Scottish football

[David Johnson]

Hi

I seem to recall in the 80's when English football had a hooligan problem in the grounds, we got many comparisons made by the press with how wonderful Scottish football supporters were. This usually consisted of shots of happy Scottish supporters in kilts getting pissed whilst supporting the national side.

Then we had Rangers fans rioting in Manchester in 2008 at the time of the EUFA cup final, apparently because the big screen showing the game broke down. More recently the sectarianism in Scottish football has come to the fore to the extent that we have had death threats for referees, bullets in the post, parcel bombs and last night an attack on Celtic manager, Neil Lennon during a game.

And this seems to apply not just to Celtic and Rangers, referees who went on strike have complained on stuff like dead rats being sent to them by Aberdeen supporters. Others have had razor blades taped inside letters.

So my question is has this concept of "wonderful Scottish fans" always been a load of bollocks or have things gone seriously downhill in the last 4 or 5 years? If the answer is the latter, why has this happened?

Cheers
D

[Lizard]

I don't think football hooligans have ever really gone away, just contained. Good point though about the Scottish fans, " Just here for a good time" and all that.

[jimbo_125]

The Secratarian issue has always been around but has been ignored by those in charge until UEFA forced them to take action.

Lennon brings a lot of abuse on himself with his confrontational manner and there is nothing to suggest last night's attack was secretarian.
However there is no excuse for nail bombs or death threats.

The ref who claimed he had been sent dead rats and razor blades by Aberdeen fans was unable to prove it, and when asked for proof he backed down admitting he didn't know where they came from.

Every country in the world has a problem with fans. At least in Scotland and England we are trying to fix this issue.

[max_tranmere]

I wonderi f the sectarian problems in Scotland will ever end. It all goes back to the large influx of Irish immigrants in the 1800's and the frosty reception they got. They viewed themselves as seperate from the locals because they were excluded from everything on account of them being Irish Catholics. Why this problem lingers now I do not know. There is a song the Rangers fans sing at the Celtic fans "your famine is over why dont you go home", and there is a song the Celtic fans sing at the Rangers fans "you can shove your orange sash up your arse". I think those of Irish catholic heritage there should try and integrate more - Scotland is, after all, the country they are chosing to live in. Their forebares may have moved there for economic reasons but the current generation is there by choice. The Protestant lot should be more accomodating of the descandants of those who arrived from Ireland too.

[David Johnson]

"I don't think football hooligans have ever really gone away, just contained. "

Agreed, as I suspect anyone would who has been unfortunate enough to find themselves on a trainful of footie fans. Last time I went to a footie game I couldnt believe the hatred, bile, racial taunts etc etc coming out of the crowd. It was like every Saturday they got the incredible frustration/despair/anger out of them that had been building up all week.

A lot of the aggro is outside the grounds these days.

Anyway at least we don't hear how wonderful Scotland fans are these days.

Cheers
D

[belfast_birty]

The medja seem to be exercising themselves on the Rangers/Celtic matter.Who cares? It's just football.If you want a steer on how football is run,just look at FIFA. ''The beautiful game?''.I don't think so.More like a joke.

[David Johnson]

"The medja seem to be exercising themselves on the Rangers/Celtic matter.Who cares? It's just football."

Thats the point. It isn't just football. It's bullets in the post, parcel bombs which are viable and could have hurt anyone in the delivery chain etc etc

Cheers
D