For any bear or bearette that missed the Scotsport Fanzone programme, the unsavory comments made by Keevins were made about the Rangers support while discussing the topic of sectarianism. Keevins claimed that the flags on show pre-match (a Saltire, a Union Flag and two flags bearing the crest of Rangers) combined with “militaristic” style music (the Dambusters and the Great Escape) amounted to a Nazi style rally. And if Mr Murray was serious about eradicating bigotry from the West of Scotland he should scrap the current pre-match entertainment.
Lets break that statement down a bit. The Flags and Music are akin to a Nuremberg rally. The Flags? A Saltire and a Union Flag?, but Hugh, surely these are the flags of our country? The Music? The Dambusters, a theme song from a 1954 film? and the Great Escape, likewise from a 1963 film? Surely Hugh must have been mistaken in his comments.
Now, “but what's new?” I can already hear some ask. McNee and Spiers have been using that line for years now.
Whilst McNee and Spiers have been using the old “Nuremberg Rally Pressbox joke” for years now, none have been so brazen as Keevins. Keevins stated this as a cause of Bigotry, he compared 50,000 Rangers supporters to Nazi's, he went live on national television to spew such bile. Only in this nation would such a ludicrous statement not be challenged by a panel or callers and such a vile old man be given the platform to express his disgraceful and distasteful views on Rangers and it's support.
The aftermath of the comments was not surprising in the slightest. Many bears on the website lodged complaints to OFCOM (the television and radio standards board)and also to Keevins' employers at STV, The Daily Record and RC. Mr Murray and the higher powers at Rangers took their usual stance ‘a dignified silence' and the RST released another brilliant and well written statement. Surely someone would make Hugh apologise for such an unprovoked outburst live on television.
Well, no. Scottish Television, who gave Hugh the platform, said the Hugh was a respected Journalist and his views were not those of anyone at STV. RC washed their hands of the incident as did the Record. As well as his employers washing their hands of the incident Hugh took a well earned holiday, the day after the comments were made. Read into that what you will.
Another excellent cover-up by the men in the mhedia at the expense of our great club, maybe if it was a personal attack on Mr Murray as an Hitler-esque figure our esteemed chairman would have pushed for the resignation of Keevins or at least an apology.
But as it stands Hugh will be walking down Parkhead way, whistling the theme tune to the Great Escape, oh how ironic.
RaM