Answer to complaints to BBC , a small admission from them of wrongdoing

The Goal Machine

Well-Known Member
Thanks for contacting us following Sportsound on 5 August. We've received a range of complaints about our coverage of incidents involving Rangers supporters at Rangers’ game with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

To allow us to reply promptly, and to ensure we use our TV Licence fee resources as efficiently as possible, we’re sending this response to everyone. We’re sorry we can’t reply individually and to every point that’s been made, but we hope the following response will address most concerns.

The opening weekend of the new Scottish football season was, again, dominated by off-field events – this just a few days after Scottish football clubs and Police Scotland had promised a crackdown on incidents of unacceptable conduct at grounds.

The incidents involving Rangers supporters that were discussed on the programme included sectarian singing, the pitch invasion following the winning goal, the damage caused to the disabled fan enclosure, and difficulties encountered in gaining entry to Rugby Park prior to kick-off, including reports of crushing and fans opening a gate to gain entry. Mention of these issues provided context to the overall coverage of the game; their relevance reflected by the coverage of these events across the Scottish media.

On Michael Stewart’s comments on Sportsound, regarding incidents prior to the Kilmarnock v Rangers game, BBC Sport Scotland senior staff have discussed this matter with Michael and he has indicated that his comments were made in reference to a video posted on various sites; for example:

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4567789/rangers-fans-rugby-park-gate/

(Please note that the BBC is not responsible for the content found on any external sites.)

While this was referenced within the programme, we accept that it should have been made much more explicit that his comments about crushing were made in relation to what that video appears to show.

Following a listener’s email, presenter Jonathan Sutherland did return to the issue of crushing towards the end of the programme, to seek to clarify Michael’s comments. However, we acknowledge the first-hand accounts of crushing outside Rugby Park and, consequently, that the view that crushing can only take place in a confined space, as Michael contended, is a view that should have been challenged on the programme.

More broadly, it’s worth noting that BBC Scotland sports news correspondent, Chris McLaughlin, in addition to introducing the response from Kilmarnock, also gave Rangers’ statement on the stadium entry problems, the pitch invasion and the disabled fans enclosure damage, including Rangers’ concerns of safety issues around congestion and fans fearing they were in danger of being crushed.

Chris also talked about the report on stadium safety in Scottish football and the steps that some clubs have taken to try to tackle unacceptable conduct at grounds. And Michael Stewart and Tom English, together with Jonathan Sutherland and Chris McLaughlin, discussed the issues of unacceptable behaviour at football grounds across Scotland and what’s being done, or should be done, by all the clubs and the authorities to address these issues.

We have also looked at the Tom English tweet regarding supporters being “trapped outside Rugby Park”. BBC Sport Scotland senior staff have discussed this with Tom, and we acknowledge your concern at the tone and language of this tweet and that it wasn’t appropriate.

It’s important to note too that Tom does make clear in the Twitter exchanges that followed that he was making reference to what the video (linked to above) appears to show. In those exchanges Tom explicitly notes that at no time did he say there was not a crush. What he says is: “That video does not represent a crush. Nothing like it. I’ve asked if the crush happened elsewhere. I’d like to know.”

Rangers continue to operate an exceptional ban on one of our journalists, which severely restricts our ability to report freely from Ibrox. We have offered to return to Ibrox to provide match commentaries, while we try to find a permanent resolution to the overall dispute, but Rangers have said this is unacceptable. We continue to speak with the club as, together, we seek to find a mutually agreeable solution to the current impasse.

We would also like to assure you that, contrary to what’s been suggested, the BBC is not biased for or against Rangers FC. Our reporting is undertaken fully in line with the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and with the Broadcasting Code which is laid down by the independent industry regulator, Ofcom.

Thanks again for getting in touch. We’ve shared your feedback with the relevant teams and senior management.
....................................................................................................................

They have obviously had a lot of complaints and it looks like they have acted on some of them. I would suggest to them that the sooner they start reporting on Rangers as they should do as a national broadcaster the sooner accusations of bias can be removed.

Keep the pressure up.
 
Chris, Tom, Michael and Jonathan. All Rangers haters found innocent by the BBC. Of course they may have discussed the event of crushing later on but the agenda was already set by the statements and tweets they started with, so %^*& them.
 
