Rangers update infuriates BBC man Tom English as legal action mooted
Tom English has railed against the news that Rangers and Dundee will both avoid SPFL punishment over pyrotechnics at Dens Park, claiming there “never, ever is” any consequences.
The BBC Sport writer reacted on Twitter to a story in the Scottish Sun stating both clubs won’t be penalised having taken “reasonable precautions” to avoid incidents with flares in the stands, upset that “nothing gets punished” in the Scottish top flight because the clubs make collective decisions.
With the police involved after the 5-0 Rangers victory on 1 November was delayed in the first half amid safety concerns English also suggested that there will be legal action in future.
English wrote: “There was never, ever going to be any SPFL punishment because there, never, ever is. For anything.
“The clubs make these decisions. They collectively decide that nothing gets punished.”
When it was suggested that Rangers had got away with it when others wouldn’t he countered: “Other clubs have and nothing ever happens.”
And after it was claimed that somebody would eventually sue he agreed: “I suspect you’re right.”
Upset
The potential danger involved in the use of pyrotechnics in the stands has been widely criticised by the authorities and the media since the midweek win.
Manager Philippe Clement has also made clear that it isn’t needed for the Rangers support to have a positive effect on the team [Scotsman, 3 November].
It is an ongoing debate throughout football as to whether clubs should be punished for the behaviour of their supporters, and it looks increasingly like in some instances it is the only thing that might have an impact.
But English is clearly very unhappy in this instance that they won’t be and is unlikely to be alone, after heavy condemnation from the likes of Jim White and Simon Jordan in the wake of the midweek match.
There certainly are arguments that pyro adds to the atmosphere at games, but it would be far from the first thing where the potential down sides ultimately outweigh the benefits.
And if the safety of fans is put at risk then the authorities ultimately have no choice but to outlaw it whatever the pushback might be.
In other Rangers news, a potential £5million transfer has been backed as a certainty to pay off at Ibrox.