East Lothian journalist 'in tears' after racial abuse at Rangers game

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Agree with most you said. As for the historical reference it’s to illustrate we’re still living with the aftermath of hundreds of years of dubious moral decisions. And our club being thee British club means yes we get the unfair stereotypes that I’m highlighting mate. It’s not fair but it’s how it’s perceived.

On the anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill’s passing, start a Lounge thread on Britain’s colonial past and see how that goes…

My bugbear is the perception is based not on Defoe talking about the support, for example, but on the actions of a very small percentage. Why is the latter given more prominence and credence? Anyway…

The journalist should go to the Club to assist in identifying the culprits. It’s the only way there can be significant consequence.
 
Not a chance it happened without people around not sorting it out by telling them to shut up or go into a busy pub and get abused while others never said a word.

I read something similar a couple of years ago somewhere but can’t remember what in.

I just hope my memory is right and callingBS on it, if wrong WTF were the folk round the guy doing ?

I know guys he goes to games with from Euro Journeys or has in the past , I am sure you have mentioned the Supporters bus in the past also that the guys go on from Musselburgh.
 
Tell you what mate. Show us a post which has been racist. I'll save you the time, there are none.

What you are saying is that in a free society, people have no right to question the story. Put up or shut up in your world.

Well here's one, I think your a tim on here stirring it up. You may not be, but by your rules I reserve the right to accept that as the truth, just because I say so.
That guys reeking. Just a broad sweeping statement. Actually looks like he was that desperate to post he nevet checked to see if it was coherent or not.
 
I'd have a lie down....you're not doing well in the not appearing to be smug, elitist, and someone who knows nothing about what makes our support tick. I don't know you but I cannot say you have handled thread well....you appear (not in person as we cannot know) to WANT this to be true. The 13th page isn't needed....this was done on Page 1. Do we agree?
It should never even been a debate worth having. I personally dont care about someone thinking I appear elitist mate if they get theat from me saying that someone who is not a racist is morally superior to someone who is (Again, not saying you are a racist. I am generalising).

As far as knowing what makes our support tick, my mates and family that I go to games with arent racist. 99% of the fans arent racist and condemn it. So I would say by and large, anti-racism is what makes the support tick. At least the one I identify with.
 
Its really really sad and depressing. Seems as if a minority are committed to our club being the quintessential WASP (white Anglo Saxon Protestant club) that the media want to tar us with, rather than the multicultural one we are now. Wee angry bald men with red faces.

There is an element, and while it does happen at other clubs, that’s just whatabouttery on our part. If you see it call it, self-policing is the only way now. The club have screamed about it till the cows have came home.

The people who get targeted were up until a few decades ago more likely to be as much a British subject as you and I are. Hence all the colonies celebrated Empire Day a century ago, hundreds of millions of the Queens subjects.

First paragraph nails it, but thankfully these prehistoric types are a dying breed.
 
Your argument is all over the shop here. I'll say it again, since you ignored it the first time. People have literally been convinced regarding child sex offences at Celtic. You denying that to be true, doesn't change it.

What you're promoting is anarchy and mob rules.
Sorry mate but what you are saying is not correct. Workers of the boys club have been convicted and hopefully they rot. The official links to that club are what will be heard as part of the class action suit which will be in courts this year. Especially the fact they covered it up. They havent been found guilty of this but I choose to believe they are. So, in this instance I am not 'innocent until proven guilty'. It seems nor are you which is good but makes your initial stance seem daft.
 
If he'd privately taken it to the club, allowed the club to properly investigate, and then act accordingly depending on the outcome, I don't see anyone having an issue with that.

Playing it out in public, on nothing more than heresay, whilst pretending to be a Rangers fan, is why people are massively sceptical. Some have now reached the conclusion that our support as a collective are guilty, without any sort of due process having taken place.

In the eyes of some, job done.
Exactly.

why didnt he report it at the time to a steward or copper?

Why didnt he or his mate challenge the guy "racially abusing" him inside the stadium?

why didnt he get his phone out and video the guy and loudly states something along the lines of " this guy has just racially abused me and I'm putting you on social media as a racist"!
The bloke concerned if he was a racist wouldn't have been able to help himself and no doubt would have said something else racist if this all indeed did happen..

for me, there are too many holes in this story .
 
Just got to the thread and have no time reading 13 pages.

IMHO, the chap should have went to Rangers straight away (CCTV et al is in place, I assume) and not opened his heart to some paper. This will - in the current climate - just snowball and give credence to the bollox that is thought up by the enemies of our club every other week - with no proof whatsoever. With all the schemes currently run by the club, they will sure strife to get these morons, I would assume.

