Rangers respond to Club 1872 about Rugby Park shambles

Tommac

Well-Known Member
Email just come through from Club 1872. Rangers have gone for Phyllis McLeish and English and Stewart over the lies about our fans being crushed at Rugby Park.

"Dear Member,

Club 1872 has been in dialogue with Rangers since the events at Rugby Park on Sunday, 4th August which saw hundreds of Rangers supporters placed in a dangerous situation whilst attempting to enter the ground. Following a debrief meeting last Friday, Club 1872 is pleased to share a response from Rangers to enquiries from Club 1872 regarding the events that day.

We know that Rangers remain concerned about safety at Rugby Park and we have been assured that they will continue to liaise with Police Scotland, Kilmarnock FC and East Ayrshire Council ahead of future visits.

"Following a debriefing meeting at Rugby Park at the end of last week, Rangers is happy to provide an update to supporters, who have been calling for clarification on issues arising from the match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday, August 4.

Rangers felt it appropriate and sensible to wait until after the post-match debriefing session before commenting despite many others, including a Kilmarnock director, Phyllis McLeish, pundits and a politician, William Coffey, making misinformed as well as misleading comments.

However, now that the events of last Sunday have been fully analysed by all parties, we can offer a reasoned and fact-based insight into what happened.

Kilmarnock’s new ticketing system did indeed fail despite suggestions to the contrary. It has been accepted there was also a failure to deal properly with the problems this caused. There was no recognisable plan of action to deal with such a situation and it was very close to kick off before someone thought the problem, which had started to cause panic among those Rangers supporters, who were being pushed and squeezed together toward the turnstiles, should be brought to the attention of the police. By that time some Rangers fans were being crushed and in a state of alarm, and there are many testimonies which bear that out.

Kilmarnock has accepted their ticketing system failed (and that there had been problems with it at the game against Connahs Quay Nomads) despite one of their directors promoting the irresponsible notion there had been no operational problems. We would hope to receive a retraction and an apology from Kilmarnock for having pointed the finger of blame at Rangers fans for the issues which arose ahead of kick off. Those pundits, particularly two BBC Scotland contributors, Michael Stewart and Tom English, who made flippant and insulting comments without knowing the facts of what actually happened, might also wish to reconsider their comments and apologise now that the debriefing has revealed that a ticketing failure, and not the impatience of Rangers fans, caused the problem before the kick off on Sunday.

Mr Coffey might also wish to reconsider his own words.

No one at the debriefing disputed the view that there would not have been congestion and supporters would have gained admission smoothly and safely had the system operated properly. This view is supported by Police Scotland.

Rangers believe it was correct procedure to wait until after the debriefing, called by East Ayrshire Council’s legal services department, who issue the safety certificate for Rugby Park, before commenting.

Although there has been an attempt to roll everything that happened at Rugby Park into one issue it is important to retain a sense of perspective and balance. The congestion before the match had no bearing on what happened at the end of the game when Rangers fans went on to the pitch to celebrate a late winning goal. Their presence on the pitch cannot be condoned and Rangers are working with Police Scotland to identify and trace those who crossed the line between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

The same applies to the handful of fans who jumped on to the roof of the enclosure reserved for disabled supporters causing that covering to collapse. Their behaviour endangered the safety of their fellow fans and we are fortunate no one was badly hurt. Those fans will also be dealt with appropriately as soon as they are identified.

Rangers believes the safety of all fans to be paramount and will not tolerate this kind of behaviour whether away or at home."

Club 1872"
 
Rangers are working with Police Scotland to identify and trace those who crossed the line between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

This part gets to me, Rangers are assisting PS with their hunt for bears for wild last minute goal celebrations , when others in Scotland did the same and given somewhat different terms for it and .

Not keen on that part at all......but other than that its a good statement regarding Killies failure and usual pundit lies
 
I hope that those who made the comments blaming our supporters are sent this. The club should be demanding that they apologise.
 
Rangers are working with Police Scotland to identify and trace those who crossed the line between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

This part gets to me, Rangers are assisting PS with their hunt for bears for wild last minute goal celebrations , when others in Scotland did the same and given somewhat different terms for it and .

Not keen on that part at all......but other than that its a good statement regarding Killies failure and usual pundit lies

It is what any respectable body should do - Rangers are acting appropriately and leading the way.

It is fair to say others are acting irresponsibly with their lack of actions when their followers part take in similar acts.

Comments made by many on here that Rangers would simply collapse and take the blame for all that went on at Rugby Park should also be apologising.
 
Yet the usual suspects were on blaming the Board, Stewart Robertson and anyone else who took their fancy, for having the audacity to wait until the debriefing was completed.


The obsession with some folk on here demanding statements, irrespective of enquiry timescales, is pretty weird.
 
