Along with the Manchester police, two pervasive myths took a bit of a
battering during Wednesday night’s Uefa Cup final between Glasgow Rangers
and Zenit St Petersburg. The first was the myth of Scottish footballing
obduracy and heroism against all the odds, the little team from the small
but proud nation digging in and battling, often succumbing, but occasionally
bringing forth a magnificent and unlikely triumph against overwhelming
adversity.
You’ll be familiar with that myth, epitomised by Archie Gemmill
single-handedly routing the hapless Dutch at the 1978 World Cup when,
tragically, as ever, it was all too late. The commentators on Wednesday dug
deep into the myth box with tales of Rangers’ “extraordinary journey against
all the odds” to reach the final; presumably a similarly extraordinary
journey, involving similar odds, to the one successfully undertaken by their
Russkie opponents. They both reached the final having beaten the same number
of mid-market opponents. I don’t know if you could consider Rangers the
underdogs on Wednesday, either; it is a club with much greater home support
than St Petersburg. Nor did they play with what any rational, sane person
could describe as obduracy or heroism; they were witless, guileless and
threatless, perhaps the most boring team to have reached a European final
since the likes of Juventus and Inter Milan thrust catenaccio upon
us all at the end of the 1960s. Except, in Rangers’ case, with rather less
competence.
For good sectarian reasons (I don’t like Celtic) I was cheering on Rangers at
first, but switched allegiance midway through the first half when it became
apparent that they had not the slightest intention of doing anything so
recherché as to attack their opponent’s penalty area. “It’s just like
watching Millwall,” one of my sons said despairingly and begged to be
allowed to go to bed. The Russians were fluid and confident, playing
football as it is supposed to be played; they deserved their win. In
fairness, this myth of little Scotland the brave is one imposed upon the
sweaties, in somewhat patronising tones, from south of the border. But they
have become accustomed, over the years, to buying into it wholesale. Was it
ever true?
The other myth which came crashing down was that bizarre fictional construct,
the cheerful, whole-hearted, peaceable - if on occasion a little inebriated,
but only ever in a really nice way - Scottish football supporter. With his
kilt and his can of McEwan’s Export and his blue-and-white flag and his
beery, welcoming embrace for the supporter of any other nation (except maybe
those from England). The Scottish fans never do the stuff England fans do;
they are there to cheer on their team and bring nothing but credit to their
nation, loved wherever they go. This has always struck me as being utter
bilge and scarcely less patronising than all that Scotland The Brave stuff;
I can remember goalposts being demolished at Wembley and the whole thing
being put down to good-natured exuberance when, if England fans had been
involved, it would have meant expulsion from any number of international
tournaments and anguished speeches from politicians in the House of Commons.
Myths are important; people cleave to them and they exert a certain force.
Guinness, for example, sold an awful lot of alcohol in Europe based upon the
equally inaccurate stereotype of Irish football supporters; good-natured,
all of ’em, love the craic, too-rye-ay, etc. I have heard Scottish
politicians smugly compare their country’s fans favourably to those who
follow the English oppressor; well, not any more they won’t. Every cloud,
etc.
The battle of Piccadilly Gardens was, we are told, the consequence of the
actions of a “minority”. Well, maybe, but not a very small minority, to
judge from the television pictures and newspaper photographs I’ve seen. The
cause of the riot was put down to a giant television screen failing, so that
the supporters could not watch the game. With that magnificent moronic
intent familiar to anyone who has watched an enraged mob in action, the fans
attacked even those engineers who arrived to try to repair the electronics.
The police described the fans as acting like a “pack of wolves”, although
I’ve never seen wolves behave like that. Wolves are usually possessed of
pragmatic purpose, for a start. Fifteen police officers were treated for
injuries and meanwhile, inside the stadium, one Russian fan was stabbed. At
one point, ambulances could not enter Manchester city centre without a
police escort.
Even after all this, excuses and caveats have sprung from the lips of those
who should know better. This stuff about a “minority”, for a start, which is
always trotted out, as if it somehow excuses the behaviour. And it’s been
said that these weren’t Scottish fans, these were Rangers fans - another
attempt to keep that old myth alive. You wouldn’t find Celtic supporters
behaving in such a manner, we were told, forgetting that Celtic risked being
kicked out of Europe when one of its cheerful, too-rye-ay supporters ran
onto the pitch and attempted to clump the opposing goalkeeper. The truth is
that these days football hooliganism is a truly global brand, with an
energetic franchise operating in every European city, Glasgow not excepted.
And if you doubt that, wait until the Dutch and Germans get together later
this summer.
