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Rangers Football Club is set to impose lifetime bans on individuals responsible for a controversial banner that has led to disciplinary action from UEFA, including a suspended closure of the Copland Stand at Ibrox. The governing body’s decision means the 8,000-seat section will be shut for one European fixture should there be any further instances of discriminatory behavior within the next two years.
In addition to the potential stand closure, UEFA has fined Rangers €30,000 (£25,000) for the offensive banner, which was displayed during the club’s Europa League victory over Fenerbahce earlier this month. The club has also been penalized with additional fines totaling €10,500 (£8,755) for other infractions during the match, including blocking passageways and throwing objects.
In response, Rangers issued a strongly-worded statement condemning the individuals responsible, emphasizing that such behavior damages the club’s reputation and negatively impacts fellow supporters.
“The strongest asset this football club has is our support, and the overwhelming majority of our supporters will be angered by these actions and their consequences,” the statement read. “This punishment must serve as a severe and significant reminder to the small minority who bring the name of Rangers into disrepute.”
The offending banner, which read, "Keep woke foreign ideologies out - defend Europe," was swiftly denounced by the club as "shameful" and "embarrassing." Rangers reiterated that their ethos is one of inclusivity and urged supporters to uphold the values that reflect positively on the team.
UEFA’s sanctions also extend to the conduct of the Rangers team during the match, with an additional €8,000 (£6,676) fine imposed due to multiple player bookings. Seven Rangers players were shown yellow cards in the 2-0 defeat, which ultimately saw them progress via a penalty shootout.
This disciplinary action follows further scrutiny on fan behavior, with the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) previously sanctioning Rangers due to the use of pyrotechnics by supporters during domestic cup fixtures. As a result, the club’s ticket allocation for future Hampden Park matches has been reduced by 500.
Rangers are now preparing for their Europa League quarter-final first leg against Athletic Bilbao on April 10, hoping to put these controversies behind them. The club continues to call on its fanbase to support the team responsibly and ensure that incidents such as this do not jeopardize future European campaigns.
Featured Image Credit: Unsplash / Winston Tjia
