HUNDREDS have joined in a Rangers ultras fans group-organised march promoted by a sectarian flyer that is the centre of a criminal investigation.
With a "Goodnight Green and White" banner draped across the balaclava-clad marchers at the front, the group sang both celebratory Rangers songs but also offensive songs including Follow Follow containing the "f*** the Pope and the Vatican" and the Billy Boys chant featuring the line "we're up to our knees in Fenian blood".
The Union Bears, which organised the march had insisted the march before the Old Firm derby would go ahead, despite calls for it to be stopped, while claiming members have been visited by police.
A poster plugging the march showed a silhouette image of someone wearing a green-and-white hooped jersey appearing to be being kicked in the head while on the ground, surrounded by text reading: “Good night, green white.”
READ MORE: abuse and defiance over Rangers v Celtic game march plugged by sectarian flyer
It describes the Old Firm derby as "the match against the Fenians."
Match commander Superintendent Alan Murray confirmed Police Scotland was looking into the controversial flyer and urged fans not go take part in the march.
But that did not stop the march from going ahead from the Louden Tavern with a heavy police presence. Fans lit up red, white and blue flares and carried Union Flags.
While some supporting the march compared it to allowed marches by Celtic Ultras group, the Green Brigade, the ensuing row has caused one MSP James Dornan who reported the matter to Police Scotland to threaten to quit Twitter following abuse over his stance.
Glasgow city councillor for Southside Central Mhairi Hunter was one of the first to voice their concern on social media, saying the marchers were displaying "intimidating behaviour"
She said: "Pretty worrying pics and videos of that ultras march to Ibrox.
"The police just have to manage this, there are too many to stop it.
"This is unauthorised, But given the numbers the police will have decided to let it go ahead rather than try and stop it. Their priority will always be to maintain public safety."
READ MORE: 'Mock execution' effigies at Old Firm game were "inappropriate", says Scottish Government
The Union Bears had made a 'no surrender' retort saying: "Despite intimidation by the media and visits to our members houses by Police Scotland - Sunday's march to the stadium is still going ahead. We urge all Rangers fans to join us on the streets."
Match commander Superintendent Alan Murray in confiming that it was looking into the controversial flyer said: “We are aware of a planned fans’ march on Sunday and would urge supporters not to join in.
“Large groups of fans moving together can cause problems and I am asking fans to make their way to the ground as normal.
“We are aware of the content of the advert connected to the march, which permission has not been granted for.
“A criminal investigation has been launched into the wording and logo of the advert."
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel