Rangers have released a statement following the pitch invasion by Hibernian fans at the end of the Scottish Cup Final on Saturday.
There’s little point pouring over what happened, everybody knows – so simply to the statement.
‘RANGERS Football Club is shocked at the disgraceful behaviour of Hibs fans at full time. Rangers players and staff were assaulted by these fans who invaded the pitch and in the interests of their safety could not return to the pitch for the medal presentation. There can be no place for the violent behaviour witnessed at the end of the Final and Rangers fully expect the Scottish Football Association and Police Scotland to launch an investigation to find out where security measures failed. The Club would like to commend Rangers fans for the restraint they showed under severe provocation.’
Following the game Rob Kiernan, Andy Halliday, Dean Shiels, Jason Holt and Lee Wallace were namechecked in the media as being on the end of fan treatment, and also a number of staff being spat at as well.
With the goalposts demolished at the one end, and the pitch itself also torn up at places, mounted Police taking to the Hampden pitch for the first time since the 1980’s tells it’s own story of how the final whistle was greeted.
Rangers players picked up their finalist medals in the dressing room with safety fears over a return to the pitch, and staff and players ignored media interviews after the game as they sought a quick exit.
A secondary statement on Sunday from the club read.
‘Rangers finds it incomprehensible that no one, either from within the Scottish FA or Hibernian Football Club, has condemned Hibernian`s supporters following the violent scenes at the end of yesterday`s Scottish Cup final when Rangers players and members of our backroom staff were physically and verbally assaulted. We have not even had the courtesy of any contact whatsoever from Hibernian to ask after the wellbeing of those who were attacked by their club`s supporters. There must be a full independent investigation into the shameful scenes at Hampden. Rangers is also at a complete loss to understand why certain individuals have hastily attempted to gloss over the appalling events which unfolded at the end of Saturday`s final.’
The statement continued.
‘No matter how many times Hibernian`s chairman and Scottish FA vice-chairman, Rod Petrie, and certain other biased commentators wish to play down Saturday`s mayhem and violence, the truth must not be distorted. What unfolded on Saturday cannot and must not be put down to exuberance. That is a complete insult to Rangers, our supporters, and those individuals who were intimidated and attacked. It was clear to most of those who watched in horror that the Scottish FA`s security procedures failed when Hibernian`s fans went over the top in their thousands. It is to be hoped that all of Scottish football will share Rangers` disgust and any attempts to attach blame to our supporters for the disgraceful and violent behaviour, which led to our players and fans fearing for their safety, will not be accepted or tolerated by this Club.’
The anger felt by the club is clear.
‘We acknowledge that a tiny minority of Rangers fans also encroached on the pitch but only after having been faced with prolonged and severe provocation and in order to protect our players and officials who were being visibly attacked in front of them. Any club`s supporters would have done the same. This distressing and deeply disturbing episode would never have happened had Hibs fans behaved properly but as they swarmed across the pitch it became immediately obvious that the security procedures were inadequate and had failed. These fans were allowed to rush, unchecked, towards Rangers supporters at the opposite end of the stadium – all the while goading and threatening them. This makes it preposterous to suggest Rangers fans were somehow to blame as some commentators appear anxious to do. This thuggish behaviour must be investigated and as many culprits as possible brought to book and formally charged. This is the second time in a year that Rangers fans have had to endure attacks by another club`s supporters.’
And it didn’t end there.
‘It must also be said that it was not at all helpful to see leading members of the Scottish Government, including the First Minister whose parish is Govan, passing comment on social media without any attempt to condemn the behaviour of Hibernian`s fans. These failures are unbecoming of our elected representatives. Certain media outlets have also attempted to distort reality. In the case of the BBC this is, of course, not news. BBC employees, in particular Stuart Cosgrove, believe Rod Petrie`s comments to be ‘balanced` and others speak of a ‘minority` of Hibernian supporters. Another, Tom English, who was not even at the match, would prefer the authorities to focus on Rangers fans` reaction. We will not endure this insult. So, let everyone be clear on one thing – Rangers demands that players, staff and fans be protected from the violence and hatred of supporters of other clubs. Rangers fully expects the Scottish FA and Police Scotland to take action to provide our people with a safe environment. When players are unable to accept medals at the end of a final because of fears for their safety and our supporters are alarmed and extremely concerned for the women and children among them, then surely every step must be taken to ensure that this is never repeated.’