Why did Manchester United not offer to 'house' some 70'000 Rangers fans and ease the conjestion on their city and make some money into the bargin, which after all they're pretty good at? I'll tell you, Mr Liddle, because Rangers have a caused bother all over Engerland and are not welcome!
Nigel Brooking, Aldershot, England
fact is 200000 gers fans went to manchester...biggest movement of a group since world war 2...bound to be a few rogues there...celtic reportedly took 80000 to spain 5 yrs ago...big difference....gers wont be barred from europe as the game passed off in a sporting manner ..too bad eh celtic people!
bob martin, glasgow, scotland
A Scottish mob riots in an English city, and what are the consequences? Manchester United's European Cup parade is cancelled, and Gordon Brown mutters darkly about England's chances of hosting the World cup.
Consequences for Rangers and Scotland? Well, none as far as I can make out.
Matt, Norwich,
I wonder if it was for "good sectarian reasons" that Liddle makes a parallel between thousands of rioting Rangers fans and Celtic "nothing to do with the Manchester riots" fans? Also is it for "good sectarian reasons" that Millwall fan Liddle misrepresents a "tap" on Dida as a "clump" on Dida?
John Burns, Glasgow,
Celtic and Rangers fans are worlds apart. Thousands of Celtic fans went to Seville and not 1 arrested. Rangers fans are Scotlands Shame!! Dont tar the two with the same brush!
Liz, Slough,
The Flags, Songs and a sprinkling of right-wing fervour that Rangers take with them on their travels is the same which accompany England on their travels. If Rod Little knew what he was talking about he would know that they are one in the same. Playing the die-hard Unionist taking on the authorities
Craig, Bournemouth, England
Rod Liddle, are you having a laugh? There is absolutely no comparison between Rangers and Celtic fans. Celtic fans do know how to behave and have proved this on countless occasions. The incident you quote where the one idiot tried, as you put it, 'to clump' Dido was nothing in comparison!
Teresa , Glasgow, Scotland
"for good sectarian reasons"
why are people getting so self-righteous about this comment? just meant as tongue in cheek, get over yourselves
max, Motherwell,
"good sectarian reasons"? Is there such a thing. What an outrageous comment. As for comparing Rangers & Celtic fans behaviour! Rangers fans behaviour in Manchester 08 was utterly predictable, a disgrace. Celtic fans Seville 03 won a fair play award from UEFA. We are not the Old Firm, We Are Celtic
Alison, Glasgow,
I stay in England now and the English always have somthing to say to me about Celtic and Rangers and the ignorance smacks you in the face. I can't condone one moron running up to Dida but it was one mornon. We went to Seville with 80 thousand, not one arrest and the locals and Uefa loved us.
Craig, Bournemouth, England
Rangers cause or attract trouble abroad because of what they choose to sing about. Rule Brittania, God Save the Queen while waving Union Jacks and the St George Cross. Celtic fans arrive in such places with the mentality of "thanks for having us" as Barcelona will tell you compared to Rangers.
Craig, Bournemouth, England
It is unfair to brand all "sweaties" (Rascist) with the Rangers Brush. The Rangers represent one half of the equation of all that is wrong with Scottish Football. Most being die hard Unionists, they will probably move to England when Scotland gains its Independence. Your welcome to them.
KampungHighlander, Jakarta, Indonesia
Re the Wembley goalposts incident (that occurred 31 years ago): to suggest that England would have been banned from taking part in major finals had it been their fans at fault is clearly wrong, given that there is nearly always trouble whenever they attend major finals, yet no hint of an expulsion
David, Glasgow,
Mr Liddle,
Please refrain from making judgements about scottish society in your comfy middle class suburbia. To put Scotland fans, Rangers and Celtic fans in the same bracket, is well, easy for you to do and myopic to the extreme. Your former sports editor Mr. McCarra would have been ashamed.
Andy, london, england
How did he attempt to clump Dida? He got overexcited and tapped him on the shoulder! We went to Seville there were no problems, we are welcomed across Europe there are no problems. Scotland is a byeword for bravery and character, you on the other hand are a hack, Rangers deserve support from you.
James, Manchester, Scotland
Paul Freeman,London,there were another 17 arrests at Ibrox on the Wednesday night beamback due to drunkeness and fighting,even amongst their own fans,says it all really.
Tony., Motherwell., Scotland.
ran onto the pitch and attempted to clump the opposing goalkeeper
Clump? Tickled would have been more appropriate. Although the fan shouldnt have been there Dida had to apologise to AC for embarassing them with his poor acting.
