A report in The Times (London) claims that the BBC will boycott Sevco home matches.
The action comes after Chris McLaughlin of the BBC was prevented from covering Mark Warburton’s pre-match media conference for tomorrow’s League Cup tie with Peterhead.
No statement has been released by either the club or the state broadcaster but the news quickly made it’s way onto social media with reports that Graeme Spiers was also denied an update on the Revolution according to Warbo.
Shamed former Sevco non-executive director Chris Graham, who is believed to have a behind the scenes role at Ibrox, was first to break the news of the about Spiers and McLaughlin.
It’s believed that McLaughlin’s crime was reporting on twitter that Police Scotland had made three arrests at Easter Road last Sunday for sectarian singing among the travelling Sevco support.
According to today’s edition of The Times: “The BBC has decided to boycott Rangers’ home games after one of its journalists was banned from Ibrox stadium.
“Chris McLaughlin, a sports reporter, has been told that he is “no longer welcome” at the stadium. Senior Rangers figures are understood to be unhappy with some of Mr McLaughlin’s coverage of recent matches involving the club.
“In a response to the ban, the BBC will not send any of its staff to Ibrox while Mr McLaughlin’s ban remains in place”.
Over recent seasons the state broadcaster has had challenging relationships with the clubs from Ibrox with previous bans resulting in even more fawning coverage from the BBC.
In October 2012 a BBC documentary revealed that Craig Whyte had previously been served with a seven year ban from being a director in the UK. In response to that programme a section of the Rangers (IL) support decided to picket the BBC’s headquarters in Glasgow.
A year later privileges were withdrawn after Sevco got upset by the opening titles to the BBC’s coverage of a League Cup tie against Motherwell.
The state broadcaster continued to provide live match commentary on a number of matches despite being refused pre and post match access to media conferences.
With former BBC man James Traynor now inside the Ibrox tent a further ban was served at the final game of the 2012/13 Third Division title winning season.
The statement read: “Rangers Football Club can confirm the BBC is no longer welcome at Ibrox Stadium or Murray Park.
“The club asked BBC journalists to leave the stadium ahead of today’s Division Three title party against Berwick Rangers.
“Rangers Director of Communications James Traynor said: “We are aware of contractual obligations but we also have to be aware of our duty to protect the players, manager and supporters against reporting which lacks logic, balance and fairness’.”
Traynor left Ibrox shortly afterwards with media management continuing under Media House headed by Jack Irvine ensuring glowing coverage from the BBC with more time spent speculating on war-chest’s than the chronic financial problems of the company.
McLaughlin’s ban is likely to have been initiated by Traynor whose Level 5 PR agency have been in control of affairs at Ibrox since masterminding Dave King’s takeover.
While the BBC is overwhelmingly sympathetic to any regime in place at Ibrox it’s likely that a few key managers will have an issue with Traynor which could make the current dispute personal.
The strength of a BBC boycott will be seen over the coming week with the League Cup tie against Peterhead followed by Friday’s opening Championship match at home to St Mirren.
In an entirely predictable twist the Daily Record are claiming that Rangers (IL) administrators Duff & Phelps have served a £3m libel writ on the BBC over a programme screened more than three years ago.
The Record reports that the action was sisted shortly after being served which suggests that it will be heard shortly after the SFL’s investigation into sectarian singing at the Berwick Rangers v Sevco match in 2013 which ESPN apologised for broadcasting.
The BBC has contracts with the SPFL and SFA for television and radio rights to matches which naturally includes games played at Ibrox.
CLICK HERE for the list of EBT beneficiaries including BBC pundits Billy Dodds and Steven Thompson.
The BBC was always a staunch supporter of the old club that played out of Ibrox, acting more like a fanzine than an impartial broadcaster.
Its attitude to the Newco is marginally less partisan.
There is an endless list of Rangers and subsequently Sevco sycophants who have been employed by BBC.
Jim Spence admirably tried to play it straight and was hounded for it.
I remember listening live to Radio Scotland as the unctuous James Traynor and fawning Chick Young had the mother and father of domestics over who was the most obsequious, unquestioning subservient to the Ibrox cause.
The £1brokes clubs don’t like anyone telling the truth, about their bigoted supporters, or the fact that Glasgow Rangers where liquidated 2012, and are now called RIFC. Hope the BBC do boycott their games, as it saves anyone having to listen to their filth.
HH
They can’t handle the truth and at times neither can BBC Scotland. Hh
The truth hurts and they don’t want to hear it
pot calling kettle black springs to mind
who cares can live without BOTH
The truth in regards to administration with Glasgow Rangers has been out now for more than two years plus…so in their defence, what else is there to report, other than drag things on…If thats all reporters have to report on then…obviously they are very much not in the correct job,, old news is boring …. And lets be honest, Rangers being bigoted ….lets have a look at the remainder of the championship table,,,and the Scottish Premier ship……PLEASE