I knew there would be a huge response from the Scottish football community (and others - doctors, nurses on the front line, women groups, Nil by Mouth) when the Scottish Premiership's head man, Neil Doncaster, came out with the 'football argument' that Rangers return was good for the Premiership, and I wasn't disappointed. Listening to one bbc 'phone in' this morning and Neil Doncaster and Rangers were absolutely slaughtered by people from all walks of Scottish life and not just from football! Of course, the usual 'emotive words' were thrown in by certain Rangers suspects: in fact their script is no different from previous comments made on this board that suits their narrow argument in trying hard to deflect that criticism - words like jealousy, hatred; statements like 'they never ever liked us anyway', 'lotsa people have a problem with Rangers', 'there's other sectarianism within Scottish footie' (small by Rangers standards but does not make it right to practise it!!) etc etc etc. These are all highly defensive words and statements dreamt up to try and dispel a lotta criticism that has been flung in this football's club's direction for years and a lot of that criticism does not centre on the subject of football at all. There are serious social issues which are impacting on many women in this country and the violence is well documented - it's significant and not a myth. The poisonous sectarianism behaviour will be enhanced 'big time' in the top league and it's time for the relevant authorities to deal with it as the 'hate crime' that it actually is! But will they deal with it in a sport that is trying to encourage families back to the game and effectively change the culture and move away from this 'dinosaur culture' that has haunted Scottish football, and particularly OF matches for 'donkeys' years'!
Throw in the unsatisfactory behavioural issues like violence and intimidation that definitely exist within the very foundations of this football club and there is a case to answer. I'd like to see the Scottish govt formally document the future impact of Rangers return to the top flight by listing the subsequent detrimental effects: crimes, casualties, the victims/fatalities and the incidents that will inevitably arise from Rangers involvement in the top flight of Scottish football and the serious, fanatical way that many of their fans (not just a few of them!) portray themselves in a way that a significant proportion of them will resort to underhand behaviour to further a 'warped cause' for a game of football, 11 guys kicking a ball about on a football pitch!! After all, it's just a sport like ice hockey, basketball, netball, rugby - it's not a war!!
Throw in the unsatisfactory behavioural issues like violence and intimidation that definitely exist within the very foundations of this football club and there is a case to answer. I'd like to see the Scottish govt formally document the future impact of Rangers return to the top flight by listing the subsequent detrimental effects: crimes, casualties, the victims/fatalities and the incidents that will inevitably arise from Rangers involvement in the top flight of Scottish football and the serious, fanatical way that many of their fans (not just a few of them!) portray themselves in a way that a significant proportion of them will resort to underhand behaviour to further a 'warped cause' for a game of football, 11 guys kicking a ball about on a football pitch!! After all, it's just a sport like ice hockey, basketball, netball, rugby - it's not a war!!
My excuse is I've been reading too much Rangers 'spin'! 