Ibrox View: Darren Fletcher sets fine example with measured assessment of Rangers Celtic rivalry
RANGERS OPINION
There are few, if any, rivalries in world football that can match Rangers and Celtic for their intensity and bitterness.
The tensions between the two clubs go far beyond the football pitch and, as was proven by Peter Lawwell’s recent comments on the Gers’ efforts to hold the SPFL to account for their handling of the Coronavirus crisis, are still as raw and heated as ever.
With Celtic set to be coronated as Scottish champions for a ninth consecutive time in the coming days, those tensions are unlikely to die down anytime soon either.
But perhaps there are times when it would be best advised for us all to take a leaf out of Darren Fletcher’s book.
Speaking on BBC Sportsound on over the weekend, the ex-Scotland international made a pretty shocking confession about his allegiances, or lack thereof, when it comes to the Old Firm.
He said: “I’m just a big Scottish football fan and I want Scottish football to thrive. I’m a fan of Scottish football more than anything nowadays.
“If it came to it I would say I’m a Celtic fan, I’m not hiding behind that, that’s there to be seen but at the same time I’m not everything against Rangers.
“Rangers doing well in Europe, I love seeing it. I loved their Europa League run this year.”
Now don’t get us wrong, nobody here is calling for us to start holding hands and skipping through the streets of Glasgow on derby day, but a more united front in certain scenarios could be a positive for Scottish football as a whole.
This entire debacle that we’ve had to go through over the past few weeks – and the sniping and point-scoring from a number of sources who were made uncomfortable by Rangers asking questions that have long been overdue – has essentially made Scottish football into a pantomime and a laughing stock.
It looks petty and unprofessional, and for any outsider peering in – whether that be English supporters, potential signings, or even the likes of UEFA – it paints the game north of the border in a bad light.
There is a time for rivalry, of course, but there is also a time for trying to pull in the right direction for the sake of the greater good.
Fletcher has clearly realised that, and hopefully others will follow his admirable example.
In other Rangers news, Agent claims Gers are interested in Metz defender Mamadou Fofana.