Rangers players and manager reacted furiously to fan protests at Dundee
Rangers players, coaches and directors reacted with anger and expletives to the fan protests staged during the win at Dundee, The Athletic reports.
The eventual 2-1 victory was held up multiple times as supporters threw paper streamers and tennis balls onto the pitch, as the team struggled to overturn an early deficit.
Fans are furious at the plans for Gers to accompany Celtic on the November trip to Australia to stage an overseas friendly Old Firm derby, as part of a four team tournament that has widely been promoted as Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou’s homecoming.
The Light Blues struggled at Dens Park, and were apparently unimpressed by the fans’ actions, with Jordan Campbell writing in The Athletic: “Allan McGregor turned to the section behind the goal, the TV camera showed him appearing to call them “[expletive]heads”.
“Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Connor Goldson were not much more understanding as the manager was seen calling it “bull[expletive]”, while managing director Stewart Robertson – who had been the subject of shouts from supporters behind him in the directors box – shook his head as he watched on.”
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This problem isn’t going to go away for the Ibrox board, as fans are not getting on board with the idea.
They mishandled the original announcement, at the same time as the plans themselves proving to be highly unpopular.
If the distrust between supporters and the club has reached the point where it is affecting the team’s play it is a big problem.
As with any protest, it is pretty meaningless if it can just be ignored, so in terms of getting attention it was clearly a success on Sunday (20 March).
Robertson may well have shook his head, but he has to do something to address this issue.
Van Bronckhorst and the players are fighting on multiple fronts, and face a high pressure battle to the wire in the SPFL.
They need to maintain focus on the game, so would obviously be unhappy with major distractions, whatever their thoughts on the merits of the fans’ stance itself.
The Daily Record has reported the club is considering pulling out of the tournament, but are also now embroiled in a “propaganda war” with shareholder group Club 1872.
Abandoning the Australia plans could quell further protests during matches, but the fallout looks like it will roll on.
In other Rangers news, the club has been fined by UEFA for what happened in at Ibrox in the Europa League.