One fan running on to the pitch or a full blown riot in Manchester
S McGinty, London,
Some other points - you have to give Rangers credit for getting there. That was their job, and they almost did it.
Secondly, you tar Celtic fans by another stupid comment, which, again, if you were more educated in the facts, you'll find Dida was penalised and apologised to the Milan fans. Lazy.
Paul MMC, Glasgow,
The "peaceable Scots" thing is a myth - don't they have the second highest murder rate in Europe.
Rangers and Celtic tolerate a rivalry founded on religious bigotry. Ban the Union Jack and Irish Tricolour from Old Firm games, only allow the Saltire - it's supposed to be a 'Scottish' game after all.
JS, London,
"For good sectarian reasons (I don’t like Celtic) I was cheering on Rangers at first"
There is no such thing as "good sectarian reasons". Embittered and antagonistic article. Not what I would expect from a quality broadsheet. Disappointing.
George, Glasgow,
get a grip, im a celtic supporter and for my country's defence, not all rangers fans are scottish, you can be sure that some of those rioters were indeed english, nothern irish etc and not just scottish, how much trouble do you see when scotland are playing? when all the fans are scottish?
Mark, fraserburgh, aberdeenshire
"Myths are important; people cleave to them and they exert a certain force. Guinness, for example, sold an awful lot of alcohol in Europe based upon the equally inaccurate stereotype of Irish football supporters; good-natured, all of ’em, love the craic, too-rye-ay, etc."
What are you saying?
Tony Murphy, London,
As it starts to transpire now, it were hardly Rangers supporters who had "their party" in Manchester. Once the full story is known, one would hope that this demonisation of the Bears as well as the Scots will stop dead in its tracks.
Ray Kir, Berlin, Germany
No argument about the rioting. Minority or not it's inexcusable. But Rangers the team's performance was heroic. Our team cost less than the 15 million paid for one player by Zenit. what are we supposed to do? Attack like Bayern did and get annihilated?
stuart miller, hinckley, u.k.
"For good sectarian reasons (I don’t like Celtic)"
Is the reason, your another media bigot with an anti-celtic agenda.
Stevie, Glasgow, Scotland
How can some make a statement like "For good sectarian reasons (I don’t like Celtic)" be allowed space in any newspaper , i did,nt know there was such a thing as a good sectarian reason , So anyone who has ever been the victim of a sectarian attack , remember there is a good reason for it
paul mccullough, belfast, ireland
Saying you don't like Celtic for good sectarian reasons is not very different to saying you don't like black people for good racist reasons.
The article is a load of rubbish - it would take too long to address all the inaccuracies and offensive comments.
K Nagasaki, Edinburgh, Scotland
200 from 200,000! :-) That's a right laugh that is!
A quick look at youtube shows thousands running riot in and around Picadilly gardens; an area holding 20/25k supporters - 11k of which were subsequently bussed to the velodrome! So a couple of thousand from 10/15k is somewhat closer to the reality
Bert Dagastino, Livorno, Italy
I'm a Celtic fan who has many Rangers supporting friends who were in Manchester and I can guarantee none of them were involved in the shocking scenes witnessed on TV. Hangers on who attach themselves to Rangers were to blame. Youtube has all the answers.
R Mackie, Glasgow, Scotland
"good sectarian reasons" A disgraceful statement.
That says it all. A bitter attack on the majority of Scottish supporters fuelled by the carnage caused by the supporters of one club. Don't tar us all with the same brush, the problem lies with a large portion within the rearrangers support. Fact.
Alex, Inverness, Scotland
To compare the dida incident to what went on in manchester is crass journalism to say the least.
graham, london, uk
Where have you seen Celtic fans rioting in europe?
We are not "old firm" we are CELTIC we stand alone no more guilt by association.
Glenn, Treorchy, Wales
I think it is unfair to brand similarity with the Celtic 'Dida' incident with what happened at Manchester. No assault was attempted or took place at Celtic Park. However what happened at Manchester was predictable; Rangers fans have embarresed recently at Villareal & Barcelona.
boab, crewe, cheshire
A crass and poor attempt to tar Celtic with the actions in Manchester, Rod. A Celtic fan attempted to "clump" Dida against AC Milan. Did you see the game, or the incident? The guy ran on the park in celebration and ran past Dida, tapping him on the cheek. Moronic? Yes. Hooliganism? No. Deary me.
Ciaran, Dublin, Ireland
What a great article by Rod Liddle. ( Re Scottish fans ). What most people have been saying for years, but he is the first jouralist with the guts to put it in print.