On a sidenote, the current climate is sure not one that leaves room for much banter. It`s almost just black & white and people crying for blood at nigh anything, usually fully taken out of context.
 
You've also missed the potatoes we allegedly threw at the piggery.
I was at the piggery for one of our games and there was easily hundreds, if not 4 figures of potatoes thrown on to the park as the teams came out, some of which ended up firing a handful or so into their fans in the main stand

It was hilarious but to suggest it didn’t happen is nonsense.

IIRC it was probably around McLeish’s time

Found something on it: https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football:+Police+warn+Ibrox+fans:+No+potatoes.-a0121366887
 
In 2022 Rangers are the Bogey Man, a Gollum, a creature of the night rattling its chains...

We are a lightning rod really....we show which way the wind blows too. Attack us and it helps, it eases your passage, and it opens up doors. You can sling mud and no-one will clean it up even if turns out to be chocolate cake.
 
This cant seriously be a question? Anyone who would be sad is beyond help.
yes but you’ve described your anti-racism as both a thing that makes you look good and something based on faith in the self-proclaimed victim (regardless of reasonable doubt which is not to be applied according to your ritual).

So does it not follow that the moment there is no more opportunity to demonstrate that faith, and look/feel good doing so, would be disappointing?
 
From the article in the DR:



So we weren't relatable to him until we had a more, mixed, diverse squad?

Can you imagine the outcry if someone claimed to relate to a team as they were white :rolleyes:

In my opinion (for what it's worth) is that he has become offended over nothing. I don't believe for a minute he was racially abused.

Never a Rangers fan in a million years.
CCTV in the pup which he was not sure of the name and if he has been in Ibrox the club will also know where and who is around him.

apart from that if it did happen those that did should be barred and he should have told a steward
 
If this happened at a Celtic game no one would have heard a word about it. Was Barry Ferguson receiving sectarian abuse from thousands of Celtic fans not even worth a mention from scotshit journalists and TV media. It out of order abusing someone because of his colour but this story is small stuff compared to events at alloa
 
Someone that condemns racism is morally superior to someone who does not. I am not saying that you dont condemn it btw, I am speaking generally.

Mate, what people are trying to say to you is when someone becomes fanatically "anti-racist" they can end up doing damage to people based on an assumption of racism rather than actual racism.

So, for example, hounding and bullying someone off social media because they said Black Panther was a rubbish movie would be taking "anti-racism" a bit too far.

When you say you are someone who "condemns racism" are you just talking about saying "oh that's really bad" on the internet? What does the day to day life of an active "anti-racist" look like? You do and say a lot of stuff in public or is it mostly just statements on social media?
 
This place is honestly a disgrace and a complete embarrassment.

Three guesses what colour of skin can of aw have that are asking what proof there is. You have no idea what life can still he like for people of colour and how unwelcoming the football environment can be.
Maybe we just listen to people of colour and learn about their experiences. Maybe that might just help.

Have a word with yourselves.

Nice to see so many sound folk on here calling this out for what it is.

This collective voice needs to be louder in our support.

Everyone anyone, let’s actually mean it and live it.
4 post in 4 years, Did you post to congratulate the team on winning 55.
 
This could be put to bed by a comment from TWRC, although he was unsure that it even happened in there. He explicitly says that every person in the bar that night stared at him for 10 minutes instead of watching the game.

Does anyone genuinely believe that happened?

A bar full of men watched a guy rub another guy on the leg basically saying he’s got a big dick because he’s black, then began being aggressive toward him, and everyone sat and watched, including the staff?

I can’t believe anybody actually thinks that happened.
 
A lot of unfamiliar usernames in this thread with a lot to say, probably all logged into their kds & the huddleboard forums:rolleyes: can't understand so called Bears falling over themselves hoping it's true:oops:
Racism & racist behaviour is disgusting, but reading what he's said, I feel he's taken offence where none was meant, if it happened at all.
Very strange that he never alerted anyone at the stadium. His friends never heard it in the pub, whilst sitting at the same table.
Instead of contacting the club or pub, he contacts the daily record instead.
There's a strong smell of shite about it.
 
If this happened at a Celtic game no one would have heard a word about it. Was Barry Ferguson receiving sectarian abuse from thousands of Celtic fans not even worth a mention from scotshit journalists and TV media. It out of order abusing someone because of his colour but this story is small stuff compared to events at alloa

It happened at Celtic park earlier in the season, and it was reported.
 
