Stewart Regan has apologised to ‘Rangers’ directors about the after match events at Hampden yesterday.
Hibs fans invaded the pitch at Hampden at the final whistle with some running towards their opponents and taunting them.
That was matched by around 200 fans invading the pitch with video footage showing fans of the Ibrox club fighting with Hibs supporters on the pitch.
Mounted police finally restored order with the cup final losers issuing a statement within an hour of the final whistle being blown at Hampden.
It read: ***“RANGERS Football Club is shocked at the disgraceful behaviour of Hibs fans at full time.
“Rangers players and staff were assaulted by these fans who invaded the pitch and in the interests of their safety could not return to the pitch for the medal presentation.
“There can be no place for the violent behaviour witnessed at the end of the Final and Rangers fully expect the Scottish Football Association and Police Scotland to launch an investigation to find out where security measures failed.
“The Club would like to commend Rangers fans for the restraint they showed under severe provocation.”
***Rangers Football Club is currently being liquidated.
Despite reports of numerous players being attacked and injured no video evidence has emerged of these incidents although goalkeeper Wes Foderingham was jostled and taunted by some of the invading Hibs fans.
Speaking at Hampden last night Regan said: “I want to apologise to the Rangers board, to the Rangers players – and to the Hibs players as well, because the gloss has been taken off their achievement.
“I watched from the directors’ box and saw what was happening on the pitch. The Hibernian fans were moving towards the Rangers fans. It’s fair to say the police and stadium management team responded very quickly and contained the situation.
“Police and the stadium management will be looking at video footage and will be identifying why so many fans got over on to the pitch and what – if anything – could have been done differently.”
Some of the fights between fans on the Hampden pitch. @itvnews pic.twitter.com/V6IIMvHCv7
— Peter A Smith (@PeterAdamSmith) May 21, 2016
Regan’s record under pressure is far from impressive, his actions over the next couple of days will reveal whether he has learned any lessons from the summer of 2012 when he wrongly predicted social unrest.
On 4 July 2012 he said: “Without Rangers there is social unrest – there is a big problem for Scottish society.
“I think if you look at the huge fan base Rangers have in this country, to contemplate a situation where those fans don’t have a team to support, where those fans are effectively left without a game to follow – I just think that could lead to all sorts of issues and all sorts of problems for the game. Tribalism in football is really important, a part of the game.
“People follow their club with pride. It’s passed down from generation to generation and there
are thousands of Rangers fans whose fathers have been Rangers fans and whose grandfathers have been Rangers fans.
“You can’t contemplate a situation without that and if Rangers weren’t to exist I think that could have real dire consequences.
“There’s really only one decision for the game now- that Rangers come into football in the first division.”
The next day, with Scottish Football League clubs going public with their opposition to creating a First Division place for the new club Regan explained those comments to the BBC saying: “My discussions with a number of media outlets last night centred on what may or may not happen to Rangers in the future,” he said.
“In the event there wasn’t a Rangers, that’s got dire consequences of the game and for Scottish society, generally.
“The economic impact and social unrest are all things that could result as an impact of having no Rangers.
“However, I think the main focus last night was talking about what happens to Rangers in the immediate future after yesterday’s decision by the SPL and trying to focus on which division Rangers will play in next season.
“That matter will be considered next week by the Scottish Football League and, hopefully, there’ll be an outcome whereby Rangers will be accepted into Division One of the SFL; which would allow some financial stability for clubs in the country.”
