The Old Firm Derby is a spectacle of enthusiasm that defies logic

 

The Old Firm Derby, one of the world's biggest sporting rivalries, has made a sensational comeback in the Scottish Premier League this season. Football (like all other sports) has succumbed to commercialisation in recent years, with rising ticket rates and most matches being shown on television driving many die-hard supporters away from stadiums. Many typical derby matches across Europe have struggled as a result, as football visitors flock to the turnstiles with selfie sticks in hand and an Instagram caption in mind. The infamous ‘Old Firm Derby,' a match played between Glasgow clubs Celtic FC and Rangers FC, seems to have avoided this occurrence.

The word "Old Firm" was invented in the 1880s by a popular Glasgow newspaper headline referring to Celtic and Rangers as "like two old, firm mates" because the clubs often scheduled matches for commercial reasons. Any notion of fellowship, however, vanished rapidly as the fixture became increasingly rooted in Scottish society, exposing and amplifying political, religious, and social divisions around the region. The two clubs must be examined independently in order to determine whether this is the case.

Celtic FC began as a charitable endeavor in 1887, with the aim of alleviating suffering among the city's Irish immigrant population in the city's East End. Brother Walfrid, an Irish priest, founded the club and famously said, "A football club will be created for the maintenance of dinner tables for the children and unemployed." Irish immigrants were seen as an annoyance at the time, particularly since the majority of them were Catholic, which was not accepted in a predominantly Protestant Scotland. Celtic supporters continue to honor their traditionally Irish history and heritage today. Celtic supporters often sing in support of Irish republicanism, remembering incidents such as the 1916 Easter Rising and the 1981 IRA Hunger Strikers.

Rangers FC was founded in 1872, a few years before Celtic. The club's home games are held at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow's South Side. Rangers supporters consider their club to be "the quintessential British club," embracing all things British, including unionism, the Royal Family, and Protestantism. Until 1989, when the signing of Catholic and former Celtic player Mo Johnston stunned the world, Rangers had an unwritten “no Catholics” policy. Rangers supporters burnt season tickets outside the club's stadium in protest of the signing, rather than celebrating the breaking down of social and religious walls.“It's a miserable day for the club,” said the Chairman of the Rangers Supporters Association. At Ibrox, I don't want to see a Roman Catholic.” More surprisingly, all Scottish Rangers players boycotted the press conference confirming Johnston's release, demonstrating that the decision to sign Johnston was not made lightly. In addition, in protest of the inclusion of a Catholic in the Rangers locker room, Rangers kitman Jimmy Bell (who is now employed by the club in the same capacity) declined to lay out Johnston's jersey before games.

Rangers' perennial financial irregularities inevitably caught up with them in 2012, resulting in the world-famous football club's dramatic downfall. Rangers were taken into bankruptcy and then liquidated after the club's creditors refused a new creditor's agreement. Following that, a newco was created under the name The Rangers Football Club, and the newco was forced to compete in Scottish football's lowest tier. The newco retains the previous company's badge, arena, and tradition, meaning that the club's zeal and competition are not extinguished. Celtic and Rangers (now a newco) did not play each other for several years due to the chaos on the city's South Side, as Rangers had to spend several years in the Scottish football's lower leagues. Despite this, Rangers were promoted to the Scottish Premiership ensuring their place in the 2016/17 campaign.

As the rest of the country holding their breath, Celtic and Rangers supporters all over the world enthusiastically awaited the resumption of the legendary derby. And it did not let me down. Rangers were humiliated on the field by their city rivals, who have improved significantly since 2012. Celtic are in the midst of a glorious age, and are one match away from completing a domestic treble (a hugely prestigious achievement achieved just three times in the club's history). It was as though the two had never been apart off the field. Celtic supporters hung effigies of Rangers fans and draped banners urging their side to go to battle with their city rivals during the first Old Firm match of the season. Rangers fans desecrated the toilets inside Celtic Park after a humiliating defeat, causing £35,000 in damage.

The rest of the season's games followed suit, resulting in Rangers fans racially attacking Celtic star Scott Sinclair in the season's final derby. Celtic's complete domination this season provided fans with the ideal chance to knock their opponents while they were down, as ecstatic fans celebrated on the terraces. After the game, Rangers fans were caught on camera chanting sick slogans about their continuing hate of all things Catholic. Rangers viewers even made fun of the Catholic church's tumultuous history of historic sexual violence.

So, how has the schism between Celtic and Rangers supporters just been more pronounced in recent years? How does such hate exist unchallenged in a big European city in an era of recognition and equality? The Old Firm is clearly more than a football match, to borrow an old cliché. Both clubs have sizable fan bases, and unlike other derbies, their supporters are dispersed across the world. Celtic/Rangers support is more than simply wishing for a victory on a Saturday afternoon; it is a true identification. This is especially true for teenage boys, who are looking for a sense of self, belonging, and camaraderie in the stands of Ibrox and Celtic Park. Celtic/Rangers blood is usually passed on through the bloodline, even more so than at other clubs, and it is common to see three generations of the same family watching matches together. However, this also ensures that children are instilled with animosity at an early age, and they have no choice but to despise their opposing team. Songs, slogans, and phrases are handed on from father to son, and then from son to mates, and the competition means that no resentment is lost in the process.

At this point, I'd provide a general solution to the problem we've just discussed. However, this is a one-of-a-kind subject. The Scottish Government has passed laws to bridge the gap, but it has so far been ignored. While the Old Firm's hate continues to be a popular subject for tabloids and broadsheets alike, the zeal of fans is often ignored. It's difficult to explain without watching an Old Firm match. It's pain or ecstasy, elation or scorn for fans.
With this match evoking such strong emotions in such a significant segment of Scottish society, it is unlikely that the ferocity of the match will wane anytime soon. For supporters, their love for their teams is more than just a game. It's both a mindset and a way of life.

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