The Hotline is rarely a forum for consensus but callers were united in condemnation of the threats made against referee Kevin Clancy.
It's now a Police matter after the SFA called in the authorities after vile abuse of the official on the back of an Old Firm clash which has been condemned across the board. Frank McFerran, Carrickfergus, emailed: "Whether Clancy is to blame for the disallowed goal or not he shouldn’t be threatened by anyone. The guy has an innocent family who are probably afraid for him."
William Hutchison, Aberdeen, said: "It's shocking to hear threats to Clancy and his family. The supporters should handle losing a match better than to resort to this. If it doesn't stop I can see Old Firm games being scrapped as no official would want to officiate them, not even from down south or abroad. Referees are only human, they make mistakes and the fans need to get over it." Brian Allan, said: "The SFA are right to give the police the documents of vile abuse towards Clancy. What makes fans think that is the right thing to do? Did they learn this from their mother and father? I wouldn’t think so. Both sets of fans are guilty of this abusive nature and the best thing for now is to keep Ibrox full of Rangers fans and Celtic Park full of Celtic fans."
Chris Lowe, Yoker, emailed: "To maintain sporting integrity in our game, it’s time for Clancy to be removed from officiating Rangers matches as he’s clearly incapable of doing so in an impartial manner. There’s a plethora of examples spanning years with this official and the fact thousands of Rangers fans raised concerns about his appointment before this game speaks volumes. We all can’t be wrong and the video evidence is there for all to see."
Henry Moffat, Stirling, said: "Rangers could go out of all three competitions to Celtic after being ridiculed worldwide for being the worst team in Champions League history in the same season. Surely this will go down as the worst and most humiliating season any club has had in the history of football?"
Eddie Easson Ballingry, said: "The likes of Barry Ferguson, Kris Boyd and Ally McCoist all used the word, 'positive' to describe the Rangers display at the weekend. Positives won’t win trophies just now and Rangers are positively a mile behind Celtic."
Peter McBryan, emailed: "Somebody will have to let Ferguson know that the Celtic team who showed up on Saturday will not be the team that shows up at Hampden. I see a drubbing on the cards for Rangers."
Neil Renton, Edinburgh, said: "It’s clear Celtic are a cut above everyone else in Scotland. If they want to push on in Europe they should sign Billy Gilmour. He’s a touch of class that’ll take them to the next level."
Stephen Johnstone, Ardentinny, said: "Another manager bites the dust in the shape of Robbie Neilson and all because the players down tools and fans turn on the respective club owners and blame the manager. The players should take a long look at themselves as they are to blame.
"Neilson, like Jim Goodwin at Aberdeen, put all players on rolling contracts and maybe they will think twice about not playing ball and getting rid of a good manager when the players don't like his style. It's so easy to sack the manager but the players should get the red card."
Graham Wallace, East Renfrewshire, said: "After a poor run of results I'm hopeful that the 3-0 victory against Accrington Stanley can see the sleeping giant that is Sheffield Wednesday push on up back to the Championship and furthermore the Premier League where we belong. Barry Bannan deserves to take us there and has been instrumental again this season."
Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, said: "Once again Andy Murray has lost in the opening round of a tournament. It seems his mind tells him he can still compete at the highest level but his body doesn’t. I hope he seriously considers only competing in the doubles at Wimbledon because his glory days on the singles court are surely over."
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