A couple of weeks ago it seemed as if war had broken out in Scottish football. Celtic and Rangers met for what seemed like the umpteenth time this season, this time in the Scottish Cup and having drawn at Ibrox, the sides reconvened at Celtic Park for the replay. The furore during and at the end of this game tainted Scottish football further which, given the state of the game in this country, was the last thing the football authorities needed. Next weekend the Old Firm meet yet again - this time in the Co-operative Insurance Cup Final at Hampden Park - and despite the nondescript nature of this competition, this may turn out to be one of the most important Old Firm fixtures in years.
The Scottish Cup debacle prompted a summit by Scotland’s First Minister, no less, and involved the chief executives of Celtic and Rangers as well as high-ranking officials from Strathclyde Police. I’m not sure quite what this achieved, particularly as Celtic’s Peter Lawell and Rangers Martin Bain were both of the opinion there was little more their clubs could do in relation to the abhorrent violence from supporters of both clubs that usually occurs in the aftermath of almost every Old Firm fixture both in the vicinity of Celtic Park/Ibrox and domestic incidents across Glasgow and beyond as mindless morons take the consequences of defeat out on those they supposedly love and cherish. However, we live in an age when politicians have to be seen to be doing something when a crisis blows, particularly when there’s an election on the horizon…
Bigotry, sectarianism and its associated hatred has been a poison that has blighted not just Scottish football but society in this country for far too many years. And, for years, the same question has been asked by far more qualified people than I - what can be done to eradicate it? Disturbingly it seems there is no definitive answer. Worse, it seems to many observers this cancer on Scots society will never be eradicated.
In the 1970s football became a convenient outlet for hooliganism not only in Scotland but also around Europe. The seeds of social change, planted in the aftermath of the Second World War, harvested the right to be heard and more freedom for all. However, some morals such as decency, tolerance and respect for others were trampled underfoot in the process and hatred became more prevalent. When black footballers first made their presence felt in the UK at this time, racism was rife and much - but not all - of the nation was rightly appalled at the abuse the players received in what was supposed to be sporting arenas. There weren’t so many black players in Scotland as there were over the border but this didn’t mean Scottish football was immune to racist abuse. The treatment of the Rangers player Mark Walters in the late 1980s was sickening but he was far from alone in being subjected to this.
Thankfully, campaigns such as Kick Racism Out of Football and Show Racism the Red Card have proved effective and, thankfully, racist abuse at football games in Scotland is rarely heard these days. With Scotland now a multi-cultural society, any purveyor of such abuse will almost certainly be pointed out to the police by decent, law-abiding fans and likely to be banned from football for life. Why, then, is sectarianism still rife in Scotland? And what can be done to try and address it?
Football showed its responsible face when it took the issue of racism full on. That remains a work in progress but few could doubt its effectiveness. Celtic, Rangers and the Scottish Football Association not only face a huge challenge in addressing sectarianism but they also have a huge responsibility. The competitive nature of football means tempers can flare at any time during a game. In most games, bust-ups between players and officials amount to little more than a few words of righteous condemnation in the press and a slap on the wrist from the football authorities. However, when it happens during Old Firm games there can be more far-reaching consequences.
At the end of the aforementioned Scottish Cup replay at Celtic Park, Celtic’s Neil Lennon and Rangers Ally McCoist squared up to each other right in front of the Sky television cameras, eager to broadcast such a confrontation around the world. We were told a couple of days later that before the evening was over Lennon and McCoist settled their differences over a bottle of beer. A pity, then, that no one thought it would be a good idea for the two men to meet publicly the following day, shake hands before a press conference, and apologise for their irresponsible behaviour. Instead, a baying press stoked the embers of their fiery joust and speculation reached fever pitch about what was said and by whom.
Celtic admitted that Neil Lennon had displayed behaviour that was not of the standard expected of a Celtic manager and he had apologised to the board of directors - although Peter Lawwell thought it wise to add ‘there were mitigating circumstances’. Across the city Martin Bain said Ally McCoist ‘was acutely aware of representing Rangers in the best possible way’ but then could not resist adding ‘he was acting in the defence of our players’
In fairness, the Old Firm have agreed on a six-point plan that came as a result of the summit chaired by the First Minister. However, I suspect I’m not the only person who thinks there is so much more Celtic and Rangers could do. How about Peter Lawwell and Martin Bain holding a joint press conference this week, in the build up to next Sunday’s cup final and both condemning bigotry and violent and abusive behaviour? Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist holding the cup together at Hampden, before a very public embrace? Each player leading out a child dressed in the opposition colours just before kick-off next Sunday? Players from both teams holding up ‘Kick Bigotry Out of Football’ cards in the same way as the Show Racism the Red card campaign?
Small things, I know. Nevertheless, respect for others and decency have to be resurrected in Scotland. For the sake of the game and society in general, there has to be a starting point somewhere.
