Whilst matters on the pitch played out as expected, the biggest talking point at Ibrox today was the situation between the club and the Union Bears who did not enter their usual BF1 section as a group, in protest.
A claim and counter claim was made from both sides with the result being no significant vocal or visual backing for the team within the stadium during the Scottish Cup victory as well as a deterioration in the relationship between the two entities.
Right from kick-off, the usual noise and presence of UB in the Broomloan Road Stand was clearly missing with their area taped off. Shortly before half-time, a picture emerged on social media showing a large group walking together, away from the stadium.
During the game in a peculiar move, a club line was released with the following content:
Rangers statement: “Rangers refused to allow an offensive banner relating to the police service to be displayed at today’s match.
"The Union Bears elected to absent themselves from the stadium because the Club would not permit the offensive anti-police banner display.”— Chris Jack (@Chris_Jack89) March 12, 2023
“Rangers refused to allow an offensive banner relating to the police service to be displayed at today’s match.”
“The Union Bears elected to absent themselves from the stadium because the Club would not permit the offensive anti-police banner display.”
However, a different version of events was put forward by the fan group after the match:
“Union Bears had planned to display various legitimate message banners at today’s match highlighting different issues surrounding our club and support. Prior to the match Police Scotland and Rangers FC jointly removed these materials without our knowledge and blocked access to regular matchday materials.”
“From Rangers FC this is a clear breakdown of trust and an attempt to silence our groups’ valid concerns. As a consequence, we made the difficult decision to remove active support and not enter the ground as a group.”
“This attempt to suppress the feelings amongst the Rangers support will not be successful and only stands to confirm the concerns that the fans hold.”
— Union Bears (@UnionBears_07) March 12, 2023
Concern
We now have an impasse that is not healthy for relations between the club and wider support, not just the Union Bears and the Broomloan Collective initiative which they lead.
To disapprove of certain banners is one thing but a dangerous precedent appears to have been set with removing access to regular materials, as well as the fact that UB previously displayed a series of banners at Livingston as well as the message at the Kilmarnock game at Ibrox last Saturday.
Then there was the problems accessing Easter Road in midweek which many fans in general were angry about. The club has not yet spoken publicly about this but they have canvassed those fans who attended the game for feedback.
Some may have the opinion that the full truth has not come out from either side, but why have the club decided to act like this now, supposedly for an anti-police message, when similar sentiment is expressed from BF1 regularly and at a time when the likes of managing director Stewart Robertson and sporting director Ross Wilson are coming under increasing criticism.
Coincidence? I think not.
Last week in the aftermath of the Killie game, Michael Beale said he wasn’t worried by the fan anger expressed toward the board. This afternoon he played down what happened, probably not knowing the full detail, but the lack of vocal backing for his team in a tepid Ibrox atmosphere will have been very obvious.
The manager said last week after the banners read, ‘After 55 titles you took your eye off the ball. Time for a change’:
“It is not (a concern). The fans are entitled to make their feelings known, they support the team at other times fantastically.”
“They pay their money and they come. We would be a lot worse off without our fans. I would like it for us to be all together but I understand that at times there is going to be discontent.”
Discontent is exactly what there is just now with no chance of unity at the club anytime soon. The fans will continue to back Beale and the players but if anything, the protests will intensify after today.