Why banning football journalists makes the beautiful game ugly
Football clubs across the UK are banning reporters from their stadiums because they don’t like what’s being reported. Nowhere else in British public life is this tolerated.
Football clubs across the UK are banning reporters from their stadiums because they don’t like what’s being reported. Nowhere else in British public life is this tolerated.
I went well over the top and I apologise. No ifs, no buts. The Millwall analogy and comments about the level of violence were crass and wrong.
Celtic are fast becoming Scotland’s modern Millwall: an underclass of extreme politics and mindless violence. And Huddleboard, the online fan forum, is showcasing some of the worst of this toxic brew.
The fact that parading members of the British armed forces got drawn into a sectarian demonstration at Ibrox Park on Saturday reflects worst on the top brass who exposed them to such a situation.
Should football clubs be allowed to ban reporters from news conferences? Alex Thomson argues it’s time to make a stand.
There is no conflict of interest for Rangers and Celtic to use the same top Scottish law firm, despite claims from Rangers fans, especially in such a small legal pool.
Channel 4 News Chief Correspondent Alex Thomson blogs about the Olympic Torch
Scottish Premier League boss Neil Doncaster says a CVA could be the answer to Rangers’ woes – but many ifs and buts remain if Rangers are to remain in the SPL.
Channel 4 News Chief Correspondent, Alex Thomson, on the latest Old Firm goings on at Celtic Park (that’s Parkhead to him)
Rangers goes to the heart of how we wish to live and be governed in sport, culture, business and politics too. Do we want rules that are applied to governance? Or do we simply want to drift along in the casino world?
“Plenty of chants of: “What’s that comin’ over the hill – is it a taxman? Is it a taxman?” from Celtic fans.”
“Strathclyde’s mounted cavalry lined up along the Broomloan Stand as if preparing for some kind of extreme gymkhana.”
Succulent lamb culture has permeated to a degree that, as one prominent Glasgow tabloid journalist put it: “The press -a really critical check and balance in the normal way of things, had been more or less destroyed in Glasgow.”
Last week I sought the views of non-Rangers football fans in Scotland about the current meltdown at Ibrox. This is the second of three blogs setting out how they see it.