Comments on: Will trouble at UEFA Cup final be repeated in Moscow?

By: CELFROG

CELFROG — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:41:41 +0000

I dont think there will be great trouble at the match, or after, the authorities seem to have it well in hand, I hope it turns out to be a fantastic advert for the game in England and Europe in general.
As to the issue of Rangers, the club itself are not to blame but the supporters most definately are; a minority of a few thousand is a pretty big minority no matter how you try to come up with excuses for it. And Celtic took 80,000 to seville in 100 degrees, drank and sang all day and all night. They lost, but the fans never degenerated into the disgusting rabble that graced Manchester, not a single arrest, and lauded by both the Seville authorities and UEFA for their conduct. Ask the authorities in Barcelona, Manchester, in France and others how the feel about having Rangers back? You wont like the answer!

By: Colin James Watling

Colin James Watling — Tue, 20 May 2008 01:17:25 +0000

Any trouble in Moscow on Wednesday and the KGB and Spetznas won’t stand for it they can take so much of it because there plain people who say exactly what they mean but push them too far and well-if they want to be brought home in body bags thats their desicion not ours.

I’ll be watching the game on my setting room TV with a stiff drink-probably Vodka.

For the ones that live its off too the far Siberian concentration camps were they hose you down with cold water reguarly at 4 a.m in the morning in temperatures of minus >30 below-now that wakes them up alright and sort out the men from the boys…..

By: Covenantor

Covenantor — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:25:57 +0000

Very easy to point blame and so on, no excuses for violence and some of the scene’s were disgraceful. (I was at the match and with my 10year old son)but to level that at Rangers FC and true fans is a cheap shot. Rangers are by default the largest team in Scotland and due to the socio-religious culture (however distasteful to Scots/Irish teams and culture). This and the close proximity to Manchester, Blackpool, Bolton, Preston, Wigan, Liverpool, Warrington, etc allowed a massive influx of fans to camp there. Don’t kid yourself that Celtic would have been better, the unfortunate situation is a refelction of Scottish culture, not Rangers FC.
I totally agree that the same scene’s won’t happen, but some confrontation might occur with some elements. If Rangers fans thought the police in Manchester over-reacted throughtout the city, Russian militia will be ruthless.
JOG ON CELSEA, JOG ON!

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 17 May 2008 15:05:51 +0000

Tim- nonsense, my good man. On many a level.

Allan- Chelsea fans in Rangers tops? A big boy did it and ran away? If you are to be a Rangers apologist- even in the face of the overwhelming evidence- then you will have to do better than that.

Pure fantasy.

Rangers = Scotland’s shame.

By: Red Devil

Red Devil — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:37:57 +0000

When in Rome….If the man says no drinking in public then that’s it!!!! I am sure there are plenty of bars around and the heavy police presence is only to make sure it doesn’t get out of hand. Behave and it will be an event to remember. Misbehave, wreck it for the true football fans, and you will get what’s coming to you.

By: tim

tim — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:00:43 +0000

only if an english team lose and seeing that both teams in the final are english you can be assured some violence will occur after the match. the brits are poor losers and cannot drink alcohol in a proper manner. football is over rated and english fans think they have a god given right to win everything. frankly the brits shouldnt be allowed off their island. they are loud and rude and have no sense of sportsmanship. thanks to sky tv the premierleague is worth big money and in my opinion it is way over rated and over valued. rangers lost to a foreign team which made it more violent. the scots are hungry to win something but it didnt happen so they resorted to violence, as usual.

By: Tom Pilcher

Tom Pilcher — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:59:04 +0000

No doubt the Russians have kept all the tanks they rolled into Red Square the other day for the Presidential induction just around the corner in case of trouble. They don’t tolerate violence, but maybe this heavy-handedness will lead to ugly scenes. I hope we can just concentrate on the football like Darren says.

By: Allan

Allan — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:41:00 +0000

I understand from the outside looking in that these scenes were horrific, but unless you were actually there you don’t realise what was happening. Unbelievably some of the trouble was instigated by CHELSEA casuals as they called themselves wearing Rangers tops. As much as i do not condone any violence and i am angry at some Rangers fans behaviour believe me some of the trouble was 100% started by fans of other clubs wearing Rangers tops. This could happen to any club in the world.It is very easy to sit on the outside and point the finger but some facts have not been reported.

By: Rod Mc Intosh

Rod Mc Intosh — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:14:51 +0000

This is just another case of thuggery by the Rangers fans, again after a defeat. Surely the time has come for more severe punishment in the form of a ban or the stopping of the supply of tickrts for the away games in Europe. The club has been warned and has adopted a self policing structure in recent years, but this is obviously not working. The club must take steps to root out these troublemakers and not blame it on Chelsea thugs.

By: Terry Lane

Terry Lane — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:07:02 +0000

From all the reports I have heard and read, this was absolutely nothing to do with football hooligans, as such, and was not planned. Even independent reporters suggest the trouble started when the screens were unable to show the game.

Alcohol-fuelled trouble is inexcusable, but was inevitable.