Rangers condemn the shotgun banner during the Old Firm fixture.

Rangers condemn the shotgun banner during the Old Firm derby on May 5 (Reuters). Rangers has condemned a banner that was displayed by their supporters during Sunday’s Scottish Premiership 1-1 draw with rivals Celtic at the Ibrox Stadium.

 

 

 

The banner appeared to depict former manager Graeme Souness brandishing a double-barrel shotgun. As players emerged from the Ibrox tunnel, a banner bearing the message “Take aim against the rebel scum” was unfurled as part of the tifo display in the Copland Stand. A significant portion of the crowd had displayed the banner prior to kick-off.

 

 

 

 

The image was derived from a genuine photograph of Souness that was captured in 1982 prior to Scotland’s World Cup match against New Zealand in Spain. The Rangers also condemned a supporter who hurled a glass bottle onto the field during the derby, which landed near Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisal. “Our stadium is not conducive to this conduct.”

 

 

 

 

A Rangers spokesperson stated on Sunday that the club has already initiated measures to identify the individual culpable and will take the most severe action once their identity is confirmed.

 

 

 

 

We also acknowledge that the tifo displayed prior to kick-off was reprehensible and crossed a line. Our approach to supporter displays has always been predicated on trust, with the obligation for groups to exercise sound judgment.

 

 

 

“We will contemplate the management of these displays and interact with supporter groups to guarantee that the appropriate balance of trust, responsibility, and oversight is preserved in the future.”

 

 

 

 

BBC Scotland was informed by a police spokesperson that inquiries regarding the banner are currently underway. Rangers was issued a suspended partial stadium closure and penalized 30,000 euros ($34,029)

 

 

 

 

by UEFA in March for a banner that was displayed during their Europa League match against Fenerbahce. The banner, which read “Refrain from allowing foreign ideologies to infiltrate.” The term “Defend Europe” was deemed “racist and/or discriminatory” by UEFA. ($1 is equivalent to 0.8816 euros)