Makes no bit of difference. The rats at BBC snp will not change their agenda. Best we can do as Rangers fc and Rangers support is a total boycott, dont watch and dont comment . Do that and when we get 55 they've nowhere to go .
 
"We would like to assure you the BBC is not biased against Rangers..."

Fvck off ya zoomer !

Exactly.

The response they have given to the manner in which they are their staff reported on that one match at Rugby Park is actually quite reasonable, except where it perpetuates the myth that Skeletor is banned. He isn’t. He’s had his press privileges rightly revoked after some disgraceful attacks on our club. He can still pay to get in like anyone else. He’s not banned.

However, the entire response fails to cover why Celtic fan’s weekly IRAoke and similar behaviour at both Rugby Park and Pittodrie wasn’t given equal prominence by them, or why sheep fans mocking the 1971 Ibrox Disaster isn’t given equal prominence.

I could go on and on about instances where negative Rangers stories are reported upon prominently and other teams indiscretions are ignored.

BBC Scotland sports department is wholly biased. Until they accept that we all know that and do something about it, nothing will change and more and more Rangers fans will cancel their licences
 
There is no reference in these replies to the significantly different treatment of the Rangers fans at Kilmarnock & the scum fans at Motherwell.

Similar examples but 100% opposite treatment by them, especially Sutherland.
 
Why do the Bias Bastard Corporation not just stop reporting on Rangers altogether in support of their Biased journo who is mythically banned. Instead, they report, fantasy, slanderous, innaccurate crap on a regular basis about us, thinking it will score brownie points with all the braindeads out there. The club should come out now and say that McGlaughlin, along with every other amateur journo who works for them, is now barred indefinetly. It wouldn't bother me one iota if the scumbag organizations never uttered the Word Rangers again
 
Well done to the OP & others for trying to make the BBC admit their appalling bias and undisguised bigotry. The problem is that, even on the rare occasion they are forced to admit to overstepping the mark, their response is wholly inadequate.

Stewart and Irish have been “spoken to”? In what way? What was said? Have they been warned? What about a retraction &/or apology, given with the same prominence given to the original lies. Talking about lies, they continue to blatantly and shamelessly lie about Gollum. Given his previous record and the current “difficulties” any reasonable organisation would have discreetly removed him from any Rangers-related story to remove any accusations of overt or even subconscious bias. What do the BBC do? They arrogantly allocate this imbecile to cover as many Rangers related stories as possible in a two fingered salute to Rangers and the fans.

If any BBC employee had said anything similar to Stewart and English in relation to crushing incidents involving Liverpool fans, they would have been sacked immediately. Why are Rangers treated differently? But then again, I think we all know the answer to that.
 
No, it did not.

Reason I asked about five years ago when they were telling their blatant lies, it was like insurance companies, deny, deny, deny, from the Biased Broadcasting Company. I kept the teeth in the meat for almost fifteen months with the complaint, back and forth, and how can you get an outcome, when it most certainly came from one of them, place is infiltrated with them.
 
Rangers continue to operate an exceptional ban on one of our journalists, which severely restricts our ability to report freely from Ibrox.

they keep going with this lie, no BBC reporter was banned from Ibrox.

They're using the withdrawal of the journalist's press pass as an excuse and claiming it's a ban.

I've called and cancelled my TV licence and made it quite clear it's a direct result of their bias and lies. I pointed out that I would no longer be watching ANY live broadcasts on ANY channels. They wrote back telling me they wouldn't be in touch again for a period of at least two years. I recommend other bears do likewise. Money talks.
 
If they have indeed pulled up stewart and english on these matters its a small victory, these guys are nothing without their shite pundit jobs so they will have to tread alot carefully now so well done bears.

The moment these pr1cks step out of line again we come down on them swift and hard.
 
Thanks for contacting us following Sportsound on 5 August. We've received a range of complaints about our coverage of incidents involving Rangers supporters at Rangers’ game with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

To allow us to reply promptly, and to ensure we use our TV Licence fee resources as efficiently as possible, we’re sending this response to everyone. We’re sorry we can’t reply individually and to every point that’s been made, but we hope the following response will address most concerns.