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Rangers are working with Police Scotland to identify and trace those who crossed the line between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

This part gets to me, Rangers are assisting PS with their hunt for bears for wild last minute goal celebrations , when others in Scotland did the same and given somewhat different terms for it and .

Not keen on that part at all......but other than that its a good statement regarding Killies failure and usual pundit lies

Good statement from the club.

Its got to be said unfortunately. There was unacceptable behaviour what do you want them to say - we have details of who was given the seats but we are not releasing it to anyone as they did nothing wrong?
 
Rangers are working with Police Scotland to identify and trace those who crossed the line between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

This part gets to me, Rangers are assisting PS with their hunt for bears for wild last minute goal celebrations , when others in Scotland did the same and given somewhat different terms for it and .

Not keen on that part at all......but other than that its a good statement regarding Killies failure and usual pundit lies

When the poets act like poets and their club does nothing to deal with them, we are quite rightly quick to highlight their failure to deal with the actions of their supporters.

We should expect our own support and club to behave with the dignity and values contrary to what those at the cesspit do - and they are doing so. Taking responsibility for keeping our own house in order while at the same time defending those who have been wrongly accused in the support.

It's an excellent response IMHO.
 
I doubt any of the 4 named by Rangers will apologise (McLeish Stewart English and Coffey)

They’ve been outed as liars

East Ayrshire Council should be looking to withdrawing Killie’s safety certificate as this is 2 games in a row that their ticketing system has failed

Lives were put at risk
 
When the poets act like poets and their club does nothing to deal with them, we are quite rightly quick to highlight their failure to deal with the actions of their supporters.

We should expect our own support and club to behave with the dignity and values contrary to what those at the cesspit do - and they are doing so. Taking responsibility for keeping our own house in order while at the same time defending those who have been wrongly accused in the support.

It's an excellent response IMHO.
this part, am agreeing at same time but we saw 2 tier communication when it came to pitch invasions...its not like the bears ran up field ( hibs did ) to gloat ....just happy fans that we got the win and over celebrated it. Hardly worth the man hunt IMO

Even the disabled sector, no one should be standing on it but it was not intentional to break it or fall through it .
 
I think thats a perfectly fair statement. I hope the club follow up with those who should be apologising and are made to do so, publicly.
 
Called out all wrong parties including the fans and rightly so, awaiting seeing what the ramifications will be for the pitch invaders and hut quartet.
This is a chance for the club to stamp down on this once and for all imo.
 
unacceptable behaviour = Exuberance
It really doesn’t. The pitch “invasions” can’t be condoned by the club in any way. The pitch area is sacrosanct and has to stay that way. We as a support need to buy into that and let the club deal with other more important matters that put our support in danger instead of having to waste time on indefensible actions of a small minority.
 
Rangers are working with Police Scotland to identify and trace those who crossed the line between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

This part gets to me, Rangers are assisting PS with their hunt for bears for wild last minute goal celebrations , when others in Scotland did the same and given somewhat different terms for it and .

Not keen on that part at all......but other than that its a good statement regarding Killies failure and usual pundit lies
It’s a criminal offence to enter the pitch. Some fans were no doubt either pushed forward or caught up in the momentum.

Others encroached well onto the playing area of their own free will.

It’s a fine statement from Rangers and professionally dismantles the nonsense peddled by those with an agenda in the immediate aftermath
 
It really doesn’t. The pitch “invasions” can’t be condoned by the club in any way. The pitch area is sacrosanct and has to stay that way. We as a support need to buy into that and let the club deal with other more important matters that put our support in danger instead of having to waste time on indefensible actions of a small minority.
Agree 100% and I actually expect the club will issue bans from away games for anyone they identify. They need to be seen to be dealing with the problem.
 
Rangers are working with Police Scotland to identify and trace those who crossed the line between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

This part gets to me, Rangers are assisting PS with their hunt for bears for wild last minute goal celebrations , when others in Scotland did the same and given somewhat different terms for it and .

Not keen on that part at all......but other than that its a good statement regarding Killies failure and usual pundit lies
Of course they are. It’s a growing problem and the club are taking action before someone’s seriously hurt. It’s a criminal offence and it’s the clubs responsibility to do all it can to assist in naming anyone guilty of entering the field of play and imposing any sanctions they deem appropriate. It has to stop before a fan or player gets hurt. There’s no need for it
 
this part, am agreeing at same time but we saw 2 tier communication when it came to pitch invasions...its not like the bears ran up field ( hibs did ) to gloat ....just happy fans that we got the win and over celebrated it. Hardly worth the man hunt IMO

Even the disabled sector, no one should be standing on it but it was not intentional to break it or fall through it .

Mate, you said it yourself - nobody should've stood on the disabled sector. Nobody should've invaded the pitch/left the stands. Intent to damage it or not is utterly irrelevant, they shouldn't be on it at all.

