Simon Jordan blasts talkSPORT listener over Rangers in ‘nobody cares what you think’ reaction as Jim White slams ‘utter nonsense’
Jim White and Simon Jordan both reacted furiously to a talkSPORT listener on the subject of pyrotechnics after the Rangers win at Dundee.
The pair responded live on the station on 2 November after a fan sent in a message about the practice adding to the atmosphere at games, after a delay in the 5-0 win a Dens Park the previous night when the fire alarm went off due to flares in the away end.
White dismissed the claim they should be “embraced” as “utter nonsense” while Jordan responded by claiming “nobody cares what you think” as he got worked up in a rant over following the rules.
White read out a message from a listener, saying (10.56am): “Jack: ‘Pyrotechnics are a part of modern football now. I think it brings a great atmosphere, embrace it and talk to fans by making it safe’.”
Jordan shot back: “But Jack, nobody cares what you think. Nobody cares what you think, Jack.”
White joined in: “What utter nonsense.”
Jordan continued: “With due respect, the stadium safety officers do not believe that this is an appropriate method of celebrating football. You might have your own view, and that’s fantastic.
“But those that make the decisions, and we all have to in life adhere to certain regulations, none of us like being told what to do. I don’t like driving 20 miles per hour in London because of that buffoon Sadiq Khan, but we have to get on with it because ultimately there’s an authority that we have to obey.
“There’s a legacy, when people go back to the tragedies of Bradford and places like that… these are the rules, the governance. You don’t need to bring a bleeding flare to go to enjoy a football match. Do you really? For God’s sakes!”
“No, exactly,” agreed White.
Sad but true
While Jordan managed to partly undercut his own argument by having a go at the London mayor he is ultimately right on this subject.
Two things can be true at the same time, and while it can easily be argued that pyrotechnics do indeed add to the atmosphere in the stands that doesn’t negate the fact that the authorities have deemed them unsafe.
It is perhaps a shame but it only takes one tragic occasion to change the narrative entirely, and while it appears nobody was harmed at Dundee on Wednesday night it did have a negative impact on a game which had already been delayed ahead of kick off.
It seems boring and pedestrian to ban elements that are considered fun but there is a reason for it when it comes to the safety of fans.
Granted, it is easy to point to decisions made by footballing authorities that fly in the face of considerations for supporters, such as the obtuse scheduling of games for TV and the general fleecing of fans at any opportunity for more cash.
Nobody can question the commitment of the Rangers travelling support but it doesn’t seem like they will gain much traction on this issue.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blues have been tipped for a major cash plus players swap deal in January.