‘Disgusted’ – Union Bears slam Rangers for Old Firm friendly plans
The Union Bears, the official Rangers group, has branded plans for a friendly Old Firm derby in November as ‘disgusting’ in a statement released on Thursday.
The club announced plans to travel to Australia in November to take part in a four-team tournament featuring West Sydney Wanderers, Sydney FC and Celtic.
It would be the first time the two Scottish giants have played each other outside of Scotland and fans reacted angrily to the news, with protests in the stands during Wednesday’s games.
Now the club’s ultras group have released a statement declaring their disgust at the news, while also revealing that they will take “whatever actions we feel are required” to show that they oppose the game.
“We are disgusted to learn that our club have plans to take part in a friendly over in Australia against our biggest rivals, though not entirely shocked given the recent over-commercialisation of the club,” they said.
“We made our feelings clear last night and will continue to oppose this match for as long as necessary – taking whatever actions we feel are required.”
You can read the rest of the lengthy statement below.
Angry is an understatement
For once, Celtic and Rangers fans are totally united when it comes to their feelings on something.
The attempt to try and get a money-spinning friendly match to happen on the other side of the world goes completely against everything the clubs and the rivalry stand for.
This rivalry isn’t there for monetary gain, it’s because there is a genuine hatred between the fans. So trying to monetise that rivalry is poor from the owner’s point of view and they absolutely deserve all the criticism they’re getting.
Credit goes to the fans for standing up for themselves and we sincerely hope they can get exactly what they want from this situation, which is the owners to back down and the rivalry not to be messed with.
There is plenty of time to sort this out and accept the mistake by getting the fans back on side and pushing for the title, but if the club double down then it will bring chaos.
In other Rangers news, ‘No doubt about it’ – Barry Ferguson sets Rangers target to win Scottish Premiership