No matter how it's spun, some of our support need to behave better than they did that day (and have on a few occasions now). That's what the club is addressing and rightly so.
 
A really good statement imo. Worded very well and confronts both problems, the failure of ticketing and the end celebrations. We've taken responsibility for the end and action will be taken while highlighting the absolute nonsense spouted and made up regarding a near fatal crush incident, which has been incorrectly reported on.
 
Email just come through from Club 1872. Rangers have gone for Phyllis McLeish and English and Stewart over the lies about our fans being crushed at Rugby Park.

"Dear Member,

Club 1872 has been in dialogue with Rangers since the events at Rugby Park on Sunday, 4th August which saw hundreds of Rangers supporters placed in a dangerous situation whilst attempting to enter the ground. Following a debrief meeting last Friday, Club 1872 is pleased to share a response from Rangers to enquiries from Club 1872 regarding the events that day.

We know that Rangers remain concerned about safety at Rugby Park and we have been assured that they will continue to liaise with Police Scotland, Kilmarnock FC and East Ayrshire Council ahead of future visits.

"Following a debriefing meeting at Rugby Park at the end of last week, Rangers is happy to provide an update to supporters, who have been calling for clarification on issues arising from the match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday, August 4.

Rangers felt it appropriate and sensible to wait until after the post-match debriefing session before commenting despite many others, including a Kilmarnock director, Phyllis McLeish, pundits and a politician, William Coffey, making misinformed as well as misleading comments.

However, now that the events of last Sunday have been fully analysed by all parties, we can offer a reasoned and fact-based insight into what happened.

Kilmarnock’s new ticketing system did indeed fail despite suggestions to the contrary. It has been accepted there was also a failure to deal properly with the problems this caused. There was no recognisable plan of action to deal with such a situation and it was very close to kick off before someone thought the problem, which had started to cause panic among those Rangers supporters, who were being pushed and squeezed together toward the turnstiles, should be brought to the attention of the police. By that time some Rangers fans were being crushed and in a state of alarm, and there are many testimonies which bear that out.

Kilmarnock has accepted their ticketing system failed (and that there had been problems with it at the game against Connahs Quay Nomads) despite one of their directors promoting the irresponsible notion there had been no operational problems. We would hope to receive a retraction and an apology from Kilmarnock for having pointed the finger of blame at Rangers fans for the issues which arose ahead of kick off. Those pundits, particularly two BBC Scotland contributors, Michael Stewart and Tom English, who made flippant and insulting comments without knowing the facts of what actually happened, might also wish to reconsider their comments and apologise now that the debriefing has revealed that a ticketing failure, and not the impatience of Rangers fans, caused the problem before the kick off on Sunday.

Mr Coffey might also wish to reconsider his own words.

No one at the debriefing disputed the view that there would not have been congestion and supporters would have gained admission smoothly and safely had the system operated properly. This view is supported by Police Scotland.

Rangers believe it was correct procedure to wait until after the debriefing, called by East Ayrshire Council’s legal services department, who issue the safety certificate for Rugby Park, before commenting.

Although there has been an attempt to roll everything that happened at Rugby Park into one issue it is important to retain a sense of perspective and balance. The congestion before the match had no bearing on what happened at the end of the game when Rangers fans went on to the pitch to celebrate a late winning goal. Their presence on the pitch cannot be condoned and Rangers are working with Police Scotland to identify and trace those who crossed the line between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

The same applies to the handful of fans who jumped on to the roof of the enclosure reserved for disabled supporters causing that covering to collapse. Their behaviour endangered the safety of their fellow fans and we are fortunate no one was badly hurt. Those fans will also be dealt with appropriately as soon as they are identified.

Rangers believes the safety of all fans to be paramount and will not tolerate this kind of behaviour whether away or at home."

Club 1872"
This will hopefully shut up many on this board who are demanding statements. I said there would be work getting done, I won’t hold my breath though.

the club have handled this very well.
 
Tinfoil hat on here, but it doesn't sit right with me that the club want to identify and punish fans for over exuberance celebrating a last minute winner. Perhaps whataboutery from me, but did the mentally challengeds do that when they jumped on the disabled hut up at pittodrie, or Hivs at the cup final? Happy with the rest of the statement
 
Yet the usual suspects were on blaming the Board, Stewart Robertson and anyone else who took their fancy, for having the audacity to wait until the debriefing was completed.


The obsession with some folk on here demanding statements, irrespective of enquiry timescales, is pretty weird.

I would agree, but we lose out on controlling the narrative - Killie and their MSPs etc were quick to paint a picture that will remain in some people's minds regardless of the reality. We should have had someone at the time saying 'Rangers are concerned about these reports, but will await the full safety debriefing before commenting'.
 
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