I'd have a lie down....you're not doing well in the not appearing to be smug, elitist, and someone who knows nothing about what makes our support tick. I don't know you but I cannot say you have handled thread well....you appear (not in person as we cannot know) to WANT this to be true. The 13th page isn't needed....this was done on Page 1. Do we agree?

Yet after posting this you've made a further 5 comments?
 
Whilst in poor taste to some, is it racist?
Its like Rupert Grint getting the same treatment and getting Ed Sheerin songs sang to him - he is white and ginger… this chap and Fash are black with black hair.

I dont want anyone leaving a game feeling like that of course but from reading the article it seems (particularly the comment in the stadium) that its a storm in a tea cup.
See these kinda videos with fans singing to stewards that look like Harry Maguire or the big guy from The Chase. Its rarely meant in a hurtful manner.
Granted I am not black so perhaps its lost on me but seems like he maybe a delicate soul easily upset - like most of society now.
Get him a profile on here and he could fill a bath with tears from the posts we all get hammered with!

If the events in the pub unfolded as told then it's definitely racist and kind of intimidating or threatening too. Certainly wouldn't feel too good to be singled out like that purely based on race. It sounds pretty bad.

The stuff in the stadium. I just don't know.

“Around 25 minutes into the game, I’m doing my usual and talking football with fans around me, having a good time. But then I see an older man waving his arms at me, he looks at me and says ‘I can’t understand a word you are saying, are you even speaking English?’

Thinking about how this would physically play out at the match I don't know if it could come across as the older man thinking he's just talking absolute pish and having a go at him. Maybe from 2 or 3 rows back it would look like that.

If you are talking to other fans more than a row in front/behind or more than 4 or 5 seats along then I guess you'd be talking pretty loudly and I know for sure I've seen guys get into some pretty heated arguments and situations based on stuff like that. Seen it as recently as the Alashkert game.

I mean, if you are talking to the people around you 25 minutes into the 1st half you are maybe talking to the couple of people beside, in front of or behind you. It's not like you are holding court with you sitting there and a semi circle of fellow supporters intently listening in. Plus the guy is there with 3 friends so the seating arrangements there would determine who you'd even be able to reasonably talk to at the match. So is this old dude sitting like 5 rows in front and screaming "I can't understand you mate, are you even speaking English"? Or is he like 4 or 5 seats along in the same row and trying to get is attention by waving?

I'm trying to visualize how this whole scenario would actually go down inside the stadium, 25 minutes into the game.

With so many empty seats around on Friday I reckon they would have been able to just move after 25 minutes and not be bothered again for the rest of the match.

Just thinking about whether or not I would call it out or report to a steward if what I'd witnessed from say a row or two behind is some old guy saying "I can't understand what you are saying are you even speaking English" to some other supporter who I maybe can't even get a good look at (hats and scarves etc in winter, maybe even masks right now). I'm honestly not sure that I would. Especially if no swearing or slurs are being used and it's just said and then nothing happens.

Obviously you'd notice right away if some guy at the match stands up and roars "***** ***** you *****" at another supporter or opposition player and yeah you could report that to a steward. Could probably contact the club directly and have something done. This, the stadium incident, seems like a bit more of a grey area.
 
"Being virulently anti racist "

Anything of this sort is suspect. Why not just try and live your life not being a racist? Why be virulently anything? Most such types don't veer far from self obsessed attention seekers, and I went to Uni at the time of Socialist Worker, Red Wedge and the Young Trots!

As a Rangers fan I'd suggest you're not a fan of the IRA. Why not just live your life not being a member of the IRA?

Do you see the hypocrisy there?

To eradicate something, you must oppose it.
 
I seen a post on here last night that had a go at fellow posters. His, words were along the lines of certain posters being right wing wankstain fantasists.

Yes, even the green brigade would do well to come up with that comment. Who needs enemies, although I've still to meet a Rangers fan who would come out with a quote like that. Only ever see this online
 
In the age when everyone gets filmed doing anything there is no evidence?!!!! I smell media led BS.
Why would anyone film it when their time would be better spent telling the neanderthal to STFU ? Sometimes, when the unexpected happens, it takes a while to process mentally so absence of mobile footage proves zilch.
 
I seen a post on here last night that had a go at fellow posters. His, words were along the lines of certain posters being right wing wankstain fantasists.

Yes, even the green brigade would do well to come up with that comment. Who needs enemies, although I've still to meet a Rangers fan who would come out with a quote like that. Only ever see this online

I'm not defending the statement in bold but you get the same from the other side of the political spectrum. Both are just as bad.
 
