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Murder Polis! "Murder Polis" was a scream often heard on Music Hall stages. A character, usually the principle character shouted, "Murder polis" as an ironic comment on happenings. It was an exaggeration of mundane events, skewering those intent upon making a mountain out of a molehill. In west, central Scotland, a minor altercation such as a 'stairheid rammy'(dispute between tenement neighbours) was often encapsulated as, "it wiz Murder Polis". As Stuart Cosgrove lectures Rangers Supporters, Murder Polis is an example of comedic exaggeration. If we take our minds back five years past, the Scottish Cup final had a most exciting conclusion. An injury time corner awarded to Hibs saw the Edinburgh side's Skipper, David Gray header the game's winner. Mayhem ensued, we were informed several thousand Hibees invaded the pitch in a state of exuberance; we were also told by our own club, that the majority of the Gers players on the pitch, were assaulted. A dozen players' statements claiming being punched, kicked, and spat upon, did not wash. No Hibs supporter was convicted of assaulting a Rangers player. A lot of Bears exiting Hampden that day saw the Police sitting inside their vehicles, walking down Battlefield Road, I counted eight Police transits full of Officers flicking through their mobiles. Where were the Police whilst battles were erupting on the playing surface of the national stadium? Such wondering thoughts reached a crescendo later that night, as we realised the gravity of the match aftermath? The Sunday Mail provided an answer on it's front and several inner pages the next day. Journalist and Sellik season ticket holder, Jane Hamilton utilised a fellow season ticket holder, Calum Steele to tell the readership exactly where the Polis where? Calum Steele was also the General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation. Calum had political ambitions, he was a cheerleader for the Nicola Sturgeon led Scottish Government. Calum thought Police Scotland was a good idea and supported Police Scotland's attempt to take over the British Transport Police officers based in Scotland. Calum told Jane of his members' experiences at the final whistle. Apparently, Rangers supporters aped the actions of Northern Ireland Loyalists, we threw our children directly in front of speeding Police vehicles urgently responding to events inside Hampden. Calum was in no doubt, this was a deliberate action to negate Police action. Now, Rangers supporters made a complaint to IPSO(Independent Police Standards organisation) and it was upheld. the Committee found the nespaper had taken insufficient steps to take care over the accuracy of the article. ie the Journo, Jane Hamilton had only quoted one identified source(Calum Steele) who was not present at Hampden, and quoted several unidentified sources(all police officers) who were present but only wanted to address general concerns reference Police actions. The conclusion was most damning, "the claims within the article had been published in such a way that they gave the significantly misleading impression that they had been corroborated by multiple independent witnesses". Eight days after Rangers secured the Premiership title, BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound invited the current Heid Bummer of the Scottish Police Federation, David Hamilton to appear on the show. You see Calum Steele is now the President of EuroCOP, representing the interests of nearly 250,000 EU Officers. Calum recommended David Hamilton to succeed him in Scotland. We know Police Scotland is a politicised force and we know Nicola is only advised by folks who proffer advice she wants, needs to hear. Anyways, David Hamilton did not equivocate, Rangers and Rangers supporters are to blame. Again, we are a few weeks from a Holyrood election and a real political need existed to remove the Sturgeon/Salmond spat from the front pages. Sincerely, I wish those long term posters on this forum who support Nationalism, would return and debate why being seen to sink the boot into Rangers and Rangers supporters is a recurring theme to the Scottish Government? It has become a habit, even today the FM was speculating on Rangers supporters spreading Covid? David Hamilton is another Nationalist using his Designation to stick it on Bears. PQ are happy to oblige. David Hamilton is the brother of Duncan Hamilton, Alex Salmond's Solicitor. Duncan Hamilton is a former SNP MSP. David Hamilton's best mate is Angus Robertson, former leader of the SNP grouping at Westminster. David Hamilton constantly abuses his Twitter account with overtly political statements. David Hamilton's personal ambition is to be a SNP Parliamentarian. I could go on. Suffice to say, David Hamilton has worked out the path of least resistance in climbing the Scottish greasy pole to success. Both David Hamilton and Calum Steele are Murder Polis, and their comedic exaggeration is no laughing matter in new, modern Scotland.

