Rangers have asked their fans to behave ahead of their upcoming trip to Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup.
Rangers will play Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals on Sunday and the club have reminded their fans not to give detractors “a chance to criticise” their behaviour.
Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke was met with sectarian chants during Rangers recent 5-0 home win over Killie while Scottish Police have have vowed to run a “robust” operation after a fans’ group called for 2,000 ticketless fans to attend Sunday’s match.
The club reminded their fans to think of the club’s reputation as they prepare for the trip to Pittodrie.
“Rangers Football Club takes this opportunity to remind fans of the need to support the team in the correct manner,” said a statement post on the club’s website.
“As the manager Steven Gerrard strives to provide excellence on the pitch we, the support, must also strive to protect the club and ensure that Rangers is projected in the best possible light.
“The majority of our supporters recognise that they are the club’s ambassadors and that unacceptable behaviour has no place in our ranks.
“Let’s go to Aberdeen determined to make sure that triumphs, like that wonderful 5-0 Scottish Cup replay win against Kilmarnock last week, are not downplayed because of negative headlines generated by unacceptable chants and songs.
“If this continues, those fans who indulge will succeed only in damaging their own club. Support the team, be louder than our opponents and drive our players forward but let’s do so in the correct manner.
“Let’s not give anyone a chance to criticise this great club, your club.”
Meanwhile on the other half of Glasgow, Brendan Rodgers has hit back at Celtic fans calling him a fraud following his departure to Leicester City earlier this week.
Rodgers replaced Claude Puel at the club with the former Liverpool manager leaving Celtic on the verge of a triple treble.
His departure was not taken lightly by fans with supporters holding up a banner claiming that he was a fraud during their recent trip to Hearts.
Rodgers told the Herald Scotland that he was a Celt and he completely dismissed the notion that he was a fraud.
“I’d ask them, ‘What the f*** are you doing?’Bloody hell, I’m one of you!’.“Okay, I made a career decision. But that doesn’t make me any less of a Celt.
“A fraud? Someone who turned up at half seven every morning of his life? Who was in there until all hours of the night? Who took over 60 games a season, preparing a team, changing a culture and a standard at a club, filling the support again?
“It is sad if it has gone that way. If it is to this depth, for someone who has given so many happy memories to a lot of people and has left the club in the position they are in with the stability, it is sad. I haven’t exactly left a sinking ship.”
