On the eve of today’s game against Ross County, Rangers posted advice to fans at the behest of the authorities on the official website.
As is customary, the club is looking to provide a heads up for supporters and to provide clarity on dialogue in the background.
With this one though, the devil is very much in the detail.
Supporter Update: Ross County v Rangers – https://t.co/DgimCKktOY pic.twitter.com/pFO7EgF0zt
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) January 28, 2022
The information, as above, included:
“Supporters attending the match are encouraged to arrive early ahead of the 12:30 Kick off with turnstiles opening from 11am.”
“Additionally, supporters should be aware that Police Scotland will carry out alcohol checks on supporter coaches whilst en-route to the fixture.”
Why
The first sentence is common sense and given the long journey and relative small ground, is sound advice but then we get to the crux of a major gripe from a fans perspective with the second.
A four-hour plus journey on a football bus, shared with like minded individuals yet it is forbidden, frowned upon and ‘illegal’ for fans to have a beer. Football fans are treated differently of that there is no doubt.
Yes, we know all about binge drinking and the behaviours involved sometimes, but have the police not got better things to be doing? Seriously.
The flip side is that if fans were treated like adults, there would often be a better, more reciprocal relationship with the authorities instead of being treated as criminals for the audacity of wanting to have a beer at the weekend, going to the football.
Maybe one day, decency and fairness can apply to the benefit of the vast majority involved, all round.