Stan Collymore slams FIFA and UEFA after fan incidents in Rangers defeat in Old Firm v Celtic
Stan Collymore has hit out at FIFA and UEFA for not doing enough to address fan behaviour at games after a bottle was thrown onto the pitch in Rangers’ loss to Celtic on Sunday.
After the players came out for the second half at Ibrox, Joe Hart noticed a smashed glass bottle in his penalty area, which led to a delay in kick-off as it was cleared by groundsmen.
Police Scotland also arrested three men after Celtic fans were alleged to have sprayed expanding foam on the turnstiles at Ibrox [Football Scotland].
Ex-England forward Collymore, who admires Celtic, wants FIFA, UEFA and other organisations to address the issues ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Writing for the Mirror [print edition, 5 April, page 49], Collymore said: “The incidents at Ibrox on Sunday have only added to the growing concerns I have about the behaviour of fans since their return post-pandemic, and that’s several big issues we’ve seen in the UK and further afield now.
“It’s all a consequence of governing bodies not setting the rules properly again and, ahead of the World Cup, FIFA and the continental organisations must get together and address the problem of fan behaviour, because they all have to do better.”
Too often
It’s not just the Old Firm that has been hit with issues from the crowds and it’s not just British football either.
While the incidents of Sunday are well-documented, as are those at the European Championships in England last summer, there have also been incidents across the world.
On 6 March, Sky Sports reported on how 22 people were left injured when fights broke out at a top-flight game in Mexico.
The Guardian reported on 27 November that there’s a “shocking rise of fan disorder” at games in France’s Ligue 1. Nine games had been disrupted or abandoned when that report went out.
And, in January, eight fans were sadly killed in a crush as Cameroon played Comoros in the Africa Cup of Nations [Independent].
The sad reality is that FIFA and other bosses within the game have a lot to do to stop these incidents from happening.
But, at the same time, it’s a sad reflection of society – in the UK at least – right now.
In other Rangers news, Andy Walker was outraged by the “ridiculous” incident he spotted at Ibrox.