Can he now please continue this by once and for all dispelling the myth of Liverpool fans being the be all and end all of everything
Steve Cantrell, Birmingham, England
I think that as a supporter of Millwall Football Club, your criticism of scottish and irish fans is a bit of 'pot calling the kettle black' dont you think.
Steff, Glasgow, UK
This problem relates to Rangers FC, not Celtic, not Scottish club football, and not the Scottish International team. Scottish people are ashamed of this behaviour, but a significant number of Rangers fans are proud of it. They are inspired by Chelsea, England and the NF, not Scottishness.
Jim Barry, Firhouse,
Absolute nonsense about "hooliganism" at the Celtic v AC Milan game. There was no malicious intent by the moronic pitch invader, let's say he was carried away by unbridled joy.
Manchester 2008 is not a Celtic problem or a Scotland problem, it's a Rangers problem. Truth is important.
Gerard, Glasgow, Scotland
Ahem, folks. Since when does the Union Jack represents the English? Rangers' "sectarianism", much like Celtic's, comes from the early 1920s. Hooliganism is surely not a Scottish or Rangers problem, just look at their away games in Europe over the last decade. Don't mix sectarian chanting with hools.
Ray Kir, Berlin, Germany
The vast majority behaved well. Also Rangers had been on 9 previous Euro trips without one arrest. A Euro final so close to Glasgow was a magnet for riff-raff who rarely if ever go to games, plus English casuals whose team isn't in Euro 2008. Any regular Gers fan involved will join the banned list.
Gerry, Falkirk,
RFC are followed by a section of ignorant bigotted idiots, some kept out of Ibrox by the ground capacity not because RFC dont want them. Recently, RFC officials/former officials have been exposed, spouting religious hatred/songs. 'We are the people' , an attitude, fuelled by booze, provokes violence
Ali G, Watford,
I kept out of the City centre as I could see there were too many people there. We were in Deansgate, had a great time, behaved ourselves and supported our team in the correct way. Yet I am now classified as a sectarian thug. What happened was terrible but the VAST majority of fans were well behaved.
Stephen, Larne, Antrim
Rubbish,
Good sectarian reasons. Clever comment.
If you new anything you would be aware that most Rangers fans are England fans and most Celtic fans in fact are Ireland fans. How can you have the odasity to compare England fans with any other, every where they go they are an embarrasment.
Aiden, Birmingham, uk
Anyone who follows Rangers knew we would lay that way. It did us no harm on getting there. If we had nicked it no-one would have been slagging us off for it. Zenit are a phenomenal team with ten of millions more in the bank than Rangers. We are the People.
matt, Ipswich Loyal,
Complete and utter nonsense! Fact is, rangers are a club team, Scotland are international, there could not be a bigger difference in the sides, nor the supporters. You are once again tarring all Scottish Football supporters with the same brush, an unfair and unjustified article, nonsense!
Andrew, Stirling, Scotland
Awful piece of journalism. Milan keeper Dida was banned for 2 Ch Lgue games and fined 36k euros for his antics, to insinuate that the fan tried to attack him is ridiculous. Any intelligent person will see this article simply as seizing on an opportunity to abuse Scots.
D Muir, Cadiz,
An odious whiff of score settling from Rod Liddle here. In footballing terms Rangers don't have anything like the tens of millions of pounds that each English Premiership team gets. As for the fans, the police and council state 200 idiots out of 200,000 i.e. .001% were involved and 11 charged.
Andy Allan, Wilmslow,
Where is is your unbiased and research? What about the thugishness of English supporters, which threatened to have them banned from competitions? Even the thugishness of English players "david beckham" to name just one, look closer to home before critisising others, stereotypes arent nice are they?
Andrew, Stirling, Scotland
People in Scotland would love to see the back of the Old Firm. Two completely over rated clubs that have never come close to emulating their counterparts in similar sized European leagues - Porto, Ajax say - because they use all their energy hating each other. They should go and play in Nth Ireland
Des, Fife,
the one fan who attacked the keeper was infact an englishman!!!!!!!
stuart, dunfermline, scotland
Good sectarian reasons. Yes, well done.
M, London, UK
Well said Mr Freeman. Manchester business badly wanted the profits from a couple of hundred thousand rangers fans drinking themselves stupid. Scotland's reputation, carefully rebuilt by the tartan army since the thuggery of the 70's, will pay the price.
Donald Peddie, St Andrews,
celtic took 80000 to seville for a uefa final and came away with thanks from the mayor and an award from Uefa.
Maybe if you looked more deeply into why the rangers fans rioted you'd have found that they are driven by hatred and religeous intolerance.
tom, melbourne, australia
Rod- What do you mean by "good sectarian"?
Says a lot about you.
