Chris McLaughlin has joined in the deflection exercise triggered by Hibs last night as they announced ticket allocation cuts to ‘Scottish football fans’.
On Sunday Hibs supporters were ‘treated’ to almost two hours of anti-Irish and anti-Catholic hatred from Sevco fans culminating in a sustained chant wishing death on Martin Boyle as he underwent seven minutes of treatment on the pitch before being taken to hospital.
Even by their own low standards Sunday’s song book was something else with Viaplay Sport and BBC Scotland not offering any apology for the chants that they were broadcasting. Last night Alasdair Lamont apologised on BBC Scotland viewers over a very audible chant from Morton fans about Lawrence Shankland.
For their own reasons Hibs refused to name the group of supporters that had forced their hand in cutting ticket allocations, under a headline ‘Supporter conduct enough is enough’ they declared:
Hibernian FC condemns the abhorrent behaviour and chanting made by some supporters in Scottish football.
Over recent years supporters’ unacceptable conduct has become rife in Scotland whether that be through the use of pyrotechnics, sectarianism, objects being thrown onto the field of play or through other actions. This is simply not good enough.
The governing bodies want more from the police. The police want more from the clubs and the Scottish government don’t want to get involved. Is there a problem with unacceptable conduct in Scottish football and if so, what’s the answer? https://t.co/ilfqJPQlxJ
— Chris McLaughlin (@BBCchrismclaug) March 12, 2024
It seems that the chief Sports News reporter of BBC Scotland has the same aversion to naming the offending group of supporters.
Back in July 2015 McLaughlin reported on Sevco fans being removed from Easter Road for sectarian singing, soon afterwards he found his media access to Ibrox and Murray Park had been withdrawn.
That incident led to a comical seven year stand off between the club and the state broadcaster who went out of their way to present news in a favourable light for the club that they were supposedly in dispute with.
In 2019 UEFA twice closed parts of Ibrox as punishment for racist singing and chanting.
The SFA, SPL and SPFL have never taken any action on the match by match hatred chanted by fans at Ibrox, this season Scottish Gas has decided to sponsor the Scottish Cup.
Yeah. The problem is @RangersFC and their fans. If only @ScottishFA done their job in 2012 and followed the actual rule book instead of changing the rules to accommodate them. We wouldn’t be having this conversation today.
— Sloany PRC ? (@Sloany2022) March 12, 2024
Was Hibs playing Scottish Football on Sunday? They were playing Rangers – the problem is Rangers. Call it out Chris. You’ll be blaming Catholic schools next ??????
— gerry mchugh (@gmch1888) March 12, 2024
Chris you and your colleagues in the media hear vile songs week in and week out but nothing is said publicly by the media. Can’t think of one occasion where it has been called out on sportsound for example.
— Stevie ??????? (@stevieshaw1980) March 12, 2024
Last night on the BBC the commentator apologised for the Morton fans singing “Lawrence Shankland you’re a wanker” for a few seconds but just 10 minutes earlier there was no comment on an extended rendition of “up to our knees in fenian blood”.
— David Forbes (@davidforbes10) March 12, 2024
Chris – For how long have reporters like yourself just brushed the subject under the carpet. Refusing to properly report and highlight the issue. You and your colleagues hear it week in / week out and never mention the disease in Scottish Football.
— Duncan Smith (@WeeDunc) March 12, 2024
The fact that you can’t even mention the club at the heart of this issue suggests there is a problem.
— Stephen (@sfall0n) March 12, 2024
You missed one, Chris….During the game on @BBCScotland last night the commentator made a point of apologising for Morton fans chanting about Lawrence Shankland, yet I’ve never heard them apologise during sectarian chanting. Do broadcasters have a duty to call it out, also? ?
— Jim Newlands (@Jim_Newlands) March 12, 2024
Lol all those fanny’s dancing around the actual target and willingly joining in with the mantra Scottish football fans.
They are all a bunch of SHITEBAGS and or own club are the biggest culprits encouraging it,remember the sevco £ is worth the sectarian bile they bring to the game.
I think the terms of enderment they call it is fantastic atmosphere,,, rocking,,,, bouncing,,, good old Chris and his chums
Silence is Violence.
Complaints to offcom are what’s needed, they are there to protect “viewers and listeners are protected from harmful or offensive material on TV, radio and on-demand”
… Zero point direct to the BBC etc, this lot are their overseers. Offcom make a complaint is what’s required in the search engine…