"You've no right to be angry with John Collins". SPFL, season 2015/2016

Woke up to a text, sent in the wee small hours, from a friend who lives in Leith, saying things were "a bit mental" there.

Rangers finds it incomprehensible that no one, either from within the Scottish FA or Hibernian Football Club, has condemned Hibernian’s supporters following the violent scenes at the end of yesterday’s Scottish Cup final when Rangers players and members of our backroom staff were physically and verbally assaulted. We have not even had the courtesy of any contact whatsoever from Hibernian to ask after the wellbeing of those who were attacked by their club’s supporters.There must be a full independent investigation into the shameful scenes at Hampden. Rangers is also at a complete loss to understand why certain individuals have hastily attempted to gloss over the appalling events which unfolded at the end of Saturday’s final.

No matter how many times Hibernian’s chairman and Scottish FA vice-chairman, Rod Petrie, and certain other biased commentators wish to play down Saturday’s mayhem and violence, the truth must not be distorted. What unfolded on Saturday cannot and must not be put down to exuberance. That is a complete insult to Rangers, our supporters, and those individuals who were intimidated and attacked.

It was clear to most of those who watched in horror that the Scottish FA’s security procedures failed when Hibernian’s fans went over the top in their thousands. It is to be hoped that all of Scottish football will share Rangers’ disgust and any attempts to attach blame to our supporters for the disgraceful and violent behaviour, which led to our players and fans fearing for their safety, will not be accepted or tolerated by this Club.

We acknowledge that a tiny minority of Rangers fans also encroached on the pitch but only after having been faced with prolonged and severe provocation and in order to protect our players and officials who were being visibly attacked in front of them. Any club’s supporters would have done the same. This distressing and deeply disturbing episode would never have happened had Hibs fans behaved properly but as they swarmed across the pitch it became immediately obvious that the security procedures were inadequate and had failed.

These fans were allowed to rush, unchecked, towards Rangers supporters at the opposite end of the stadium – all the while goading and threatening them. This makes it preposterous to suggest Rangers fans were somehow to blame as some commentators appear anxious to do. This thuggish behaviour must be investigated and as many culprits as possible brought to book and formally charged. This is the second time in a year that Rangers fans have had to endure attacks by another club’s supporters.

It must also be said that it was not at all helpful to see leading members of the Scottish Government, including the First Minister whose parish is Govan, passing comment on social media without any attempt to condemn the behaviour of Hibernian’s fans. These failures are unbecoming of our elected representatives.

Certain media outlets have also attempted to distort reality. In the case of the BBC this is, of course, not news. BBC employees, in particular Stuart Cosgrove, believe Rod Petrie’s comments to be ‘balanced’ and others speak of a ‘minority’ of Hibernian supporters. Another, Tom English, who was not even at the match, would prefer the authorities to focus on Rangers fans’ reaction. We will not endure this insult.

So, let everyone be clear on one thing – Rangers demands that players, staff and fans be protected from the violence and hatred of supporters of other clubs. Rangers fully expects the Scottish FA and Police Scotland to take action to provide our people with a safe environment. When players are unable to accept medals at the end of a final because of fears for their safety and our supporters are alarmed and extremely concerned for the women and children among them, then surely every step must be taken to ensure that this is never repeated.

http://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/club-statement-60/

Rangers fully expects the Scottish FA and Police Scotland to take action to provide our people with a safe environment.

Why does this sound like a threat to me?

prolonged

s/b "the people", surely?

prolonged

Started in the third minute when Anthony Stokes provoked them by scoring against them, amirite?

https://twitter.com/TheGaffro/status/734161726057250816?lang=en-gb

the First Minister whose parish is Govan

"parish", ffs. What are they like? I'm sure any PR department forgetting the word "constituency" and instead chucking in a term associated with religion is just an unfortunate oversight.

I've seen someone on Twitter advise Tom English that naming him is probably actionable.

There were some huns at the pub quiz tonight discussing how Ra Peepul would never behave like those thuggish Hibs fans. I was a bit *cough* Manchester *cough* 1972 *cough* (somewhat out of earshot, to a sympathetic ear) before I decided I didn't want to test their stated ability to remain calm under such extreme provocation.

Let's be clear, I'm not condoning any dickwaddery or violence from Hibs fans. But the ironing emanating from Ibrox is too good to not do a bit of pointing and laughing.

Fair play to Kenny Miller's wife for going on Twitter and saying any reports of her husband being assaulted were bollocks. She took a bit of stick for it.

