WOULD anything have stopped Rangers fans from breaking Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, leaving their homes and taking to the streets to celebrate the Ibrox club’s long-awaited coronation as Scottish champions?
An appeal from their manager Steven Gerrard, a man for whom their admiration is absolute at the moment, first thing on Friday morning failed to have the desired effect.
After it became clear that a large number of supporters planned to descend on Govan for their Premiership game with St Mirren on Saturday, Gerrard implored supporters to adhere to coronavirus protocols.
“We all have to continue to abide by the government rules and respect the social distancing and stuff like that,” said Gerrard at his pre-match press conference. “The priority for me is that the fans stay safe.”
Alas, his car was mobbed by jubilant crowds as he arrived at the ground and an impromptu party was held in the surrounding areas before, during and after the match.
Another plea was made by the former Liverpool and England captain following a 3-0 win that took his team to within a point of their first major trophy since 2011.
“We are still experiencing and involved in a pandemic,” he said. “It is important that fans try to stay humble and safe. That is the priority always, fans’ safety and people’s safety.”
However, when Celtic were held to a 0-0 draw by Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday and Rangers were finally confirmed as the league winners, thousands flocked to Ibrox, George Square and other parts of Glasgow to rejoice regardless.
The shocking scenes have been condemned by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Justice Minister Humza Yousaf, National Clinical Director Jason Leitch and Scottish Police Federation chairman David Hamilton among others.
And no wonder. The actions of those who ignored guidelines amid the pandemic were reckless in the extreme and endangered lives. It is to be hoped there is no rise in infection rates or fatalities across the country as a result of the Covidiocy.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney yesterday laid the blame for the disorder firmly at the door of the Rangers hierarchy.
He claimed the Ibrox club had shown a “lack of leadership” by failing to act following two meetings with the Scottish government and Police Scotland last month and last week.
"I think it would have been the duty of Rangers to say clearly and simply to fans that they shouldn't have come out to celebrate and when they did they should have gone home," he said. "The silence from Rangers was deafening.”
Rangers countered that by stressing they had “proactively engaged” with their local MP, the Justice Minister, Holyrood, Police Scotland and the SPFL about “maintaining a cohesive message regarding public safety”.
A video clip of Gerrard’s pre and post-match comments was also released.
Were Rangers negligent in their responsibilities? Was it acceptable to leave it to Gerrard to front up? Did his words alone suffice? Should managing director Stewart Robertson or chairman Douglas Park have spoken publicly too?
Would urging fans to stay indoors by publishing statements on their official website and social media outlets have made a significant difference?
Police Scotland deputy chief constable Malcolm Graham accused the Ibrox club of failing to take their obligations seriously last night.
He said: “I strongly condemn the lack of support over the messages we repeatedly asked them to put out to persuade fans not to go out celebrating and encourage those who did gather in large numbers to return home."
Did ordering people at Ibrox on Saturday to disperse on their public address system go far enough? And did the players actively engaging with those who were flouting the restrictions encourage them, endorse their presence and exacerbate the situation?
James McFadden, the former Scotland forward and Sky Sports pundit, was certainly scathing. "You’d rather the players stuck to the protocols,” he said. “For me, they should have gone up the tunnel and waited for a later date to celebrate in the correct manner."
Could the authorities themselves have been better prepared? The title win has been coming for weeks, months even. It was widely anticipated there would be an outbreak of mass revelry.
Whoever is at fault, everything possible must now be done to make sure there is no rerun of the shameful scenes.
There promise to be a few more big days ahead for Rangers in the remainder of the 2020/21 campaign. They are still in the Europa League, they are bidding to lift the Scottish Cup and complete a double and have the Premiership trophy presentation to look forward to.
Mistakes must be acknowledged, lessons learned and a more proactive approach taken so those occasions aren’t marred in a similar manner and lives are again put at risk.
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