Rangers and Hibernian Condemn Graffiti and Stickers Mocking 1971 Ibrox Disaster
Rangers and Hibernian have both condemned graffiti and stickers left in the away end at Ibrox after Saturday’s Scottish Premiership match that mocked the disaster at the stadium in 1971. Less than 1,000 Hibs supporters were in attendance for their side’s 4-0 defeat, and when they left, it emerged that some seats had been defaced with the number 66 – the number of deaths resulting from a crush among the crowd at a Rangers v Celtic game in 1971.
There were also photographs of stairway 13, where the disaster occurred, stuck on the seats, with the images accompanied by the words: “Stairwell Thirteen – it’s the greatest sight that I have ever seen.” Graffiti also mocked the death of Queen Elizabeth II and supported the IRA.
A Rangers spokesperson said: “Rangers condemns in the strongest possible terms the graffiti and stickers left by a section of the Hibernian supporters at Ibrox this afternoon. The Ibrox disaster remains the darkest day in our club’s history and continues to affect a number of families to this day. The mocking and celebration of such an event is outrageous and has no place in any football stadium or society as a whole.” Rangers said they would be working with the Edinburgh club to identify those responsible, while Hibs have asked anyone with information to contact their website.
A Hibernian spokesperson said: “Hibernian FC is aware of the intolerable graffiti and stickers found in the away end at Ibrox today and condemns the behaviour of the individuals that were involved. The club will work with Rangers to identify those responsible and will take the most serious action possible against anyone involved.”
The Ibrox Disaster of 1971
The Ibrox disaster occurred on January 2nd, 1971, during a match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Park in Glasgow, Scotland. The match was attended by over 80,000 people, making it one of the largest crowds ever seen at an Old Firm derby match. During the match, a crush occurred on stairway 13 of the terraces, resulting in 66 people being killed and over 200 injured in one of the worst stadium disasters in British history.
The cause of the disaster was determined to be overcrowding on stairway 13 due to a lack of turnstiles at the entrance to that section of the terraces, as well as a lack of police presence to control the crowd size and movement within the stadium. As a result of this tragedy, many changes were made to stadium safety regulations in Scotland and around the world, including the introduction of all-seater stadiums and improved crowd control measures at large sporting events.
The Legacy of the Ibrox Disaster
The Ibrox disaster is remembered as one of the darkest days in Scottish football history, and its legacy continues to be felt today in Scotland and beyond. The tragedy has been commemorated with a plaque at Ibrox Park, as well as memorial services held each year on January 2nd to remember those who lost their lives in the disaster.
The incident also serves as a reminder of how important it is to ensure that stadiums are properly managed and maintained in order to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. The Ibrox disaster serves as a reminder that safety should always be a priority when it comes to large sporting events, and that those responsible for managing stadiums must take all necessary precautions to ensure that spectators are kept safe at all times.
Conclusion
The Ibrox disaster of 1971 was one of the worst stadium disasters in British history, resulting in 66 deaths and over 200 injuries. The tragedy has been remembered with memorial services each year on January 2nd, as well as a plaque at Ibrox Park to commemorate those who lost their lives in the disaster. It is also a reminder of how important it is to ensure that stadiums are properly managed and maintained in order to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. Rangers and Hibernian have both condemned graffiti and stickers left in the away end at Ibrox after Saturday’s Scottish Premiership match that mocked the disaster at the stadium in 1971, and they are working together to identify those responsible for this act of disrespect towards those who lost their lives in this tragedy.