The Scottish newspapers have taken to covering the SPL's extension decision with an across the board "Rangers fury at SPL" therefore unashamedly implying that Rangers are the injured party in all this. It seems Rangers are unhappy because the favouritism shown to them does not amount to enough favouritism.
The BBC join in by making sure Martin Bain's rant is given the highest priority possible in their coverage. His whinge about having to play 4 games over 8 days and this infringing on sporting integrity [stop laughing at the back there!] is helpfully put in a big bright red box to highlight this to all and sundry and ensure no-one misses this gross injustice. Needless to say Peter Lawwell's comments are nothing more than a footnote to the Bain rant and are given no such prominence i.e. no fancy big coloured box to make them stand out. "Old Firm" bias right enough.
"Rangers pointed out that the last time a Scottish team reached the UEFA Cup final - Celtic in 2003 - a fixture was moved to give them a full week to prepare"
Celtic were indeed allowed to bring a league game with Dundee forward from the Saturday to the previous Wednesday. This did not involve extending the season in any shape or form. In fact this actually disadvantaged Celtic in terms of the SPL as it left only 3 days preparation and rest before the Dundee game instead of the original 7. Celtic were willing to prioritise the UEFA Cup final and so were happy with this arrangement. By all means Rangers, bring forward all the fixtures you want, but the SPL season should not be extended by one minute. Anything else is favouritism and ultimately cheating.
Funnily enough, media coverage of Celtic's fixture congestion that Bain and Murray's media lapdogs use as smoke and mirrors, was just a tiny wee bit different in 2003 CELTIC BRANDED MOANERS
However, we all know that Rangers' dummy spitting act has nothing to do in the slightest with a UEFA Cup final that they haven't qualified for.
So far this season, they have put the rest of us mere mortals to shame with their "sporting dignity" (c) Baldy Bain 2008 - by asking for an extension to the season by not asking for one - WALTER SMITH: RANGERS NOT ASKING FOR AN EXTENSION
Then they throw their toys out of the pram when they don't get the extension they never asked for, or the extension they are given - which they never asked for - is not long enough for their liking.
Dignity or what eh?
This almost makes as much sense as their "FIFA ruined our plans to field Cousin against Panathinaikos by not letting us...em.. sell him" (see Ranger, Daily 12/02/08 "FIFA leave Walter's UEFA Cup plans in tatters")
Which just so happened to be another instance where Rangers wanted to change the rules mid-season to suit themselves. FIFA treated them with the contempt they deserved, incurring the wrath and fury of the Scottish press (cue lots of references to "bumbling FIFA officials" - what about "bumbling Ibrox officials"?)
Is there not some sort of award we can give them for their unparalleled dignity and "sporting integity" (c) Bain in the Backside 2008 ??
Back to the BBC and their Rangers mouthpiece copy:
"Yet Rangers are the only club to be asked to play four games in eight days, so there is no sporting integrity (c) Martin Brainless 2008"
Rangers are the only team to be asked to play four games in eight days because they are the only club who asked for, and were granted, postponement of one of their own league fixtures and then chose not to reschedule this for dates available in December. They are also the only club who couldn't keep their ground in playable condition due to rain and who failed to beat Hibs and Partick Thistle at the first time of asking. Who does the Brainless wonder blame for that?
"So I don't see what the SPL have done for Rangers in terms of aiding them in European competition"
Em... apart from allowing you to postpone league games on request??
No doubt sensing that Bain was making a bit of an arse of himself, the BBC did not publish verbatim the following which appeared on the official Rangers website -
"Why is the season simply not extended to conclude on May 27 regardless?"
Remember the bit about not asking for a season extension?
This statement is simply stunning in its arrogance. Five other clubs are supposed to wait for fully 17 days before resuming to suit Rangers? Bain does not explain how extending the season to 27 May would assist them in the UEFA Cup. The "we only want help in Europe" veil slipping a wee bit there.
Other factors Bain does not address in his sheer arrogance and crass stupidity are - international fixtures on 19 May (Greece), 24 May (Holland) and 26 May (Poland). All of these national teams are entitled by FIFA rules to demand that players report to their respective squad for Euro 2008 no later than 24th May. Extending the season would result in this factor becoming a significant predicament.
Oh but wait a minute, that would only disadvantage Celtic so that would be perfectly OK.
Although Bain's assertion is clearly absurd, the BBC treat it seriously and attempt to give it some credibility by paraphrasing it, and at the same time very cleverly spinning their phrasing to portray Celtic as the stubborn and unreasonable party -
"Rangers had wanted the season delayed until 27 May, but even delaying it until 22 May disappointed Celtic"
Very judicious use of the word "even" there. Take a bow BBC Spin doctor Ronnie Esplin!!
The Sun leads today with "THANKS FOR NOTHING Rangers fury at run-in nightmare" accompanied by a photo of the Cardigan looking suitably forlorn. Out of the closet hun, Bill Leckie, predictably argues that Rangers should be allowed to play two games after the Cup Final after all the other teams have completed their programmes. He also goes on to quote the "precedent" set in 2003 but fails to explain at what point the season was extended at that particular time.
The Evening Times goes with "OLD FIRM FURY OVER SPL 'JOKE'". Needless to say, Bain is the source of the 'joke' comment. The sub-heading reads "Bain: They've done nothing to help Gers", as if somehow the SPL's remit includes helping Rangers win the SPL.
Admittedly an easy mistake-a to make-a considering the SPL's Rangers pandering through this and other seasons.
Bain's statements in the Evening Times become even more farcical than those released through the Rangers website and their unofficial mouthpieces in the media -
"If these proposals are being seen by anyone in any way as a victory for Rangers, then that is an absolute joke"
The biggest joke in this whole scenario is a dead-heat between Bain and the SPL.
Note the interesting reference to "proposals" rather than "decision". Stay tuned folks...
"Yes it's a modest extension, but..."
More than any other team in the history of the Scottish League has been granted.
"We understand that this would inconvenience some other teams, but..."
They are not as important as Rangers.
"There has been talk in certain quarters about sporting integrity of the league and how that had to be retained, but..."
Ooooooh get those claws back in pussycat! The logical interpretation of the above is that "sporting integrity" (c) Bartin Main 2008, can go out the window now.
But for the real pinnacle of shameless hypocrisy, lying, two-faced, cheating [insert similar adjective]... try this for size...
"So far Rangers have been handed back-to-back Old Firm games at Parkhead and a schedule of seven away games out of the last nine league games. I was prepared to accept those fixtures from the SPL as they gave me a rationale behind that scheduling."
Presumably that rationale went something like this:
Blair/Gold:"We'll front load the fixtures for you with far more home than away games to give you an easy time before the split. Hopefully Timmy will crumble under the pressure of constant away games after their Champions League fixtures and the Gers will be out of sight by the split. If not we can always fix it so you get a couple of home games to finish with."
Bain/Murray: "Good work Agents Orange and Tangerine".
You really could not get a clearer personification of sheer bare-faced duplicity and hypocrisy. Rangers FC are going to stop at nothing to get this league title by foul means or fouler. Diving, cheating, withdrawing players from internationals on false pretences, postponing games at will, getting the seasone extended on demand.
This club forgot the meaning of the word dignity a long time ago.
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