The opening weekend of the new Scottish football season was, again, dominated by off-field events – this just a few days after Scottish football clubs and Police Scotland had promised a crackdown on incidents of unacceptable conduct at grounds.

The incidents involving Rangers supporters that were discussed on the programme included sectarian singing, the pitch invasion following the winning goal, the damage caused to the disabled fan enclosure, and difficulties encountered in gaining entry to Rugby Park prior to kick-off, including reports of crushing and fans opening a gate to gain entry. Mention of these issues provided context to the overall coverage of the game; their relevance reflected by the coverage of these events across the Scottish media.

On Michael Stewart’s comments on Sportsound, regarding incidents prior to the Kilmarnock v Rangers game, BBC Sport Scotland senior staff have discussed this matter with Michael and he has indicated that his comments were made in reference to a video posted on various sites; for example:

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4567789/rangers-fans-rugby-park-gate/

(Please note that the BBC is not responsible for the content found on any external sites.)

While this was referenced within the programme, we accept that it should have been made much more explicit that his comments about crushing were made in relation to what that video appears to show.

Following a listener’s email, presenter Jonathan Sutherland did return to the issue of crushing towards the end of the programme, to seek to clarify Michael’s comments. However, we acknowledge the first-hand accounts of crushing outside Rugby Park and, consequently, that the view that crushing can only take place in a confined space, as Michael contended, is a view that should have been challenged on the programme.

More broadly, it’s worth noting that BBC Scotland sports news correspondent, Chris McLaughlin, in addition to introducing the response from Kilmarnock, also gave Rangers’ statement on the stadium entry problems, the pitch invasion and the disabled fans enclosure damage, including Rangers’ concerns of safety issues around congestion and fans fearing they were in danger of being crushed.

Chris also talked about the report on stadium safety in Scottish football and the steps that some clubs have taken to try to tackle unacceptable conduct at grounds. And Michael Stewart and Tom English, together with Jonathan Sutherland and Chris McLaughlin, discussed the issues of unacceptable behaviour at football grounds across Scotland and what’s being done, or should be done, by all the clubs and the authorities to address these issues.

We have also looked at the Tom English tweet regarding supporters being “trapped outside Rugby Park”. BBC Sport Scotland senior staff have discussed this with Tom, and we acknowledge your concern at the tone and language of this tweet and that it wasn’t appropriate.

It’s important to note too that Tom does make clear in the Twitter exchanges that followed that he was making reference to what the video (linked to above) appears to show. In those exchanges Tom explicitly notes that at no time did he say there was not a crush. What he says is: “That video does not represent a crush. Nothing like it. I’ve asked if the crush happened elsewhere. I’d like to know.”

Rangers continue to operate an exceptional ban on one of our journalists, which severely restricts our ability to report freely from Ibrox. We have offered to return to Ibrox to provide match commentaries, while we try to find a permanent resolution to the overall dispute, but Rangers have said this is unacceptable. We continue to speak with the club as, together, we seek to find a mutually agreeable solution to the current impasse.

We would also like to assure you that, contrary to what’s been suggested, the BBC is not biased for or against Rangers FC. Our reporting is undertaken fully in line with the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and with the Broadcasting Code which is laid down by the independent industry regulator, Ofcom.

Thanks again for getting in touch. .
....................................................................................................................

They have obviously had a lot of complaints and it looks like they have acted on some of them. I would suggest to them that the sooner they start reporting on Rangers as they should do as a national broadcaster the sooner accusations of bias can be removed.

Keep the pressure up.
Let's take the positive from their reply. Both bigots, Stewart and English have been spoken to and asked to account for their comments by their employer. An admission of guilt to a degree has been SECURED "we accept that it should have been made much more explicit" and "we acknowledge your concern at the tone and language of this tweet and that it wasn’t appropriate".
This is the first time the BBC have given an inch and we need to challenge every bias comment their presenters make on a daily and weekly basis.
 
Thanks for contacting us following Sportsound on 5 August. We've received a range of complaints about our coverage of incidents involving Rangers supporters at Rangers’ game with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

To allow us to reply promptly, and to ensure we use our TV Licence fee resources as efficiently as possible, we’re sending this response to everyone. We’re sorry we can’t reply individually and to every point that’s been made, but we hope the following response will address most concerns.

