Exclusive: Rangers points deductions not off the table after ‘Extreme’ developments
Rangers have found it increasingly difficult to control fans at Ibrox in recent months.
Despite serious UEFA warnings over missiles and offensive banners in the Europa League, it continued into the Scottish Premiership in the 1-1 draw against Celtic recently.
Rangers fans held out a tifo of Graeme Souness aiming a shotgun with an offensive message, with repercussions of that already suggested.
Rangers may face points deductions
With the threat of a possible part-stadium closure from UEFA moving forward, it is clear that the message and warnings are not sinking in.
Dan Plumley has reacted to the threat of fines on clubs like Rangers, saying they may not do enough to deter fans from making these decisions.
The finance expert admits that sporting sanctions, including points deductions, would hit Rangers where it hurts, and ultimately are not off the table.
“It’s really problematic,” he exclusively told Ibrox News.
“It keeps happening, and we keep talking about it, and we keep saying that it’s likely the club will be fined.
“I don’t know the answer to what may happen with this, but what I would say on this, ultimately, if you really want to stamp some of this, you have to hit the club where it hurts the most, and that is sporting sanctions.
“I know those things are never off the table as an ultimate form of punishment, and I understand the backlash that would come if you were to look at points deductions for things like this, we may open up the floodgates.
“You can keep fining them, but if that’s not doing what you need it to do, I just think with football, you have to hit the club where it hurts if you’re going to that extreme level, and that’s one for the governing bodies and Scottish football to look at.
“Where’s the end game with it? If you start docking them points, you will start to see fans start to change behaviour.”
Barry Ferguson left in no man’s land
Something desperately needs to change at Ibrox, but it works both ways.
The Union Bears are trying to get a message across to an Ibrox boardroom that is weeks away from huge change, while Barry Ferguson continues to limp through the season.
| Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points-per-match |
| 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1.46 |
The fans are clashing against their own, for very little possible reward, and it needs to stop before serious harm is done heading into a new era.