You get the feeling that something is going to happen at stadiums around the country because of the unwanted trend of kids – and now adults – running on to the pitch in an attempt to persuade their idols to part with match jerseys.
It’s hard to tell where or when this all started but the increased prevalence of homemade signs asking for players shirts has certainly increased this season as has parents taking to social media to complain/make the players feel guilty when their children have gone home upset.
It has to stop.
If a player wants to throw their shirt into the crowd then it should be down to them, it should be totally organic, not forced.
What happened after the Legends game on Saturday can’t happen again, where does it stop? Fans forcibly trying to take the strips off players as they try to get off the pitch? Loss of season tickets for parents and stadium bans could be the only option.
When a strip is thrown into the crowd or given to a fan it means something, but the cynic in me can’t help but think that some of the youngsters being encouraged to run onto the park are doing so to make their parents a few pound, knowing how much money match worn tops can go for.
The club has already released a statement saying that the Rangers players have been told not to give anyone their shirts, if it doesn’t stop, the next step will be a return of the netting that we saw during the days when fans weren’t allowed in grounds, only this time it will be to prevent fans getting onto the pitch rather than to stop balls disappearing into row z.