Rangers put foot down amidst escalating row with BT
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 13: BT Sport pundit Peter Crouch looks on prior to the Premier League match between Fulham and Manchester City at Craven Cottage on March 13, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Adam Davy - Pool/Getty Images)
Rangers have put their foot down with BT Sport amidst an escalating row between both organisations over the position of pundit Chris Sutton.
The sports broadcaster released a statement midweek explaining they refused to buckle to Rangers’ demands over Sutton’s eligibility, and stuck by their man, choosing to relocate to Celtic Park for the Rangers match v Prague.
It all boils down to Rangers refusing Sutton (and Lennon) entry to Ibrox on the basis of being unable to secure their safety in the face of a few bampots in our support, who, let’s face it, could well sully the club’s name if they got anywhere near Sutton in particular.
Are Rangers right? And is this the real reason?
Yes and no. And yes and no.
Rangers have 100% discretion on who they allow in Ibrox. Chris McLaughlin, various DR personnel and many others have been banned for exploiting the club or deliberately provoking it, just like Andy Walter is banned from Celtic Park (and indeed Ibrox).
Indeed, Walker’s ban from both stadiums isn’t ever mentioned in the media at all, just the Rangers stuff, and we wonder why that is…
Equally, if we’re honest, Sutton probably would get heckled by some idiots in our fanbase, just because of the pure trolling he’s done against the club for easily a decade now.
Would YOU want him in our home?
Rangers have every right to reject entry to whoever they like.
If BT aren’t happy about it, they need to consider more carefully who they employ.
And why.