A young Rangers fan being injured by a flare is not some daft bit of atmosphere gone wrong. It cuts right to a problem a lot of ordinary supporters feel but are scared to talk about openly: fear.
Plenty of folk online are asking what the normal, decent fans are doing about it. The truth is many feel they can't do very much at all, and that in itself is a massive issue for the club.
Why many fans feel too scared to challenge it
People ask, was it the ultras section with the flares? If it was, how many ordinary fans are genuinely going to stand up in the moment and challenge them? Very few. And, to be honest, you can understand why.
They are not just “silly wee boys” acting daft with fireworks. A lot of fans see them as dangerous wee boys. Intimidating. There is a real fear among normal supporters about reporting anyone or calling anything out because they worry about reprisals away from the stadium as much as inside it.
When you know there are people with serious reputations involved, it changes the whole picture. You are no longer talking about a daft argument in a concourse, you are talking about lads some supporters genuinely believe could make life difficult for them or their families.
Reputation, violence and organised trouble
The wider reputation around certain figures only feeds that fear. You have an ex-leader constantly in the media, linked with trouble all over the country. Another is in prison as part of a major organised crime group. On top of that, supporters talk about an organised and trained fighting crew whose whole thing is battering rival groups.
When that is the backdrop, is it any wonder ordinary match-going fans keep their heads down? Even people who can handle themselves, with a bit of a past and proper combat training, openly admit they wouldn't take that mob on. That tells its own story.
The club cannot leave fans to deal with this alone
Normal supporters should not be expected to fight their own wee private war in the stands to keep kids safe from flares. That is the job of the club and the authorities. Right now, too many fans feel it is being left at their door.
Until Rangers find the courage to confront the problem properly, those responsible will keep pushing the line. If people feel untouchable, they act like it. And in the middle of that, you have ordinary fans and young kids caught in the crossfire, hoping nothing lands near them.
This is bigger than songs or displays. It is about safety, fear and whether every supporter can go to Ibrox or any away end knowing the club has their back. That is where Rangers need to show real leadership now.
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