Let’s be blunt up front: calling a section of Rangers fans ‘haters’ because you heard some swearing at Tav is a jump too far. Lots of us vent in the stands when things go wrong. That doesn’t mean we want anyone out the club or wish them harm. We’re passionate, not hateful.

Not the same as hate

There’s a big difference between shouting at a player in a moment of frustration and harbouring genuine hatred. The first is raw, emotional and often short lived. The second is sustained, personal and goes far beyond a few angry words after a poor result. If you’re going to accuse people of hating a player, you need more than overheard abuse from the terraces.

Crowd emotion and quick mood swings

Anyone who sits at Ibrox regularly will recognise the swings. We can boo for five minutes and then be on our feet five minutes later when the same player does what we all want — score, defend a lead, or make a crucial intervention. That’s not hypocrisy, it’s emotional investment. I’ve been guilty of it myself. Fans are allowed to be moody and inconsistent; that’s football.

What actually matters

Instead of throwing around words like ‘hate’, let’s call out reasonable criticism and back it up with why. If a player is underperforming, point to the shape, the decision-making or the finishing. If the reaction is personal and persistent, that’s another matter. But lumping everyone who swears in the same box is lazy and unhelpful. To be fair, sometimes people say things in the heat of the moment they don’t mean. In the stands, emotions run hot. At the end of the day, most of us want the same thing: the team to do well, and the players to give their best.

Written by Boy blue 4: 20 June 2026

Tags: tactics