Byline: MARK WILSON
STAND up and be counted. To Ibrox legend Sandy Jardine, that simple message provides the only possible starting point in ridding Scottish football, and society, of the festering sore of sectarianism.
It is a command Jardine addresses at the vast majority of Rangers supporters, urging all those of decency to root out the bigots in a self-policing drive.
Yet, he also believes the statement must be equally heeded by politicians and police. Scornful of the publicity factory that was the recent Government summit relating to the Old Firm and sectarianism, Jardine believes a far tougher approach is required by those who make the laws and those who enforce them.
The former Scotland full-back provided a strident voice on behalf of the Ibrox club as he joined with ex-Celtic boss David Hay, a team-mate at the 1974 World Cup finals, to promote the Old Firm Alliance. The partnership, first launched in 2005, is aimed at educating primary school children to develop stronger, integrated communities.
Long involved in the Ibrox club's fight against bigotry, Jardine pulled no punches as he demanded radical changes in standards of behaviour.
'What I would say is that these so-called Rangers supporters who are misbehaving -- whether it is drunken antics, getting into trouble abroad, or singing sectarian songs -- is that they are an embarrassment to our club. They are dragging our club along the gutter,' said Jardine.
'I've spoken to a lot of other supporters who are sick of it. But the club needs help. We can't do it ourselves. We need the help of the SFA, the police and the politicians.
'But most of all we need the help of the vast majority of Rangers supporters who are ordinary, lawabiding citizens. They cannot be a silent majority any more. They have to stand up and be counted and help the club.
'It's about reporting incidents to stewards or the club but also putting pressure on people to say this is not acceptable. It's not just at Ibrox, but also when we go to other stadiums.
'One of the big problems for me is that when we go away grounds, people are hoarded in. Some of the singing is terrible but no one takes action. It seems the police and everyone just wants to get them back on the buses and out of town as quickly as possible.
That's not addressing any problems.
'The amount of times you hear supporters -- and I'm not just talking about Rangers supporters -- saying: "I paid for my ticket, so I can come into the stadium and do what I like." But there is a code of conduct and everyone has to get back to that.
'There are a whole range of points to be addressed. We need politicians to go into the community because you're not telling me that people just come into the stadium and become bigots. If you believe that bile and sing that bile, you'll sing it outside the stadium as well.' Jardine sees the Tartan Army as something of a role model for Rangers fans sick of sectarian baggage.
'I played in the generation when, to be honest, the behaviour of some Scotland fans at Wembley was sometimes an embarrassment,' he added. 'Now if you look at the behaviour of Scotland supporters, it is often exemplary.
'There is a big self-policing culture there. I can only speak for Rangers, but it would definitely help our club if something similar was embraced by our supporters. That's why I say the good supporters cannot be quiet now.' JARDINE identified the internet as a place where 'a vile minority' foster hatred between the Old Firm clubs and insists it is just one of many areas where stronger action is needed by the authorities. He was not impressed by the summit meeting that followed last month's so-called 'shame game' Scottish Cup replay.
'I'm on the racist and sectarian monitoring group within the club,' said Jardine. 'For 10 years we have looked to try and come up with ideas to minimise sectarian singing. We know how difficult it is.
'We can't sort it out in 10 years, but they have one meeting and come out with an eight-point plan that is going to sort it? It's a nonsense.
'It's dead easy to lay it all at football's door. Right now, Rangers are being used as a punchbag for everybody. Abuse, drink, whatever -- if you want publicity, tag onto it.
'If they are really serious about trying to sort it, let's address it properly.
'We have an election coming up but have you heard one politician talk seriously about it? No.
'Unfortunately, too many people shy away from hard decisions. And it will take hard decisions to sort it out.'
MARK WILSON
No comments:
Post a Comment