‘Offenders must stop’
● Rangers will not ask for away Euro tickets to avoid full stadium closure ● Plea to fans over sectarian songs
“Richie has a lot going on, I think, on and off the field, so I understand his decision not to be involved”
Rangers have told Uefa chiefs they will not take up their ticket allocation for their next European trip in a bid to stave off a potential full stadium closure.
The Ibrox club has already been forced to close a section of 3,000 seats when they host Legia Warsaw tonight as punishment for sectarian singing during their opening Europa League qualifier with St Joseph’s in July.
But Rangers now face a more serious punishment after being told they are being issued with a fresh charge following sectarian chanting during last week’s goalless draw in Poland.
In a strongly-worded statement last night, Rangers pleaded with the offending fans to stop singing the songs which are “endangering the club”.
“Rangers has today informed Uefa’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body that the club will not be requesting tickets for its next European away match,” read the statement.
“The club now faces an additional Uefa charge of racist behaviour for sectarian singing during the first leg of our Europa League play-off tie against Legia Warsaw last Thursday evening. We are liaising with Uefa in relation to this second charge.
“The first charge came after the match against St Joseph’s at Ibrox on Thursday, July 18. A consequence of sectarian singing from section BF1 of the ground that evening is that Uefa ordered a partial closure of our stadium for tomorrow night’s crucial game.
“Those fans responsible for this partial closure of Ibrox Stadium need to understand that they are damaging our club. If there is a further incidence at tomorrow night’s match this could lead to a ground closure.
“The same applies to those who indulged in sectarian singing in Warsaw last week and that is why we have taken the decision to make Uefa aware that we will decline tickets for our next away match even though this means that, once again, the many must suffer because of the few.
“This kind of behaviour has no place at Ibrox, or anywhere else where our many teams appear. Offenders must please stop. You are endangering your club which has recently launched its Everyone Anyone project aimed at welcoming all to Ibrox.
“Those who wish to sing offensive songs must realise by now that they are insulting Rangers players, staff, and fellow fans. There is nothing clever, bold or even defiant in what this small number of supporters are doing.
“By supporting Rangers in the correct way the rest of us must strive to protect our great
“This kind of behaviour has no place at Ibrox… Offenders must please stop. You are endangering your club”
club. One way or another this offensive behaviour must end and it would be much more preferable if we stopped it ourselves, simply by behaving like true Rangers fans.”
Rangers put the blame for the St Joseph’s chants on the Union Bears group and their section at the front of the Broomloan Road Stand plus two others in the Club Deck will lie empty as they seek to reach the Europa League group stage against Legia.
It is understood both the Uefa match delegate and a representative from antidiscrimination organisation Fare singled out that part of the ground when citing Rangers for the racist behaviour of their support during the St Joseph’s match on 18 July.
Now club bosses have decided to decline tickets for their next away match – and warned that any repeat of the banned songs could lead to Steven Gerrard’s side being forced to play future home matches behind closed doors.
Gerrard himself said yesterday that tonight’s partial ground closure was “frustrating” and “not ideal”. But he believes those Rangers fans in attendance can combine with his players to carry the club through to a second successive appearance in the Europa League group stage.
Gerrard said: “It’s not ideal, it’s frustrating because we want the best atmosphere that we can find and as many people in there on our side as we can.
“But I still have confidence that the fans will make the place rock. I’m sure that once the ball is rolling, the players will be focused on trying to lift that crowd and keep it with us from start to finish.
“The fans have never let us down on that front so I don’t think that will start tomorrow.”
As well as the recently-launched “Everyone Anyone” campaign and a pledge of “zero tolerance” towards all forms of discrimination, Gerrard has made his own public appeals for an end to unacceptable conduct within the club’s support.
“I don’t think I can say any more about it,” added Gerrard.
“Since I came to the club, it has been two or three occasions now where we have asked them to behave in the right manner. Because in the long run it is only our team that suffers.
“So there is not another message I can give, really, that is stronger than I already have and I think the club are doing everything they can to ask for the right type of behaviour.”