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The Old Firm, Scourge or Saviour of Scottish Football?
It's been a question that many have been asking for years and with the midweek debacle at Celtic Park, the issue has been front page news once again.
Today, financial figures have been released that state that Glasgow Old Firm matches cost the taxpayer £40 million a season through policing, court costs, NHS and damage caused before and after matches.
Over 300 people have been arrested in the last month alone stemming from Old Firm matches being played. It has also been statistically proven that domestic violence in the home increases when an old firm match has been played, yet this match is lauded as the saviour of Scottish Football.
Granted, TV companies are not likely to pay much money if they don't have Old Firm coverage, but does Scottish Football get £40 million a year from TV to cover the aftermath cost?
Strathclyde Police, along with Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, held a summit on Friday to discuss the matter with the outcome asking for closed door matches between the two with no TV coverage to minimise violence between the fans.
That outcome is unlikely as the bulk of the money brought into Scottish Football is due to these two teams but it has to be asked, are they worth the hassle?
The Scottish leagues would dwindle in stature without the big two, but the competition would also flourish as many others would seize the opportunity to win titles and cups.
The two Glasgow giants have been trying to get out of Scotland for many years, England and kid on Atlantic leagues being their favoured destinations. In reality, apart from the huge draw of fans, no one wants the trouble these two teams bring along with them. Other clubs in Europe just don't need them and the sooner the other SPL teams start looking beyond the next big pay packet of a home match against either of these two, the better for all.
The behaviour of both teams this season has been disgraceful. Before Celtic fans start commenting about the Rangers' red cards, their manager has been out of control all season hence the bans he has received. He is not an angel and definitely does not lead by example. Celtic also claim that refs and the SFA are against them, claiming paranoia at every turn but Celtic have the highest number of player red cards in their opposition teams this season. Ten players in total have been sent off when playing Celtic, not exactly a sign that refs pick on them or are biased against them.
Rangers, for their part, seem to keep getting players sent off when playing Celtic, mostly for continued offences and not straight reds but red cards all the same showing the players inability to control themselves when under pressure.
Calum Murray had the hardest job in the world on Wednesday night, three red cards, 13 yellows, a fight in the tunnel at half time and a six-year-old schoolgirl square go between Lennon and McCoist at full time. Murray handled the match in fine form and must be applauded for the manner in which he responded to the temper tantrums by the players and coaches.
If the matches were to be played behind closed doors, it would be no great loss for the majority of football fans in Scotland. The Old Firm teams and supporters are seen as a blight of the landscape, bringing their hatred, violence and sectarianism to every town they play in, every time they play.
The players also seem to get caught up in the furore as well with players from foreign countries apparently playing their part in inciting the on-field violence. These players are not brought up in this cauldron of hatred as a child in Scotland, so why the need to act in this manner when on the field in a derby match that needs very little to spark a melee? It would almost seem that they are told to act in this manner or at least it looks that way to the watching public. Kayal and Bougherra are probably the worst offenders from Wednesday nights match and don't get me started on Celtics' South Korean racist Ki.
Scots are not exempt from my criticism with Celtic captain Scott Brown being the main instigator. He is joined by Rangers defender Whittaker, who received a red card although harsh as it was, it still merits a mention.
We'll see how this pans out but don't expect this issue to go away!
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/626993-glasgows-old-firm-scourge-or-saviour-of-scottish-football
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