fans like myself no good by attempting to peddle propaganda and inflame the situation yet further. Being a Celtic fan myself I have no doubt the chain of events would have been the same had we been in Manchester under the same circumstances. A sorry situation. Gerry
paul macdonald (16/05/2008 at 17:50)
Rangers fans have caused more problems than any other Scottish team when they have travelled away from home - see Aberdeen, Osasuna, Barcelona and Manchester for examples in the last couple of years.
Celtic, like other clubs, have their share of idiot supporters yet the 100,000 fans who travelled to Seville to see their team lose the UEFA Cup in 2003 chose to behave with some dignity and respect when faced with the reality of defeat resulting in the FIFA Fans Award being given to them.
Regards,
Paul
Jack Sparrow (16/05/2008 at 18:04)
You also forget to mention that Rangers have beaved impeccably in 9 previous away trips this season with zero arrests prior to the 13th May, or that in the past twenty years Rangers have signed scores of Roman Catholics, many of whom are on the books today. Of course there were many before that too but lets not let the truth get in the way of a good bit of fiction to discredit Rangers.
Also, you and I know fine well that the problems we saw after the game are not confined to Rangers fans or those who travel to watch Rangers. The opportunity to take a pop at the polis has reared itself at every anti-war demo, Govanhill Baths, G8 summit, and on a nightly basis outside pubs and clubs throughout the country.
There are too many people from ALL socio-economic groups, religions and races that will take a shot at the police given any opportunity. If you think this is endemic to Rangers fans, unionists, or Protestants you could not be any more mistaken.
I think it's safe to presume you are a Celtic fan, in which case we could mention your supporters indiscretions through recent times. You must remember the coin striking Rangers' doctor in the first Old Firm game in April, the coin hitting referee Hugh Dallas and splitting his head open, a lighter being thrown at Fernando Ricksen, Celtic Trust condemming a song wishing Nacho Novo to be killed in his sleep by the IRA, Rangers supporters buses attacked after the midweek old firm game in April, Celtic fans invading the pitch and attacking Dida,(00's) Ally Maxwell (90s) Gordon Strachan (80s), ongoing protests at Rt Hon Dr John Reid MP, former NI and defence secretary because he was associated with British Army, Mars Bars and coins thrown at the directors box, Paul Le Guen spat on in the main stand, mocking rangers player, the USA captain Reyna after 9/11 by making an aeroplane gesture, plane being diverted to Cardiff to arrest unruly fans on way back from Vigo.... The list could go on and on.
Let me reiterate. Scum/Ned mindset is not exclusive to the Rangers support. As we saw on Wednesday the vast, vast majority can behave themselves. Others can not and that is true of the whole of society.
I look forward to your reply.
Micko, Glasgow (16/05/2008 at 18:13)
Can you confirm the shame of Glasgow - that the Labour Party you lead on the council has not been able to produce one 'Rangers supporter' in the last 30 years to act as Lord Provost?
Is it your opinion that this dreadful record is a co-incident or as a result of endemic sectarian hatred and bias within the ranks of the Glasgow Labour Party?
Sincerely, MICHAEL J
trueblue, manchester (16/05/2008 at 18:34)
cct, Lincoln (16/05/2008 at 18:54)
These people are just hooligans, nothing else.
They have managed to tarnish a festival atmosphere and have soured the memory of what should have been a great occasion for all the decent Rangers fans travelling in great numbers to Manchester.
Before we get the inevitable tit for tat rhetoric, "Celtic this and Celtic that" not forgetting “English this and English that nonsense, can I just say I don't care if Celtic or any English club consider themselves the "Greatest Fans in the World” – it has nothing to do with football.
We need to get out own house in order and stop looking at what other fans use for excuses. I’m sure someone will highlight an incident(s) that other fans have been involved with but how does change the fact that we have a truly disgusting minority in our ranks who use Rangers as a vehicle for their anti-social behaviour?
It’s time to ditch the "no-one likes us, and “we don't care" attitude because from what I saw and have read about last night, its clear that no-one does like us (unsurprisingly) but I for one I DO CARE.
Manchester – a thousand apologies for an idiotic minority.
Northside Raymie, Clydebank, Scotland (16/05/2008 at 19:17)
I lived in Manchester(Levenshulme) in the early 70's, and found the Mancunians to be great people. On an average weekend, in any of the bars or clubs you would regularly hear accents from all parts of the World,including Scots, Irish, Welsh, West Indians, Indians, Chinese, Hungarians, Scousers, Geordies, aye and even a few 'Scallies' fae Chester ;-)along with Mancunians.
Having read some of the comments yesterday and today from you readership, I am beginning to wonder if these are the same friendly Mancunian people that I knew and loved, or is this just a few extremists, who hate everything that isn't English?
There are a lot of unanswered questions concerning what happened on Wednesday, the first being why have there only been eleven people out of the 42 arrested, been charged? If 42 people required arresting, then I would suggest that 42 people require to be charged, unless the police actually were not in control of the situation and just went on a 'sweep',so perhaps there needs top be an enquiry into, exactly what the police were up to.
I think that Manchester City Council also has some explaining to do, why put that many people in Piccadilly, come on it's a blu*dy bus stance. Better that they should have been less concerned about the £25mill that they reckoned it would generate, and more concerned about the health and safety of not just the visitors, but more especially the good citizens of Manchester.
Did they give that priority?
The spouting of rhetoric, whether by politicians or by people on these forums is certainly not going to solve the problem, action is needed to solve problems not rhetoric.
As an end note there has , of late, in the Manchester media been an unjust attack on the people of Glasgow concerning this disgusting and abhorrent incident, but do you the Media attack Manchester, every time there are arrests made at United games, I think not.
I have yet to see published in your pages the names and addresses of those who have been charged, if they are, or predominantly from Glasgow, I would say then your complaints are well founded.
If on the other hand, they are not then perhaps some caution from your journos should be exercised in the future.
I also noted from the CCTV footage that those involved in the 'rioting' didn't appear to be wearing 'Rangers Shirt', and when some were approached by 'the media' they covered their faces with 'masks', so perhaps it wasn't all that it appears to be.
A for Mr Hammil and his anti - protestant bile, well it says more about him than Glasgow Rangers.
Jimmy Balir (16/05/2008 at 19:59)
As for the mess, the shopkeepers who were happy to sell alcohol as soon as the shutters were up, at no doubt inflated prices, should be the ones being investigated by the police. Your own paper actually had an article on Tesco encouraging bulk sales. This is where your £ 25m economy boom will come from, the same fans who you now want banned from Europe.
Far fewer English fans have caused far more damage throughout Europe over the past 20 years but because this has happened on your door step its a different matter. Listen to some of the accents and shouts during the riot and you will hear as many English voices and when you look at hose breaking into a shop they are wearing no colours and are obviously not Scottish.
Theres a bigger picture to this but as usual the English media cannot see that.
Mark, South Manchester (16/05/2008 at 21:17)
And unlike the national media, we've heard plenty of Rangers fans "slagging off" Manchester on local BBC radio & TV news + Granada Reports too! (Although again, shamefully not on Channel M News or in this paper - who "disturbingly" always stick up for the police & city council??)
Finally, last week the MEN Postbag page was full of letters from Rangers fans calling the whole of Manchester "a disgrace" simply because (unknown to us) a GMP officer had warned ticketless fans not to travel.
Lets face it guys, both cities will now suffer!!
Liam (16/05/2008 at 21:56)
gordon (16/05/2008 at 22:23)
Rangers FC, Glasgow (16/05/2008 at 23:10)
The City is a Disgrace