It takes a special kind of arrogance to look at what unfolded at Ibrox last Sunday and then, four days later, decide that the only party deserving of condemnation was the police.
Yet, on Thursday evening, that was exactly the media strategy employed by Celtic and their interim chairman Brian Wilson. It made for a truly unedifying intervention.
Unsurprisingly, the Parkhead club only broke their silence on the events that marred the Scottish Cup quarter-final after Rangers had done the same. All week, there had been a feeling that the Glasgow clubs were waiting to see who would blink first in the statement stand-off.
To be clear, there is no defending the behaviour of some of the supporters from both sides of the divide. There have been arrests and there will be more, but plenty in attendance that day should be questioning their behaviour.
It doesn’t matter if it was sectarian songs or mocking a tragedy – none of it is acceptable and it should not be tolerated. Football rivalry does not excuse such rancid behaviour.
‘The disorder that occurred on Sunday was unacceptable and we condemn it unequivocally,’ Rangers said in their statement, which was more than Celtic managed.
Celtic interim chairman Brian Wilson’s comments could be detrimental to his club and Scottish football
The Ibrox club did mount a defence of their fans, but there was no explicit criticism of the police. At least not yet. With the SFA’s independent investigation to review the ‘match-day safety and security operations’, it’s safe to say that the police are being put under the spotlight.
Celtic, it would seem, are fairly certain that the police should carry the can for what happened, and it certainly smacks of a cynical strategy in a season when they have been at constant war with a section of their support.
Don’t forget, an olive branch was being offered to the Green Brigade on Thursday night at the same as Wilson was filleting Chief Constable Jo Farrell for having the temerity to point out – correctly – that the Old Firm had failed to condemn what happened at Ibrox.
‘When there is evidence of unacceptable behaviours, we act against both individuals and groups,’ said Wilson.
‘Measuring responses by condemnatory statements isn’t really accurate. If this could be resolved by statements of condemnation, it would have been resolved decades ago. It is actions that matter.
‘If you’re going to ask for condemnation, you have to be more specific. There are certainly things that I would happily condemn and regret.’
One would hope that Wilson will one day regret such disingenuous words.
It’s not difficult to understand that the starting point to resolving any issue is admitting that a problem exists. Condemning poor fan behaviour won’t stop it, but it at least proves that all parties involved are on the same page.
Disgraceful scenes at Ibrox as an injured steward is helped off the park during pitch invasion
Old Firm thugs marred the Scottish Cup quarter-final between Rangers and Celtic
If actions matter, then Wilson has opened the door wide open for that – and it could well be to the detriment of Celtic and the Scottish game as a whole.
Why, exactly, should the police or politicians be sympathetic to football’s plight if those at the top of the game simply shrug their shoulders and deflect when violent scenes occur either in or outside a stadium?
Almost immediately after the cup tie, there was a fear that alcohol trials at stadia across Scottish football would be put on hold. The authorities might not feel too generous if they are being told that even recognising poor behaviour from fans is too much of an ask from clubs.
There’s also now the issue of away fans being present at Old Firm derbies, and the police are key to that happening.
It’s only right that there is a review into what happened at Ibrox and that it establishes if there were failings on the side of the police. But that is only to ensure that fans from both sides can attend derbies safely and securely. Surely everyone wants that?
The way the match was policed is not an excuse for violent scenes and poor fan behaviour. Nor should the police be scapegoats for club hierarchies with their own agendas.
With the Premiership title still at stake, both Rangers and Celtic will have been keen to keep their supporters on side for the run-in. But the reputation of Scottish football is worth more than that.
This should be a season to be relished, with St Mirren winning a cup and Hearts sitting top of the league – it’s been the most exciting and unpredictable campaign we have had in a long time.
That is in danger of being overshadowed by our game’s two biggest clubs. Such behaviour is depressing but, alas, not terribly surprising.
