Enough is enough. A small minority have been dragging the matchday feel backwards and it's worn me down. I don't want to go to games and feel unsafe, or see players greeted with songs that belong in another century. Change starts with us.
Why the behaviour matters
To be fair, atmosphere is what makes Ibrox special. You can feel it in the stands, the noise, the banners. But atmosphere and abuse aren't the same thing. There's a difference between making noise to spur the team on and creating a hateful environment that alienates people. Plenty of fans — 45,000 plus on a good day — can generate passion without digging up sectarian bile.
Truth is, when chanting crosses the line into bigotry it stops being clever or intimidating and just becomes miserable. It doesn't help the club, or the players, or the supporters who just want a good day out. If Rangers want to be a club for everyone, then the terraces have to reflect that.
A personal warning
I don't say this lightly. I was once at a Rangers v Hearts end-of-season game on my own, got stuck at a red light and had a group rocking my car, popping the boot and opening the doors. It was frightening. I was shocked and scared — and that feeling sticks with you. That's not atmosphere I want to be part of, and I don't think many other supporters do either.
I've grown up around sectarian attitudes and I've had to change my own. Some of my family haven't. So I speak from experience when I say the behaviour of a few damages the experience for the many. Fans shouldn't have to worry about their safety on the way to or from a game.
How we change the atmosphere
We can't just moan about it. If you want a different culture, create it. Sing new songs, make your own banners and tifos, drown out the nonsense. Call out the chants you hear. Show young supporters what it looks like to support Rangers without the ugly stuff attached. Be the change you want to see.
Think about the players too. Some bless themselves as they come on and we still hear people sneering about a pope. Can we really blame any player for feeling uneasy about that? If we want the best for the team, make Ibrox somewhere players feel wanted, not excluded.
It's not an overnight fix, but it's on us. Win today, sure — but let's make the club a place everyone can be proud of, on and off the pitch.
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Rangers News Views offers daily Glasgow Rangers coverage including match reaction, transfer analysis, SPFL context, tactical breakdowns and opinion-led articles written by supporters for supporters.