As one poster said Rangers fans drape themselves as the Union flag and describe themselves as the "Quintisessional British Team". They want nothing to do with being Scottish and as a Scot I can assure the feeling is mutual.
Dan, Glasgow,
Rod, do some research!! Almost the same amount of Celtic fans travelled to Seville, in the same competition, with the same outcome, but the huge differerence was the behaviour of the fans. In seville, there was no stabbings, no attacks on policemen, and none of the carnage witnessed in Manchester
Gerry, Glasgow,
They are followers of the UVF,listen to their chants,bedfellows of the NF and a certain type of England fan.They have a superiority complex subliminally encouraged by the owner of their club and sections of the scottish media, this is what happens when ill educated sectarian fascists feast they riot
George, Perth, Scotland
Mr sectarian, Rangers are a disgrace to Scotland, to Football, and to sport in general. The tabliod media in scotland have been trying to brush Wednesday nights events under the carpet, at the behest of David Murray. Do not tar the good name of Celtic Supporters with that of Rangers.
Gerry, Glasgow,
Rod, elsewhere you praise Motson for approaching his job as a journalist and not as a fan. Maybe you could try the same trick and do some research and give us some examples to show that portrayal of Irish fans as law abiding was an "inaccurate" stereotype in Euro 88, Italy 90, USA 94 or JapKo 02.
J. Conway, Brussels,
Bottom line is there are scumbags attached to every club and every nation. The quicker they are identified and punished the better. Finally, the UK city centre CCTV investment over the last 15 years will pay off.
robadob, Edinburgh, Ecosse
Celtic are desperate to be Irish, Rangers are desperate to be English and Scotland are desperate to be rid of the pair of them. Both founded on Sectarian bile and both desperate to cling on to it.
youngson, Glasgow,
Yes Rod, ONE Celtic fan. That's ONE which, from 60,000 really is a small minority. The smallest minority possible. And that's the same Celtic fans who were awarded FIFA and UEFA's Fair Play Award fro their exemplary behaviour in Seville in 2003. Try to be objective (you don't like Celtic, remember?)
Antonio, Glasgow, Scotland
So, if not a minority, how else would you describe 200 idiots out of 200,000? As a Gers fan who was in Mcr I saw that the local media coverage was favourable through the day. This only changed after the later events, since when it's been presented that the whole city was 'disgusted with the bigots'.
DJ, Cleethorpes, UK
... run riot because they ... well... why did they choose to run riot? Its not my place to say. As a Scotsman living and working in England, I've had my fair share of crap since the "peepul" chose to run amok. "They" truly are Scotlands Shame - don't lump us all in the same cesspit please.
Malcolm, Gatwick, England
I'm still somewhat at a loss what the hooligans, the Rangers, the Scots and the myth have to do with one another to warrant such an article. People may not like Rangers European approach, but football is as much about not conceeding goals as it is about scoring them. Bremen et al were found wanting.
Ray Kir, Berlin, Germany
A good attempt Rod but you show how much you do not understand Scots football. Rangers (and Celtic) do not represent Scotland, they represent themselves!
Rangers want to be English, that is why they have English flags, Scotland does NOT want them!
Vile? Yes they are, and we told you they would be!
Graham, Essex, UK
I,m sorry my friend but it ought to be clear to even the most sectarian minded person that one crazed Celtic supporter running onto the pitch to clobber the opposing goalkeeper (thuggish as it undoubtedly is) pales into complete and total insignificance when compared to the actions of Rangers fans.
T bannon, perth, Australia
Rod, the crucial point here is that this is not a 'Scottish' problem but something that is absolutely specific to Rangers. This specificity stems from the sectarianism that is intrinsic to the club and its fans. Rangers fans see themselves as closer to England than Scotland, hence the Union Jacks.
Henry Cope, london, England
For good sectarian reason (i don't like celtic) i was supporting rangers. What does that mean?
With regards being representative of scotland those fans were the biggest supporters of unionism in scotland. Shows what is the parochial political persuasion north of the border.
jonathan, glasgow, scotland
Why weren't fans without tickets watching big screens in Glasgow, why were they encouraged to go to Manchester? Why was all-day drinking tolerated in the City Centre, when alcohol was clearly a contributing factor? Why wasn't the game held in Scotland? Why aren't UEFA punishing Rangers?
paul freeman, London , England
Where, may I ask ,is the evidence to suggest that Irish football supporters (other than the Rangers supporting variety from the northern ghettos) are not good natured. I suspect that you are trying to release Rangers supporters from the rather crowded hook they are collectively swinging from.
t bannon, perth, Australia