
RANGERS ultras the Union Bears have asked for DONATIONS towards future tifos.
It comes after their latest display before Sunday’s Old Firm clash with Celtic caused controversy.
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Now stationed in the Copland Front, the Union Bears regularly unfurl huge banners at matches as well as smaller displays.
While some have been well received, others have generated controversy.
A Union Bears display blasting ‘woke foreign ideologies’ caught the attention of Uefa.
European football’s governing body handed down a suspended stadium ban over the display they deemed to amount to ‘racist and/or discriminatory behaviour.’
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Rangers blasted the banner as ‘deeply saddening and frankly embarrassing.’
Before kick-off against Celtic yesterday, the Union Bears once again unfurled a display, this time in the form of a huge tifo.
It depicted Rangers legend Graeme Souness holding a shotgun.
That image that inspired the tifo is a real picture, taken in 1982 as part of a World Cup build-up.
Like the tifo, Souness is holding a shotgun in the actual picture from 43 years ago.
The bottom of the display carried the words: “Take aim against the rebel scum.”
Sickening moment Celtic fan mocks Ibrox disaster during Hoops’ Old Firm clash against Rangers
SunSport told today how police had seized the banner as potential evidence.
A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed to us that they were investigating, saying: “We are aware of the banner and enquiries are ongoing.”
Rangers also released a furious statement, condemning both the banner and a supporter who threw a glass bottle onto the pitch.
The club fumed: “We also acknowledge that the tifo displayed prior to kick-off crossed a line and was unacceptable.
“Our approach to supporter displays has always been built on trust, with the responsibility placed on groups to exercise good judgement.
“We will reflect on how these displays are managed and engage with supporter groups to ensure the right balance of trust, responsibility and oversight is maintained moving forward.
“Rangers is proud of its passionate fanbase, and we all share a duty to protect the standards and reputation of our club.”
Amid the storm, the Union Bears have now taken to social media.
In a new post on X, they have asked for DONATIONS towards future tifo displays.
Alongside pictures of Sunday’s display, the post claims the cost of the banner came to £5,302.
As part of the cost breakdown, the post reads: “National meltdown – priceless.”
It isn’t the first time the Union Bears have asked for donations towards their displays, having put a similar post up on social media last month.
They’re also selling T-shirts emblazoned with the image of Souness and same words from the bottom of the tifo.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Police Scotland are also probing shocking footage of a Celtic fan mocking the Ibrox disaster inside Ibrox.
The male supporter in the away end was seen holding up his phone with the number 66 on the screen, a reference to the number of people who tragically lost their lives in 1971.