Yesterday's scenes were avoidable and left a bad look on the club. This wasn't just about a few over-enthusiastic fans - there were clear failings in stewarding, policing and the way players stayed on the pitch after the final whistle.
Where it went wrong
The first question has to be policing. You'd expect a big derby to have a visible police presence at every key exit and around the pitch. If rival fans are allowed to flood down towards Broomloan without adequate containment it doesn't take much for things to kick off. Add in staff and players lingering on the pitch and you have a combustible mix.
Players, staff and celebrations
I get wanting to celebrate, and to be fair players and staff earn those moments. But in an Old Firm with tensions high the sensible move is to get the players off the turf and back into the dressing room before the crowd moves. Let the stewards and club organise a controlled lap or a managed walkout later. Having people milling about on the pitch when Glasgow's streets are full of opposing fans is asking for trouble. The point about the 'Tics RB' running towards Broomloan stands - moments like that inflame the situation, whether intended or not.
Who pays the price and what next?
Stewards can't be expected to stand in the front line, and they need better support. Police need to plan and be visible. Opposing clubs should also be accountable for their supporters' behaviour - damage and pitch invasions aren't something a club can shrug off. Then there's the ultras issue; if organised groups make segregation harder and bring a risk of violence, the authorities and clubs will have to rethink how many away supporters can safely attend. That will be a bitter pill for proper fans on both sides, but safety has to come first.
Practical steps: pre-match liaison between clubs, police and stewards; clear protocol that players return to the dressing room after full-time unless a managed lap is arranged; designated routes for away fans and controlled egress; better use of CCTV and quick reaction teams. Fans want to celebrate but not at the expense of safety or bringing the club under scrutiny.
This was avoidable. We should argue for firm procedures, sensible celebrations and clear responsibility across board, club and police. Rangers fans don't want the club under extra scrutiny - we want smart management so scenes like yesterday don't happen again.
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