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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Graeme Young

Kris Commons condemns Rangers 'disgraceful' fan element who have no class as he makes victim card claim

Angry Kris Commons has condemned the Rangers supporters who launched the bottles that injured a Celtic staff member and endangered Joe Hart.

The former Parkhead star believes there is an section of the Ibrox support who "have absolutely no class whatsoever".

And Commons claims a section of the Rangers fanbase play the "victim card" - something he believes has become prevalent since 2012.

The 38-year-old was left shocked by the the flashpoints on a day Ange Postecoglou's roared to a 2-1 win at Ibrox and stretch their lead to six points atop the Scottish Premiership.

But Commons believes the bigger story is the harrowing incidents that showed the ugly side of the beautiful game in Scotland and he insists lifetime bans are in order.

Speaking in his Daily Mail column, he said: "A lunchtime title showdown between the Glasgow rivals, it will have been watched by millions upon millions of people in all corners of the globe.

"Yet, with the eyes of the watching world fixed upon events at Ibrox, Scottish football's premier fixture showcased its ugly underbelly.

Kris Commons (SNS Group)

"We've got Rangers fans to thank for that. Those missiles which pelted Joe Hart's penalty box and a Celtic member of staff were quite obviously thrown from sections of the stadium housing home supporters.

"Rangers have simply got to find the culprits and ban them for life. Seriously, what sort of idiot goes to a football match and thinks it's a good idea to throw bottles on to the pitch?

"I'm not convinced a glass bottle would actually smash on a grass pitch unless it was thrown from a truly extraordinary height.

"So, unless it shattered off a goalpost, you've got to consider the possibility that someone has gone to Ibrox yesterday with a broken glass bottle in their pocket, with the intention of throwing the shards on to the pitch.

Joe Hart reacts as glass is removed from the pitch (SNS Group)

"Rangers fans can't behave themselves at the best of times. They went down to Manchester in 2008 for the UEFA Cup final and caused mayhem.

"Then, after winning the title last year, they turned George Square into a riot zone. And these were supposed to be the good times?

"Rangers fans have a chip on their shoulders from the financial meltdown of 2012. They are very quick to play the victim card and seem to think the rest of the football world owes them a favour.

"Or that they can get away with blue murder and do whatever they please without any consequence. Now, admittedly, it would be wrong to tar them all with the same brush.

"A couple of my closest friends are Rangers fans and we have great banter together. It's all good-natured, knockabout stuff.

"But there is another element to a section of the Rangers support who are, frankly, a disgrace. They have absolutely no class whatsoever.

"You could also see quite clearly on the TV cameras that Celtic winger Jota was having coins thrown at him as he went to take a corner.

"I know what that feels like. After making the move from Nottingham Forest to Derby, I was pelted with abuse from Forest fans.

"In one game, I remember having a metal cigarette lighter thrown at me as I went to take a corner. It missed my head by a matter of inches.

"It could have blinded me or knocked me out. You've no idea what sort of damage that sort of missile could do if it hits you.

"In the interest of balance, let me be clear on this. Celtic have their own issues in this area. The Green Brigade have stained the club's reputation at various points in recent years.

"But for someone to intentionally throw a bottle or broken glass on to a football pitch? Come on, that's surely a new low. That's actually worse than what we saw at George Square last year. It's now up to Rangers to engage with police to ensure the culprits never again set foot inside a football stadium."

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