I was at the piggery for one of our games and there was easily hundreds, if not 4 figures of potatoes thrown on to the park as the teams came out, some of which ended up firing a handful or so into their fans in the main stand

It was hilarious but to suggest it didn’t happen is nonsense.

IIRC it was probably around McLeish’s time

Found something on it: https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football:+Police+warn+Ibrox+fans:+No+potatoes.-a0121366887
Hilarious at the time but racism now. Shows how the world has changed.
 
As a Rangers fan I'd suggest you're not a fan of the IRA. Why not just live your life not being a member of the IRA?

Do you see the hypocrisy there?

To eradicate something, you must oppose it.

How do you oppose it though?

In this case specifically I think the staff in the pub should have done something. Really that's all that could have been done. Obviously being in a pub there is booze involved and if someone is being a racist scumbag then they need to just be ejected and told they are barred forever.

The stuff in the stadium, specifically in this situation, is more tricky. You've got a guy "talking football" with the people around him 25 minutes into the match and some old boy from somewhere pipes up "I cannae understand a word you are saying mate, are you even speaking English?" I don't see anything that's overtly hateful or abusive in that. It's not blatant enough that I'd be OK with costing someone their season ticket, or getting someone in trouble with the police, by making a scene. If it was a white guy from Peterhead and another white guy from Gretna saying "I can't understand a word of this" to each other then I'd probably just laugh at them.

With the thing in the stadium I think anyone wanting to do something about it would have to assume intent. That seems like a difficult one, potentially.
 
How do you oppose it though?

In this case specifically I think the staff in the pub should have done something. Really that's all that could have been done. Obviously being in a pub there is booze involved and if someone is being a racist scumbag then they need to just be ejected and told they are barred forever.

The stuff in the stadium, specifically in this situation, is more tricky. You've got a guy "talking football" with the people around him 25 minutes into the match and some old boy from somewhere pipes up "I cannae understand a word you are saying mate, are you even speaking English?" I don't see anything that's overtly hateful or abusive in that. It's not blatant enough that I'd be OK with costing someone their season ticket, or getting someone in trouble with the police, by making a scene. If it was a white guy from Peterhead and another white guy from Gretna saying "I can't understand a word of this" to each other then I'd probably just laugh at them.

With the thing in the stadium I think anyone wanting to do something about it would have to assume intent. That seems like a difficult one, potentially.

I do agree with you on both points mate.

Was more responding to the poster who said that ‘anti racism is an illness’ and that we should all just try to not be racist instead. My point being that you need to oppose something to get rid of it.
 
A lot of unfamiliar usernames in this thread with a lot to say, probably all logged into their kds & the huddleboard forums:rolleyes: can't understand so called Bears falling over themselves hoping it's true:oops:
Racism & racist behaviour is disgusting, but reading what he's said, I feel he's taken offence where none was meant, if it happened at all.
Very strange that he never alerted anyone at the stadium. His friends never heard it in the pub, whilst sitting at the same table.
Instead of contacting the club or pub, he contacts the daily record instead.
There's a strong smell of shite about it.
Nor could I, but is there any bear who Does want it to be true? There are a million Rangers supporters and not all of them are pure as the driven snow. Depressingly, racism is still alive and kicking in both society and football, and Rangers, like other clubs, will have their share. Most people desperately wish this wasn't the case, and it would be very odd for anyone other than an out and out racist to Want it to be true.
 
I have no time for racists or racism but I am afraid this just looks like a job application to Pacific Quay to me.

There are so many holes in that story I am stunned anyone can take it at face value.

Its a "struggling journalist" finding a willing audience for a big bad Rangers scare story. No publication history, some work experience at entry level with BBC Scotland's digital department, four or five really poor blogs and an atrocious misuse of the English language tells the true story.
 
Mate, what people are trying to say to you is when someone becomes fanatically "anti-racist" they can end up doing damage to people based on an assumption of racism rather than actual racism.

So, for example, hounding and bullying someone off social media because they said Black Panther was a rubbish movie would be taking "anti-racism" a bit too far.

When you say you are someone who "condemns racism" are you just talking about saying "oh that's really bad" on the internet? What does the day to day life of an active "anti-racist" look like? You do and say a lot of stuff in public or is it mostly just statements on social media?
Just my personal belief but being fanatically anti racist to me means calling it out where and when it happens. I think everyone who is anti racist is fanatical about it as i don’t think you can be kinda anti racist. To me you are or you are not. Maybe too simplistic a view but its certainly my view.
 
I do agree with you on both points mate.

Was more responding to the poster who said that ‘anti racism is an illness’ and that we should all just try to not be racist instead. My point being that you need to oppose something to get rid of it.
No one said that.
 
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