Sevco’s token ‘attempts’ at ridding themselves of the anti-catholic hatred displayed by thousands of fans on a weekly basis were exposed as a sham at today’s friendly against Linfield in Belfast.
Before the match the Ibrox first team squad posed for a picture with the Shankhill Road Defenders Flute Band. The picture was tweeted by the official club website.
While it might be fashionable in certain circles to reinvent and spin such bands into a bizarre cultural celebration the reality is very different as generations of catholics across Belfast and beyond will know to their cost.
Rangers’ @Joey7Barton with members of loyalist flute band The Shankill Road Defenders. Up to your knees, Joey? pic.twitter.com/Aj0HOCfuWQ
— Liam O’Hare (@Liam_O_Hare) September 3, 2016
The Rangers team poses with the Shankhill Road Defenders Flute Band.
New club, same bigotry? pic.twitter.com/sAiLr5kF9f
— Liam O’Hare (@Liam_O_Hare) September 3, 2016
PICS: Lots of familiar faces, friends old and new at Windsor Park today for Jamie Mulgrew’s Testimonial. pic.twitter.com/nUN6Gx8r8z
— Rangers FC (@RangersFC) September 3, 2016
In 2006 UEFA stepped in to ban singing of the anti-catholic hate song The Billy Boys, over the last two seasons it has been chanted by thousands at Hampden without any charge never mind punishment from the SFA or SPFL.
Justifying the singing of his fans hatred of catholics, in May Ibrox director Stewart Robertson told The Evening Times: If I recall correctly, the Billy Boys was sung after the Hibs fans came on to the pitch. We don’t condone that kind of behaviour. However, if I had a choice between the fans singing a song or piling over the wall into a pitched battle with the Hibs fans, I know what I would choose.
“That doesn’t make it right but you have to put it into context. I’d rather have that than two or three thousand piling over the wall and we have a riot on our hands.”
Perhaps nice guy Robbo can now explain why his players posed with the Shasnkhill Road Defenders Flute Band?
CLICK HERE to find out more about the Shankhill Road Defenders Flute Band