Owl.1867

Whilst not mathematically out of it, the other thing to bear in mind with Rangers is how much has to happen for them to win the title. They're not even third yet, first of all, but let's assume they don't lose their game in hand and so go above Hibs. If they were five points behind Celtic at this stage, with Celtic top, very few would be saying they were going to win the title. As it is, they're five points behind Celtic, but twelve (nine at best when game in hand played) behind Hearts. I don't carry the same optimism about Hearts that some do, but let's be honest, this is not last season's Aberdeen. Any regression to the mean still may be enough for them to win the title if Celtic don't sort themselves out, such is the advantage that Hearts have built up early and the generally decent performances. Rangers need to overcome those deficits on two teams, meaning that they need to be just about perfect from here until the end of their season. So far, Röhl has done what he did at Wednesday; be pretty consistent in winning the games that they should, but look totally off the pace against sides that are better. Aside from the weird hold we seemed to have on West Brom, he showed no indication of being able to figure out how to beat the better sides. To make up the gap, whilst overtaking three teams, Rangers will need to not only not slip up against the lower teams, but also beat Celtic and Hearts. Probably every time remaining.

The police have already confirmed that it was the MTA hooligans that were the reason for the ban. But you carry on. British values, by the way. Put the dog whistle away and just say what you mean.

Because of the political storm whipped up through irresponsible comments made by members of government, including the PM. People will look back on this time and wonder what on earth had gone wrong with a country that meant it decided to throw so much weight behind a foreign country as it carried out a genocide thousands of miles away.

"Significant Hoolinganism" within MTA fanbase is reason for ban - West Midlands Police Flies in the face of what many were trying to tell us in here. I guess Sky News and WMP must be part of the "leftist agenda" or whatever you call it now. Beggars belief.

Martin O'Neil rolling back the decades.

It's taken, what, a matter of hours for the facade to drop from pig fans. It must have been killing them having to appear gracious towards our plight these last few months.

Because they're trying to go with the narrative that the spineless twit in Number 10 has given them. They weren't going to be getting any tickets, but the propaganda drive is in full force now.

The scholarly consensus is strongly, firmly on the side that this is genocide. Denying it is now akin to being a "scientist" who claims that there is no such thing as man made global warming. One day, everyone will have been against this. Unfortunately for the deniers, everything is recorded now. Every pathetic attempt to stand up for the perpetrators, every bit of genocide denial, is recorded for all to see in future.

The overwhelming majority of those who would have traveled have participated actively in a genocide, or in the establishment of illegal settlements in the West Bank. The legal precedent has been set that "just following orders" is not a defence. Considering it will be mostly young men, coming from a country with active conscription, and the identity that the club and fanbase builds around itself, it is almost certain that within that traveling support would be people who in recent months have been carrying out a genocide. Again, this is based in international legal decisions and definitions; it is a genocide. They're not scared for their safety, they want there to be trouble, but I'd be happy living somewhere that people like that are scared for their safety. Let's not forget who political leaders are climbing over each other to defend here.

The point is that it's another European fixture at which away fans are being banned by the host authorities due to anticipated behaviour of the visiting fans. But, you knew that.

No English club would ever... But yes, there does seem to be a resurgence of some of the worst elements. However, it's worth noting that on the whole, English and German fanbases will still have normal match going fans. The culture is different at some of the French and Italian clubs, and across Eastern Europe and yes, in Israel. Central and Northern Europe (including the UK) have a different football culture right now to southern and Eastern Europe (including Israel).

He's looked desperate here to be honest. They turned him down, then having been rejected by Muscat he's still right there for them.

Difficult, I know, but just removing the actual issue at the core of this for a moment: Is no one else embarrassed at how both sides of the house prostrate themselves at the feet of a foreign power? A country which is beyond even the mildest criticism, with MPs fighting to show who can be most loyal to them. Considering how empty the house usually is, the presence of so many there to discuss this raises...questions. Imagine if MPs were there to discuss allowing Napoli or Red Star Belgrade ultras, all falling over themselves to defend the masked men who have already run riot across Europe and had their own derby cancelled. It simply wouldn't happen. Also, speaking of Napoli, there will be no Frankfurt fans at that game, and yet no one seems to be speaking up for them. Especially as this involves a temporary pause of free movement through the EU. Funny that most of those here advocating for Israeli fans, were a decade ago so worried about the apparent inability to control borders that they committed an act of self sabotage on their own country.

It's also about what the incentive is. Someone else in the thread mentioned about how some people never get the hang of it, whether physically or mentally. Unless there is another person in that same space and also physically comparable, the organisers need to do the hard work of saying "look, you can train these weeks, feel good in your body, get fitter, keep trying, but we are simply not putting you in the ring". Unfortunately, they are paid to put people in the ring for a paid-for experience. A proper trainer would continue telling someone that they are not ready, because they are incentivised not to be known as irresponsible, or just a bad trainer.

Tel Aviv derby cancelled following riots. I can't believe this level of antisemitism from *checks notes* the Israeli police.