Whatever the whataboutery and regardless of the rights and wrongs of Celtic and Rangers keeping their own counsel for so long, there is one unavoidable truth about the grim scenes that followed last Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox — throngs of punters should not be on the pitch at time-up. Under any circumstances.
They shouldn’t be jumping around one of the goalmouths. They shouldn’t be approaching other supporters for a square go. They shouldn’t be attacking coaches or players or stewards or anyone else. There’s no excuse for any of it. Not euphoria. Not a feeling they had been provoked. Not the clear unhappiness from both sides about policing of the fixture.
What happened last weekend crossed a line and the ultra types who were at the centre of it on both sides need to understand that the landscape has now changed dramatically — and that they had better be ready to adapt and negotiate over their continued presence at Parkhead and Ibrox or be disbanded.
Celtic’s interim chairman Brian Wilson is on shaky ground in appearing to defend his own fans for flooding the park in the wake of Tomas Cvancara’s decisive penalty in the shoot-out. That’s before we even get to the vandalism of the Broomloan Stand.
Contrary to his opinion, such actions are uncommon in the context of Old Firm derbies. Anyone with any knowledge of the fixture knows such behaviour is highly likely to spark trouble.
However, it should be said that Celtic have been attempting to address issues with problematic elements of their following. The Green Brigade have been excluded from Parkhead since early November. Attempts to have them back in for yesterday’s visit of Motherwell fell on stony ground.
Police had to tackle unrest on the Ibrox pitch from both sets of supporters at full-time
For any breakthrough to crystallise, there has to be an element of meeting in the middle and that clearly hasn’t happened. Run-of-the-mill fans have to abide by stadium rules and regulations when they go to the football and those same expectations must be demanded of ultra groups.
No matter how they regard themselves, they are not special cases. They are not different from the majority who choose scarves and shirts instead of designer clothes or balaclavas. They need to get into line, drop the sense of entitlement and understand the concept of compromise. Or be split up and locked out for good.
Across Glasgow, there will have to be some serious conversations between club management and their ultras section too.
Ultra culture in Scottish grounds is not a bad thing, per se. It has improved atmospheres. It brings added electricity. Young bucks are always going to be a bit lairy around the football and no one is suggesting that these groups should not be allowed to build their own subcultures, protest against the running of their clubs, stage walkouts, fly critical banners. That’s all part of the game.
Invading the field of play, though, is not. It can’t be allowed. As PFA Scotland stated earlier this week, it is a place of work for their members and should be sacrosanct.
The independent review ordered by the SFA should dig into the exact reasons why what went on went on. It should be conducted without fear or favour and everything points to Police Scotland having questions to answer.
Irrespective of that, though, those who went onto the field need to be held accountable for their actions. There must be repercussions, no matter any mitigating factors. It can’t be allowed to happen again.
