SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster took nearly 48 hours to release a statement on the incident involving a fan approaching Rangers star James Tavernier on Friday night and fans are not impressed.
A Hibernian supporter managed to evade stewards at Easter Road to take to the pitch and tangle with the Rangers captain, who was lucky that the idiot did not have more serious intentions.
Many would expect a league or association to condemn the matter as soon as possible, but fans were left waiting until Sunday and only after a more severe incident had occurred down in England in the Second City derby, with officials down there calling that out much more quickly.
As quoted by The Scottish Sun, Doncaster said: “We utterly condemn the reprehensible behaviour shown by the individual who invaded the pitch on Friday night. We welcome the comments made by Leeann Dempster in tackling unacceptable conduct. We will of course review the specific circumstances of that event in conjunction with the match delegate and the police and take any appropriate steps.”
Actions will speak louder than words and fuming fans are now waiting to see what steps the SPFL take towards tackling unacceptable behaviour at matches.
The incident involving Tavernier was not an isolated one in Scottish football this season and authorities need to start getting a group of it all.
These fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on it all…
https://twitter.com/bigtamzippy/status/1104775732448972802
Two days after the event and shamed into action by a statement from their English counterparts.
Never mind “utterly condemning” it. What are they *actually* going to do about it?
— Calum Crowe (@CalumCrowe10) March 10, 2019
Embarrassed by @EFL into doing a statement! Took 2 days for @spfl and @efl took about an hour. Spot what ones are not fit for purpose?
— tailsyboy (@tailsyboy) March 10, 2019
Not only does Doncaster copy the English League names he’s now churning out his belated Condemnation post. He’s a tube who’s not fit to run a bath.
— Peter Holmes (@pjah80) March 10, 2019
awee bit late but still when you are as inefficient and incompetent as him we should be thankful for small mercies
— Tom Lucas (@Head2headTom) March 10, 2019
Glad to see Doncaster come out of hiding and comment on reprehensible attack by fan. 2 questions though; why’d it take 48 hours and why wasn’t there similar condemnation when Ibrox fan ran on pitch to attack Scott Brown. Oh, 3 questions-how’s he still in that job?
— Peter Klein (@peter_klein61) March 10, 2019
And every single football fan condemns Neil Doncaster having any authority in Scotland football. One of the worst people within Scottish football and needs replaced quickly.
— PeejPrime (@PeejPrime) March 10, 2019
I find that everything that comes out of Neil Doncaster’s mouth as utterly reprehensible but I don’t see anybody doing anything to get him out of the picture!!!! #Doncasterout
— Wings of Truth (@RobinBarclay1) March 11, 2019