The opening weekend of the new Scottish football season was, again, dominated by off-field events – this just a few days after Scottish football clubs and Police Scotland had promised a crackdown on incidents of unacceptable conduct at grounds.

The incidents involving Rangers supporters that were discussed on the programme included sectarian singing, the pitch invasion following the winning goal, the damage caused to the disabled fan enclosure, and difficulties encountered in gaining entry to Rugby Park prior to kick-off, including reports of crushing and fans opening a gate to gain entry. Mention of these issues provided context to the overall coverage of the game; their relevance reflected by the coverage of these events across the Scottish media.

On Michael Stewart’s comments on Sportsound, regarding incidents prior to the Kilmarnock v Rangers game, BBC Sport Scotland senior staff have discussed this matter with Michael and he has indicated that his comments were made in reference to a video posted on various sites; for example:

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4567789/rangers-fans-rugby-park-gate/

(Please note that the BBC is not responsible for the content found on any external sites.)

While this was referenced within the programme, we accept that it should have been made much more explicit that his comments about crushing were made in relation to what that video appears to show.

Following a listener’s email, presenter Jonathan Sutherland did return to the issue of crushing towards the end of the programme, to seek to clarify Michael’s comments. However, we acknowledge the first-hand accounts of crushing outside Rugby Park and, consequently, that the view that crushing can only take place in a confined space, as Michael contended, is a view that should have been challenged on the programme.

More broadly, it’s worth noting that BBC Scotland sports news correspondent, Chris McLaughlin, in addition to introducing the response from Kilmarnock, also gave Rangers’ statement on the stadium entry problems, the pitch invasion and the disabled fans enclosure damage, including Rangers’ concerns of safety issues around congestion and fans fearing they were in danger of being crushed.

Chris also talked about the report on stadium safety in Scottish football and the steps that some clubs have taken to try to tackle unacceptable conduct at grounds. And Michael Stewart and Tom English, together with Jonathan Sutherland and Chris McLaughlin, discussed the issues of unacceptable behaviour at football grounds across Scotland and what’s being done, or should be done, by all the clubs and the authorities to address these issues.

We have also looked at the Tom English tweet regarding supporters being “trapped outside Rugby Park”. BBC Sport Scotland senior staff have discussed this with Tom, and we acknowledge your concern at the tone and language of this tweet and that it wasn’t appropriate.

It’s important to note too that Tom does make clear in the Twitter exchanges that followed that he was making reference to what the video (linked to above) appears to show. In those exchanges Tom explicitly notes that at no time did he say there was not a crush. What he says is: “That video does not represent a crush. Nothing like it. I’ve asked if the crush happened elsewhere. I’d like to know.”

Rangers continue to operate an exceptional ban on one of our journalists, which severely restricts our ability to report freely from Ibrox. We have offered to return to Ibrox to provide match commentaries, while we try to find a permanent resolution to the overall dispute, but Rangers have said this is unacceptable. We continue to speak with the club as, together, we seek to find a mutually agreeable solution to the current impasse.

We would also like to assure you that, contrary to what’s been suggested, the BBC is not biased for or against Rangers FC. Our reporting is undertaken fully in line with the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and with the Broadcasting Code which is laid down by the independent industry regulator, Ofcom.

Thanks again for getting in touch. We’ve shared your feedback with the relevant teams and senior management.
....................................................................................................................

They have obviously had a lot of complaints and it looks like they have acted on some of them. I would suggest to them that the sooner they start reporting on Rangers as they should do as a national broadcaster the sooner accusations of bias can be removed.

Keep the pressure up.
Good work
 
exceptional ban on one of our journalists

He can buy a ticket and get in. There is no ban.

He has had his 'press privileges' withdrawn.
 
