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Rangers Address Recent Charges of Discrimination and Safety Violations
Rangers Football Club has publicly responded to charges from European football’s governing body that categorizes certain behaviors associated with the club as “racist and/or discriminatory.” The club expressed strong disapproval of these accusations, emphasizing its commitment to diversity within its teams, workforce, and fanbase.
In a statement on their official website, Rangers declared, “Rangers is a modern, progressive football club and we are fiercely proud of our diverse playing squads, workforce and support.” They lamented the timing of the charge, stating, “For the club to be charged with such a matter in 2025 is shameful and the disdain for those responsible will be shared by the overwhelming majority of our supporters.”
The club reiterated its stance on accountability, mentioning efforts to identify and penalize those responsible for the misconduct. They stated, “This charge will bring consequences for the club, while the club is also working to identify those responsible and will ensure they also face consequences.” Furthermore, Rangers underscored the values of inclusion, asserting, “For the avoidance of doubt, if you do not believe in 2025 that absolutely everyone is welcome to follow Rangers, whether at Ibrox or away, then Rangers is not the club for you and you should disassociate yourself with the club immediately.”
In addition to the discrimination charges, Rangers are facing scrutiny for incidents involving the throwing of objects during matches. The club reported that their players and staff were subjected to “missiles” during a recent Old Firm derby at Celtic Park. They expressed concern that such violence is becoming increasingly common in Scottish football, stating, “This is becoming a regular occurrence, not just at Rangers matches but across stadia in Scotland.”
Rangers referenced specific examples, noting previous incidents where supporters were injured due to projectiles thrown from the stands, stating, “There was a widely-reported incident in the January Old Firm game, whilst at the recent game with Motherwell, one of our own supporters was hit and injured by an object thrown towards the away end.” They condemned this behavior, declaring, “This senseless and criminal behaviour has no place in sport, nor in society. Again, if you think such behaviour is acceptable, you are not welcome at Rangers matches.”
The club is also facing UEFA sanctions for blocking passageways during a match against Fenerbahce. In response to safety concerns, Rangers urged fans to adhere to the directives of stewards and law enforcement present at matches.
Furthermore, Rangers highlighted incidents involving pyrotechnics, stating that two individuals disobeyed clear warnings following the recent Old Firm victory at Parkhead. They warned that such actions could lead to significant losses for their supporters, noting, “This runs the risk of an additional 800 of our supporters being unable to attend a match in the latter stages of the Premier Sports Cup at Hampden, in addition to the 500 that will already miss out as a result of the use of pyrotechnics.”
Rangers concluded by stressing that all the aforementioned behaviors would have serious repercussions for both the club and its fan community, indicating a need for reflection on the culture surrounding the matches. “All of the above behaviours will have consequences for the club and, either directly or indirectly, the club’s supporters,” they affirmed.
Source
www.bbc.com