Source: FOOTYMAD
Equal Treatment Of All Clubs
Rangers supporters are crying un-FARE treatment of their club The Rangers Supporters Trust (RST) are worried that their club's reputation will be severely damaged and which will impact on sponsorship opportunities, if they are forced to play any European games behind closed doors. Rangers are facing UEFA disciplinary action following investigation into alleged sectarian songs being sung in both legs of their Europa League tie against PSV Eindhoven. The club were reported on the basis of submissions from the Football Against Racism in Europe organisation rather than the UEFA delegate on duty at the game. RST chairman Stephen Smith said: "It will be highly damaging, not just in terms of the financial cost to the club - gate money, merchandising, advertising and all the rest of it - but also in terms of reputation. This is a major concern for us because what you are being invited to believe is that watching football with Rangers fans is the worst, most unpleasant, racist and sectarian experience you will have in the entire continent of Europe. The wording used in the original UEFA charge was 'offensive behaviour' and I have yet to go to a professional football match, at the age of 47, and not see or hear offensive behaviour." The RST have backed FARE's core mission of tackling discrimination in football - but are asking to see evidence that Rangers are not the only club under observation. Smith added: "All we are looking for is equality, consistency and transparency. We are not defending the indefensible but we want everybody to be treated in exactly the same way and held to the same standards. We have no problem with that at all."