Every other media organisation prints or films a retraction on the programme or newspaper they haven't a email is not enough it is progress mind you
 
Why do the Bias Bastard Corporation not just stop reporting on Rangers altogether in support of their Biased journo who is mythically banned. Instead, they report, fantasy, slanderous, innaccurate crap on a regular basis about us, thinking it will score brownie points with all the braindeads out there. The club should come out now and say that McGlaughlin, along with every other amateur journo who works for them, is now barred indefinetly. It wouldn't bother me one iota if the scumbag organizations never uttered the Word Rangers again
Why? Well because they are like children. Giggling, mischievous and separately schooled kids. All of whom were brought up to hate a Rangers team, a VERY successful Rangers team. The very same cohort of over privileged kids went into Glasgow Uni to study politics, media studies or English. Some joined the BBC some became snp politicians. They are a gang of men children and do their very best to see what they can get away with, the Diarmiuds and Brendan’s rule the output and the hire and fire of staff, all of whom must exhibit similar traits.

The swamp needs drained. Until it is we will forever be on the back foot with the bbc mafia.
 
Rangers continue to operate an exceptional ban on one of our journalists, which severely restricts our ability to report freely from Ibrox. We have offered to return to Ibrox to provide match commentaries, while we try to find a permanent resolution to the overall dispute, but Rangers have said this is unacceptable. We continue to speak with the club as, together, we seek to find a mutually agreeable solution to the current impasse.

While factually wrong, as McLaughlin only had his media privileges removed - and for valid reasons, how does that restrict the whole BBC`s ability to report from Ibrox or Auchenhowie? Not least when said journalist is - AFAIK - no longer the relevant football reporter?

Send that to Ofcom.
 
I would like to see where it says in their editorial code where it says it's BBC policy to smear in public and apologise in private.
English has form for defamation. Maybe if he had to pay the damages himself, instead of apparently leaving it to his publisher, then he wouldn't be so inclined to run off at the mouth.
I have had several admissions of error from the BBC over the years. It is usually in a case where they have been caught bang to rights with no way of slithering out in some other way.
They obviously feel this is the case here, and have toned done their usual dismissive arrogance, so well done to those chasing them up.
It is very illuminating to find BBC senior sports reporter English and the moron Stewart using a Sun acquired video as justification for their comments on events they did not witness.
Whatever happened double checking, verification and multiple scrutiny of everything we hear so much about when complaints are made?
Perhaps as is usually the case, they are abandoned on the altar of chasing a bad news Rangers story.
 
They are blaming it on the video, taking no responsibility. And McLaughlin isn't banned from Ibrox. A pathetic response.
 
So journalism today is to only check out part of a story but still make a negative sweeping statement. And both did it.
Very good.
Also I have said it before that hibs have legitimised pitch invasions so no wrong there.
 
Thanks for contacting us following Sportsound on 5 August. We've received a range of complaints about our coverage of incidents involving Rangers supporters at Rangers’ game with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

To allow us to reply promptly, and to ensure we use our TV Licence fee resources as efficiently as possible, we’re sending this response to everyone. We’re sorry we can’t reply individually and to every point that’s been made, but we hope the following response will address most concerns.

The opening weekend of the new Scottish football season was, again, dominated by off-field events – this just a few days after Scottish football clubs and Police Scotland had promised a crackdown on incidents of unacceptable conduct at grounds.

The incidents involving Rangers supporters that were discussed on the programme included sectarian singing, the pitch invasion following the winning goal, the damage caused to the disabled fan enclosure, and difficulties encountered in gaining entry to Rugby Park prior to kick-off, including reports of crushing and fans opening a gate to gain entry. Mention of these issues provided context to the overall coverage of the game; their relevance reflected by the coverage of these events across the Scottish media.

On Michael Stewart’s comments on Sportsound, regarding incidents prior to the Kilmarnock v Rangers game, BBC Sport Scotland senior staff have discussed this matter with Michael and he has indicated that his comments were made in reference to a video posted on various sites; for example:

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4567789/rangers-fans-rugby-park-gate/

(Please note that the BBC is not responsible for the content found on any external sites.)

While this was referenced within the programme, we accept that it should have been made much more explicit that his comments about crushing were made in relation to what that video appears to show.

Following a listener’s email, presenter Jonathan Sutherland did return to the issue of crushing towards the end of the programme, to seek to clarify Michael’s comments. However, we acknowledge the first-hand accounts of crushing outside Rugby Park and, consequently, that the view that crushing can only take place in a confined space, as Michael contended, is a view that should have been challenged on the programme.