The reams of newsprint sacrificed in debating whether to, or whether not do comprise a Guard of Honour, is the equivalent of the Kibble Palace rainforest. Radio waves are breaking the ionosphere with the loaded query. We know when the boot was on the other foot a couple of seasons ago, the likes of Stuart Cosgrove were broadcasting we should not escape our deserved humiliation; and Early Day Motions were laid to be signed. I Officered a Guard of Honour for Her Maj' and the then Italian President. Replete in No2 Dress Ceremonial for two hours in 80 degrees of heat, my sword tip sinking into the red tar of Pall Mall; I felt the perspiration and solemnity of the occasion. As the carriage passed, I felt honoured to complete the sharp, jerky choreographed movements required, and get off down the pub in the finest traditions of the Parachute Regiment. Thus, I say to Rangers, particularly our players. Go ahead, form the Guard of Honour prior to Kick off, Big Shane Duffy is most deserving.

FFS now we're hijacking Gerrard.

If missing tomorrow and possibly Sunday he MUST be pulled from Scotland squad.

Looks like Jack will miss at least tomorrow night unfortunately. Love the lad a lot but I suspect the manager will be looking at another midfielder for next season if he can't prove his fitness over the rest of this campaign. I think strengthening our midfield options is going to be vitally important in our defence of the title and qualification for the CL group stages...

Taking the knee was meant as a show of solidarity for everyone to support equality and take a stand, or knee in this case, against racism. BLM however are a politically motivated movement and as such have no place in football or sport in general. Footballers and Athletes in general are paid very well for their services and Black and Ethnic minorities have done very well in both of these sports as well as the majority of sports in the UK, surely a better way for these players to help would be to donate some of their huge salaries to helping disadvantaged youngsters instead of a meaningless gesture that is nothing more than virtue signalling nonsense which pamders to a Marxist political agenda.

Agreed. What’s the point?

Plenty of Sellick taps on view in the gatherings I saw this evening. No point in trying to get their club to get involved - St Patrick is a separate entity.

What no one will admit in Scottish politics is that the block RC vote holds the balance of power. Traditionally it voted with labour but has now switched to SNP. And they are represented very well in many political and media positions where they exert their influence. In particular BBC Scotland. And Rangers-bashing makes them popular with the rank and file. As a support we have stood back for too long and allowed this to happen

JohnMc, My purpose is to stimulate/provoke debate. I feel debate makes us, the grouping of Rangers supporters stronger and it is nothing to be wary/afraid of. I agree, the then Labour Party dominated Glasgow District Council and had no hesitation in marginalising and demonising Rangers and Rangers supporters. Currently, GCC's Convenor Susan Aitken has a personal PRO, former Herald Journo, Gerry Braiden is over eager to portray Rangers supporters as plague carriers and liars. I have always voted Liberal, but I am persuaded by the tactical voting sites for the next elections. Today, there has been a gathering of over a thousand folks in Kelvingrove Park celebrating St Patricks Day. I love the Police quote, "understandably, many people are in the park enjoying the sunshine". I wonder if Falls Road born and bred Gerry will adhere to his conditioning and agree with the Police, or will he advise against non socially distanced, maskless youngsters spreading the plague? I fear a convenient Residents Group might be found to support his decision?

I'm possibly not the person to respond as i'm not a 'nationalist' as such, but I have voted SNP in the past and I might do again in the future, we'll see. I suspect, like thousands of Rangers supporters, who I support plays no part whatsoever in who I vote for. Any political beliefs I hold have been formed through 5 decades of experiences in several different countries doing several different jobs. I find myself politically homeless most of the time. I've no time for all types of nationalism, be they Scottish, British, Irish, wherever. I mistrust exceptionalism based on nationality. I'm a man out of step though as increasingly different strands of nationalism seem to be the only options open. To answer your specific question of "why being seen to sink the boot into Rangers and Rangers supporters is a recurring theme to the Scottish Government?" I'd say that this isn't something unique to this particular flavour of government. When Glasgow Council and the Scottish Government were Labour controlled we were fair game then as well and regularly held to different standards. I feel you should rephrase your question as "why being seen to sink the boot into Rangers and Rangers supporters is a recurring theme from any Scottish Government or Council?" We'd be here a long time trying to answer that. I love this thread and the heavy lifting you put into it, and I don't want to derail it from it's purpose. Perhaps this is a discussion for a different thread.

What's the point in having money if any Tom, Dick or Harry can tell you how to spend it. Surely it would be better for you to just accept that footballers have their own opinions about how to act.

Is Gerrard saying that he supports this?

The only knee from me would be to the cobblers of my opponent

I don't have an issue with general shows of support of anti-racism, but I am against ones that support an organisation like Black Lives Matter due to their political and anti-police leanings. If players don't support the extremist views of BLM then I believe that they should find another way of showing support for anti-racism. I find the argument that taking the knee is a gesture that now goes beyond BLM as a lazy one. How do those doing it know how it's being interpreted?

As long as Rangers are in the group stages of the CL, I couldn't give a monkeys what Scotland's ranking is.