Rangers reaction: Union Bears should reconsider, Alfredo Morelos finished at Ibrox, ban lifted

Fan protest

During a recent match, the Union Bears, a faction of Rangers supporters known for their chanting, banners, tifos, and pyros, were absent from their usual spot in section BF1 of the Broomloan Stand. They were reportedly staging a protest after being prevented from displaying an “offensive” banner depicting a policeman as a pig, which led to Rangers and Police Scotland taking action. While such fan groups do add to the atmosphere of games, they must adhere to stadium regulations regarding pyrotechnics and offensive banners. The author suggests that once fan groups understand they do not have special privileges over other supporters, there should be no need for such walkouts or protests, which detract from the match experience for others. The absence of the Union Bears on Sunday prompted Raith Rovers fans to jokingly ask if they were in a library due to the lack of noise.

Morelos finished

Alfredo Morelos’ future at Rangers beyond this season appears increasingly unlikely. The striker’s contract is set to expire in the summer, and it seems that neither party is eager to reach a new agreement. Morelos has given no indication that he wants to stay, evident in his behaviour during the team’s recent win over Raith when he walked straight down the tunnel after a 12-minute substitute appearance while his teammates stayed on the pitch to celebrate. Although Michael Beale appeared to be giving Morelos a chance at redemption, he has now followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, by dropping the Colombian in favour of Antonio Colak and demanding more from him. Beale has stated that he needs to see more consistency from Morelos, particularly in the final third, and has communicated this to the player directly.

Beale was unable to confirm or refute rumours that Sevilla and a pre-contract agreement had been signed. Whether accurate or not, it seems increasingly safe to assume that Morelos’ time with the Rangers is coming to an end.

Ban lifted

Rangers can breathe a sigh of relief as three key players, Connor Goldson, Borna Barisic and Glen Kamara managed to avoid booking against Raith Rovers, which would have led to their suspension in the upcoming Scottish Cup semi-finals. As a precaution, Kamara was left on the bench for the entire match, while both Barisic and Goldson were substituted in the 66th minute. Manager Michael Beale confirmed that their decision was influenced by the need to protect their players from suspension for the next round of the competition. The good news for Lundstram and Cantwell, who received a caution in the match, is that a yellow card in the semi-final will not result in suspension for the final.

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