Also, I'm kind of confused as to which direction the Hibs fans were meant to go once they got on the pitch. Just head back again? Of course there'll be a bit of migration across the pitch. I wouldn't take that as heading right towards the away fans so much as just the general logistics of clearing the way for those following you on.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-record-fc-shameful-hampden-8022425

Still, Celtic fans are the paranoid ones, eh?

Our paranoia was never this hilarious.

Joey Barton has seemingly agreed terms to sign up at Ibrox. A match made in heaven, I'm sure we'll all agree.

http://20.theladbiblegroup.com/s3/content/16725fd1573859cb074532e8d24a60e3.png

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryvljjccqL8

Rangers' recruitment session, earlier today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryvljjccqL8

Was trying to find that tweet about Barton supporting Celtic (not too hard, right enough). Pretty sure he also weighed in on the side of them being dead at one point as well.

Season's barely over and the Gers are bringin' in the lolz, one way or another.

https://mobile.twitter.com/Joey7Barton/status/478753917816569856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Lets try this again. On the plus side the little man has a another kit to add to his growing collection #hailhail

Hahaha. Did he not pull a Schteve, how you say, McLaren type accent thing when he was playing in France? I hope he turns into Rab McGlinchey within a fortnight.

this shake up of the league cup is daft no?

the plampfion's league

God yeah, following the draw on Twitter was hilarious. Even the SPFL gave up half way through.

Stubbs out

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36426717

Lennon in

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36477421

Need a new thread to post FUCK SAKE NOT AGAIN in.

Efe Ambrose better not be on dis ting: Scottish football 2016/17

Rodgers out: SPFL 15/16

Err 16/17.

There is no defeat in a competitive European game to compare to this in the history of Scottish teams in Europe eh?

lol

shall we reflect upon that slovak graphic design firm

at least they were champions of a nation with an almost identical population to Scotland :/

Celtic supporters haven't been so upset about something that happened in Gibraltar since Operation Flavius.

I was maintaining earlier on Facebook that the Artmedia result was worse, and I'll stand by that - that was a proper fucking gubbing. This was getting-beat-off-Morton-in-the-cup bad. I may revise this statement after the home leg.

Also, this has the potential to ruin my Joey-Barton-mocking thread title ideas. Get your ideas in and we'll get a new thread up so I can consign this one to the dustbin.

Aye, Artmedia we were just completely destroyed, and it ended up being a deficit too great to overcome, so, aye, pending the return leg this isn't as bad.

I was a wee bit of a Rodgers naysayer when I heard he'd been appointed, but I kept my cynicism in check because I didn't want to mar anyone's positivity - because god knows we need some - but god damn it the team selection, formation, and substitutions tonight were garbage.

The fact that Nir Bitton appeared to have turned into some sort of Stefan Johansen didn't help. So utterly inept. I'm kind of hoping Rodgers gets to say "right, that's how pish we are, can I have some money now please", but I'm not sure he'll do wise things with it.

Oh, and some Hibs fans have helpfully pointed out to me on Facebook that they got scudded 7-0 off Malmo, which is probably worse than letting one stupid goal in against a bunch of part-timers. I'll let you decide if it's still worse than failing to score against said part-timers in the great pantheon of terrible recent Scottish adventures in Europe.

This is like when Billy the Fish and Fulchester United lost to Sudbury Lane Paperboys. Rodgers needs an Arbroath v. Bon Accord scoreline in the second leg.

YAAAAAASSSS!

(kinda)

was actually shiting it about this game, ha.

3-0 is still too precarious for this shitebag though, need 5-0 to be confident.

We actually look not-shit on a decent pitch with a big crowd against what is ostensibly a pub team. Yay.

(also no Nir Bitton is a huge improvement)

xpost lol the guys on Celtic TV were on about the disaster that an away goal for Imps would be

Roberts good to watch vs ostensible pub team. Forrest looking like he couldn't get in a pub team.

Off to Kazakhfuckinstan again if we win this.

Lolz galore as I just called my dad who's not been watching/listening/following

"What's the score?"
"3-0"
"For God's sake. Has Rodgers gone yet?"
"No, Dad, 3-0 to us"

http://i.imgur.com/AkxKHJj.jpg

IZZY! FUCK!

Doubling up the left backs - Brendan knows what it takes to manage Celtic.

we're shite again btw

Though Izzy was away anyway?

apparently not

all those tears for nothing ;_;

this second half is fucking shocking

Briefest bright new dawn ever