SPFL silent on Tifo even Ibrox Board deemed to be offensive | OneFootball

If you took a straw poll amongst supporters who attend Scottish football and asked them to name three clubs who would have notices of complaint issued, concerning supporter behaviour, I’m sure Celtic’s name would come up in many responses.

Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

After all we have something of a reputation when it comes to the use of pyrotechnics in grounds and we’ve also been flagged for some of our support’s ingenious ways of accessing away ends when the tickets are sold out – par for the course and all that. That’s fine, it’s to be expected.

However, if that same straw poll didn’t bring up the name of the latest Ibrox club there would be those who would be shocked and some who would shrug their shoulders – ‘same as it always is’ and all that.

As revealed on The Celtic Star – Celtic hit with notice of complaint by SPFL but nothing said on Ibrox bottle throwing – earlier this morning it appears Celtic, Partick Thistle and Aberdeen have all had notices of complaint issued but it appears theRangers have missed out.

Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

So, on the one hand three clubs have had an official, and now public rebuke, for the behaviour of their support, it appears one club didn’t cross the governing bodies line in the sand, and it is arguably the one deserved it most.

Now I don’t want to get all whataboutery on this matter, so let’s make it clear, if Celtic supporters behaviour has led to a notice of complaint being issued, we should own it and try and address any issues However it is difficult for Celtic as a club to do so when they see what happens across the city is ignored by our governing bodies.

On our last visit to Ibrox and on many previous occasions we have seen Celtic supporters attacked and physically scarred from bottles thrown from the home support. We have seen Joe Hart have to clear his area of broken glass prior to the second half resuming.

Rangers substitute Neraysho Kasanwirjo runs on to the pitch to throw items off the pitch that appear to have been thrown into the Celtic penalty area during the second half of the match. theRangers v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Ibrox. Sunday 04 May 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

We have seen Celtic staff scarred for life by bottles being thrown from the area hosting hospitality supporters, and just last season, Viljami Sinisalo appear shocked by the sheer number of missiles that surrounded his goalmouth in the final Glasgow Derby of last month. In fact, an Ibrox player removed a glass bottle that thankfully missed our goalkeeper, and this was all shown on SkySports live broadcast of the match.

Then there’s the banner that even theRangers board deemed to be offensive, with the double barrel shot-gun aimed at the Celtic support’s old seats in the Free Broomloan.

The offensive tifo at Ibrox what say you, SPFL?. Photo social media. theRangers v Celtic, 4 May 2025.

All the evidence you need, right? Well apparently not.

Beggars’ belief that theRangers hasn’t been reprimanded by SPFL

I’d say it beggars’ belief that the latest club operating out of Ibrox hasn’t been reprimanded, but in truth, it’s true to form with Scottish football governance. Back in the day the late Ian Archer described the support of the previous Ibrox club as ‘a permanent embarrassment and an occasional disgrace’.

It now appears the supporters of the new club act in much the same fashion. In fact, it appears they may have been annoyed at only being described as ‘occasional’ disgrace and intend to up the ante somewhat.

There is of course little hope the SPFL or the SFA will do much to change the behaviour of the Ibrox support. After all, as we saw post-liquidation, whatever it takes to avoid unwanted headlines is done via currying favour with a compliant press and wilfully ignoring the reality of a situation.

The Celtic Board and guests at Ibrox. theRangers v Celtic, 4 May 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

But here’s the rub. The current Ibrox club has been taken over by new owners, and spoiler alert, those investors are here to make money, nothing else, purely and simply a return on investment.

A cultural change at Ibrox is incoming with the new investors who want to see a return on investment

To improve their income streams American investors will be acutely aware their current rivals have a substantial financial edge and a wider fanbase to tap into. Whilst theRangers, often due to the antics of their support, are stuck with a West- Central Scotland audience that stretches to the North of Ireland and not much beyond.

With that in mind you can guarantee those owners will know all about developing a brand and ensuring it is not damaged by those who proport to support the Ibrox club. As such if the support at Ibrox believe they are untouchable, that the governing bodies and an equally compliant media will do little about it, they may have another thing coming.

Ibrox – theRangers v Celtic, 4 May 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

To maximise their investment revenue streams will need to open in new markets, and with the new owners US based you can safely assume the Delaware dudes will be looking to American investment and will also be aware such investment will wish to protect their own brand from guilt by association.

The SPFL might not have the balls to act but the hard-nosed American businessmen will

The Governing bodies in Scottish football may not act against theRangers fans, and for some within those supporters they will feel they have carte blanche to behave in any way that suits them, but their owners will think differently.

Culture change will happen at Ibrox. It may involve some time, and much kicking and screaming, but the new owners will root it out and those culture wars at Ibrox are long overdue.

Today the SPFL may have turned a blind eye, but you can be assured the new owners will be watching on with 20/20 vision.

Niall J