More broadly, it’s worth noting that BBC Scotland sports news correspondent, Chris McLaughlin, in addition to introducing the response from Kilmarnock, also gave Rangers’ statement on the stadium entry problems, the pitch invasion and the disabled fans enclosure damage, including Rangers’ concerns of safety issues around congestion and fans fearing they were in danger of being crushed.

Chris also talked about the report on stadium safety in Scottish football and the steps that some clubs have taken to try to tackle unacceptable conduct at grounds. And Michael Stewart and Tom English, together with Jonathan Sutherland and Chris McLaughlin, discussed the issues of unacceptable behaviour at football grounds across Scotland and what’s being done, or should be done, by all the clubs and the authorities to address these issues.

We have also looked at the Tom English tweet regarding supporters being “trapped outside Rugby Park”. BBC Sport Scotland senior staff have discussed this with Tom, and we acknowledge your concern at the tone and language of this tweet and that it wasn’t appropriate.

It’s important to note too that Tom does make clear in the Twitter exchanges that followed that he was making reference to what the video (linked to above) appears to show. In those exchanges Tom explicitly notes that at no time did he say there was not a crush. What he says is: “That video does not represent a crush. Nothing like it. I’ve asked if the crush happened elsewhere. I’d like to know.”

Rangers continue to operate an exceptional ban on one of our journalists, which severely restricts our ability to report freely from Ibrox. We have offered to return to Ibrox to provide match commentaries, while we try to find a permanent resolution to the overall dispute, but Rangers have said this is unacceptable. We continue to speak with the club as, together, we seek to find a mutually agreeable solution to the current impasse.

We would also like to assure you that, contrary to what’s been suggested, the BBC is not biased for or against Rangers FC. Our reporting is undertaken fully in line with the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and with the Broadcasting Code which is laid down by the independent industry regulator, Ofcom.

Thanks again for getting in touch. We’ve shared your feedback with the relevant teams and senior management.
....................................................................................................................

They have obviously had a lot of complaints and it looks like they have acted on some of them. I would suggest to them that the sooner they start reporting on Rangers as they should do as a national broadcaster the sooner accusations of bias can be removed.

Keep the pressure up.
Well done all who complained as, for once, the management have felt enough heat to need to talk to the four plonkers inxolved.
This is an indication that the pressure is starting to have some effect.

The BBC continues to lie about the McLaughlin position!!
 
I spoke to Kilmarnock employee yesterday in school playground yesterday, apart from saying all is not well at their club, he said they upgraded the ticket scanners though the upgraded scanners were still ancient Nokia type retro phones which were not working as expected.
 
No it doesn't. Send someone else!
Exactly this, so let's say we didn't ban him and he happens to be off his work due to illness,bless him. Does that mean that everything grinds to a halt and we get the situation we have at the moment.
 
Rangers continue to operate an exceptional ban on one of our journalists, which severely restricts our ability to report freely from Ibrox.

they keep going with this lie, no BBC reporter was banned from Ibrox.
Chris McLaughlin is not biased then ? o_O ..Hundreds of thousands of Ranger’s supporters are imagining things , Oh! and they always hear the sectarian singing from Ranger’s Fans but are pretty well next to deaf when the ira shit is getting belted out from the greatest fan nies in the World .
 
Thanks for contacting us following Sportsound on 5 August. We've received a range of complaints about our coverage of incidents involving Rangers supporters at Rangers’ game with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

To allow us to reply promptly, and to ensure we use our TV Licence fee resources as efficiently as possible, we’re sending this response to everyone. We’re sorry we can’t reply individually and to every point that’s been made, but we hope the following response will address most concerns.

The opening weekend of the new Scottish football season was, again, dominated by off-field events – this just a few days after Scottish football clubs and Police Scotland had promised a crackdown on incidents of unacceptable conduct at grounds.

The incidents involving Rangers supporters that were discussed on the programme included sectarian singing, the pitch invasion following the winning goal, the damage caused to the disabled fan enclosure, and difficulties encountered in gaining entry to Rugby Park prior to kick-off, including reports of crushing and fans opening a gate to gain entry. Mention of these issues provided context to the overall coverage of the game; their relevance reflected by the coverage of these events across the Scottish media.

