Rangers FC’s Social Media Blunder Sparks Outrage: Fans Stunned as Club Posts and Deletes Celtic Guard of Honour Snub
In a move that has set Scottish football ablaze, Rangers FC reportedly posted a bold statement on their official social media channels declaring they would not give rivals Celtic a guard of honour at the upcoming Old Firm derby, only to swiftly delete the post. The now-infamous message, which surfaced just as Celtic are on the verge of clinching the Scottish Premiership title, has left fans on both sides of Glasgow’s fiercest rivalry reeling, with reactions ranging from disbelief to fury.
With Celtic poised to secure the league title as early as Saturday, April 26, 2025, against Dundee United, the prospect of Rangers offering a guard of honour at Ibrox on May 4 has been a hot topic. The tradition, where the opposing team applauds the champions onto the pitch, is a gesture of respect in many footballing cultures but remains deeply contentious in the Old Firm rivalry. According to multiple fan accounts on X, Rangers’ official social media team took a definitive stance, posting something along the lines of: “There will be no guard of honour for Celtic at Ibrox. We respect their achievement, but this is not something we will do.”
The post, which was live for mere minutes before being deleted, didn’t go unnoticed. Screenshots circulated rapidly across X, with fans and pundits alike capturing the moment. “Did Rangers really just post that they’re snubbing Celtic’s guard of honour and then delete it like nothing happened?” one user tweeted, summing up the disbelief. Another added, “Talk about a PR disaster! Rangers just threw fuel on the Old Firm fire and then tried to pretend it didn’t happen.”
The guard of honour debate is nothing new in the Celtic-Rangers rivalry. Historical precedent shows neither club has consistently offered the gesture to the other. In 2019, Rangers refused to give Celtic a guard of honour after their eighth consecutive title, a decision defended by then-manager Steven Gerrard as a club directive. Similarly, in 2021, Celtic declined to applaud Rangers onto the pitch after their title win, citing the lack of reciprocity in 2019.
The deleted post, however, escalated tensions to a new level. By publicly announcing their refusal—only to backtrack—Rangers appeared to waver between defiance and damage control. “It’s the cowardice of deleting it that gets me,” one Celtic fan posted on X. “If you’re going to take a stand, own it!” Meanwhile, Rangers supporters were divided. Some cheered the initial sentiment, with one tweeting, “No way we should clap them after all these years. Good call!” Others cringed at the optics, with a user commenting, “Posting and deleting makes us look weak. Just say nothing next time.”
Speculation is rife about whether the post was a genuine mistake or a calculated move gone awry. Some believe it was a rogue social media manager acting without approval, while others argue it was a deliberate jab meant to rally the Rangers fanbase before the club reconsidered the backlash. “It’s classic Old Firm mind games,” a neutral fan observed on X. “Rangers wanted to poke Celtic but didn’t expect the reaction.”
The timing couldn’t be worse for Rangers, who are under intense scrutiny following a trophyless season and a Europa League exit to Athletic Bilbao. Manager Barry Ferguson, already facing pressure, now has to contend with this off-field controversy. Celtic, meanwhile, are relishing the moment. Manager Brendan Rodgers, when asked about the guard of honour earlier this week, brushed off the debate, saying, “I’m just focused on St Johnstone,” referring to their Scottish Cup semi-final.
The deleted post has ignited a firestorm on social media. Celtic fans have seized the opportunity to mock their rivals, with one viral X post reading, “Rangers: ‘No guard of honour!’ deletes tweet Also Rangers: ‘Please don’t hate us!’” Another Celtic supporter referenced the 1964 Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final, where Rangers reportedly gave Celtic a guard of honour, joking, “Guess we’re still waiting for that return favour from 61 years ago!”
Rangers fans, however, are split. Some see the post as a badge of pride, aligning with the club’s historical reluctance to honour Celtic. “Why should we clap them? They’ve never done it for us,” one fan argued. Others lamented the embarrassment, with a user posting, “This is why we can’t have nice things. Whoever runs our social media needs a holiday.”
Pundits have also weighed in. Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton, never one to shy away from controversy, tweeted, “Rangers posting and deleting is the most Rangers thing ever. Commit to the bit or don’t bother!” Meanwhile, Rangers legend Ally McCoist, speaking on talkSPORT, called the situation “a distraction we don’t need,” urging the club to focus on the pitch.
The fallout from this social media saga is unlikely to die down before the May 4 derby. If Celtic clinch the title this weekend, the guard of honour question will dominate headlines, with Rangers’ deleted post adding fuel to the narrative. The club’s silence since the incident suggests they’re hoping to move on, but Celtic fans, buoyed by their team’s dominance, are unlikely to let it go.
On the pitch, Rangers face a daunting task against a Celtic side that has lost just once in the league this season. Off the pitch, the club must navigate the PR fallout and appease a fanbase already frustrated by a lack of silverware. For now, the deleted post has given Celtic the upper hand in the mind games, with one X user summing it up perfectly: “Rangers tried to throw shade but ended up in the dark.”
As the Old Firm derby looms, one thing is clear: in Glasgow, even a deleted tweet can spark a war.