On Michael Stewart’s comments on Sportsound, regarding incidents prior to the Kilmarnock v Rangers game, BBC Sport Scotland senior staff have discussed this matter with Michael and he has indicated that his comments were made in reference to a video posted on various sites; for example:

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4567789/rangers-fans-rugby-park-gate/

(Please note that the BBC is not responsible for the content found on any external sites.)

While this was referenced within the programme, we accept that it should have been made much more explicit that his comments about crushing were made in relation to what that video appears to show.

Following a listener’s email, presenter Jonathan Sutherland did return to the issue of crushing towards the end of the programme, to seek to clarify Michael’s comments. However, we acknowledge the first-hand accounts of crushing outside Rugby Park and, consequently, that the view that crushing can only take place in a confined space, as Michael contended, is a view that should have been challenged on the programme.

More broadly, it’s worth noting that BBC Scotland sports news correspondent, Chris McLaughlin, in addition to introducing the response from Kilmarnock, also gave Rangers’ statement on the stadium entry problems, the pitch invasion and the disabled fans enclosure damage, including Rangers’ concerns of safety issues around congestion and fans fearing they were in danger of being crushed.

Chris also talked about the report on stadium safety in Scottish football and the steps that some clubs have taken to try to tackle unacceptable conduct at grounds. And Michael Stewart and Tom English, together with Jonathan Sutherland and Chris McLaughlin, discussed the issues of unacceptable behaviour at football grounds across Scotland and what’s being done, or should be done, by all the clubs and the authorities to address these issues.

We have also looked at the Tom English tweet regarding supporters being “trapped outside Rugby Park”. BBC Sport Scotland senior staff have discussed this with Tom, and we acknowledge your concern at the tone and language of this tweet and that it wasn’t appropriate.

It’s important to note too that Tom does make clear in the Twitter exchanges that followed that he was making reference to what the video (linked to above) appears to show. In those exchanges Tom explicitly notes that at no time did he say there was not a crush. What he says is: “That video does not represent a crush. Nothing like it. I’ve asked if the crush happened elsewhere. I’d like to know.”

Rangers continue to operate an exceptional ban on one of our journalists, which severely restricts our ability to report freely from Ibrox. We have offered to return to Ibrox to provide match commentaries, while we try to find a permanent resolution to the overall dispute, but Rangers have said this is unacceptable. We continue to speak with the club as, together, we seek to find a mutually agreeable solution to the current impasse.

We would also like to assure you that, contrary to what’s been suggested, the BBC is not biased for or against Rangers FC. Our reporting is undertaken fully in line with the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and with the Broadcasting Code which is laid down by the independent industry regulator, Ofcom.

Thanks again for getting in touch. We’ve shared your feedback with the relevant teams and senior management.
....................................................................................................................

They have obviously had a lot of complaints and it looks like they have acted on some of them. I would suggest to them that the sooner they start reporting on Rangers as they should do as a national broadcaster the sooner accusations of bias can be removed.

Keep the pressure up.
it looks a bit better than the usual reply,i still keep sending them,but one thing mate,email them back with the number of your complaint and details ,and tell them chris gollum is NOT BANNED from Ibrox his press priveleges are denied,he can come in if he pays? they are still spouting this lie that its not their fault! but well done maybe they are starting to feel pressure from somewhere!
 
Some piece of investigative journalism there. A video on twitter is enough to make a comment.
:mad::mad::mad:
 
BTW, Scrote ...

... when you look up Chris McLaughlin`s twitterings, you`ll find all sorts of re-tweets of Celtic signings and going-ons. Hardly anything Rangers (or anything else Scottish footballerish), unless it is controversial ... e.g. " BBC News - Football fans' safety 'still at risk' inside stadiums " (with Bluenoses in the background?), collapsed roof at Kilmarnock, or Rangers could face a million pound pay out to Ashley et al ... yes, he sure still is an unbiased specimen of BBC Scotland and its football branch.

Some gall to dig in behind him and play the victim card ... ooops.

For reference: https://twitter.com/bbcchrismclaug
 
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