The Official Fantastic Glasgow Rangers thread

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

EG obviously avoids the flag incident as a factor. 

[fitzroyalty]

I drank in the Dubliner when I was in Bratislava and to be fair the staff were sound as 

[illdecide]

I drank in the Dubliner when I was in Bratislava and to be fair the staff were sound as 

You told me you didn't drink alcohol you little liar I suppose you don't gamble on-line either

[saffron sam2]

Same when the Norn Iron fans were assaulted in an Irish bar in Slovakia. Makes you wonder.

Flicked over to the Rangers game earlier there, and thought I heard the words "Bobby Sands" being sung in a song by one set of the supporters. Not 100% though on that. What song would or could they be singing?

Assaulted my hole ... they removed a tricolour from the wall, the bar staff attempted to stop them, the bar staff were attacked and the bouncers weighed in to protect the bar staff, but the version we got was that two wee innocent huns from Fermanagh were beaten up for absolutely no reason

Wouldn't matter what version you got. In such circumstances, bigots like you make your own story up to fit in with your prejudices.

FYI, it came from an OWC supporter who was in the bar when the thing happened

I don't believe  a word of that, Red Hander, since I was in Bratislava myself and spoke to fans who were in the pub at the time. I trust their word over yours, never mind that of your (fictitious) "OWC mate" any day.
Of course, I don't expect you or like-minded individuals to take my word for this, so I've followed up some references (alluded to by MnaG above) from foot.ie, an ROI soccer fans' website.

To put this into context, the ROI played a game in Bratislava the year before the NI game. Prior/subsequent to the ROI game, and again prior to the NI game, ROI fans were warning, from personal experience, of the dangers of "The Dubliner" bar (or more accurately its doorstaff), as follows.

Prior to the ROI Game
1. "Citizenerased" on 09/08/07:
Hi all, I have just returned from Bratislava yesterday the 07 August 2007, I went on a stag party with my friends for the august weekend...            ...however I have one small problem, as I sit here writing this I am finding it difficult to see out through my eyes as I was severely assaulted on my last night there, I went to the hospital yesterday where I received four stitches to my nose as a result of the assault.
It happened in the Dubliner Irish Pub(I am Irish by the way), I would urge any man thinking of going over there not too, I was dragged downstairs in the pub by what I can only describe as two (security staff) ex army men, huge from steroids and crazy from drugs towards a very dark room where they proceeded to kick the crap out of me, I managed to break free and a friend of mine spotted me, he had been looking for me for ten minutes, he was kicked away as he tried to intervene, then he raised the alarm.
2. "Soylent Green" on 20/08/07:
Not to get people too worried but I got the following warning from my cousin living in Slovakia:
"Avoid police and nightclub staff. Bratislava is NOT a place to get into a situation at night. You can get mugged easily by the bouncers believe me. Old trick your mates get in,someone gets hit and a large drinks bill is presented to you as a way out. Anyway worst case syndrome but it does happen"
3. "KoemansCC" on 21/08/97:
one common thing I've seen on all sites/forums is regarding the Dubliner pub...not friendly, over priced, over zealous doormen...
4. "Mento" on 21/08/07:
Hviezdoslavovo square the place to be and stay away from Dubliner

After the ROI Game:
5. "Zinedineontour" on 14/09/07:
Got to agree with all the comments thought Bratislava was a bit of a kip and the bars and restaurants didnt want the service and i wont even start about the dubliner "irish " bar with the 8 bouncers outside !
6. "Piggy" on 14/09/07:
I thought Bratislave was the biggest sh*t hole i ever had the misfortune of being in! Apart from the fact that we got attacked by a couple of thugs and the bouncers on friday night i just thought the attitude of the people was terrible. The staff in the pubs were ****ed off because the place was so busy and they didnt give a **** about service.
The police were also a disaster. They didnt care that we had been attacked and refused to give us their names or numbers so we could follow up. Sorted that problem by taking pictures of their badges with my phone.
My buddy is off to A&E this morning to get his broken nose fixed. The third world A&E in bratislava couldnt be bothered!
7. "upkerry" on 14/09/07:
Lads from the offset the locals had no regard for the Irish. Unfriendly, unhelpful and only out for the quick buck. As for the so called Irish pubs. The Dubliner had what I could only call several thugs on the door. I was lucky enough not to have any problems but I saw many decent Irish fans turned away or evicted for nothing including several elderly supporters.
8. "Rogue Trader" on 18/09/07:
i never encountered this poor local attitude in Bratislava except in that bloody Dubliner pub(Which i avoided after what i seen was on the Door).
9. "Neil McD" on 18/09/07:
Again Bratislava was great craic as long as you stayed away from the Dubliner which I thought was a shocker of a bar.

Before the NI game:
10. "GUFCT" on 29/08/08:
(Hope you don't get the torrential rain we had last year) or the gestapo bouncers.Stay far away from the Dubliner Bar by far the biggest bunch of thugs i have ever come across in all my travels.

After the NI game:
11. "Bottle of Tonic" on 08/09/08:
I see some of the NI fans took a batein in the Dubliner bar in Bratislava. (bbc website) Having been there this time last year i'm not surprised. They had four heavies kitted out in army gear as bouncers and wouldn't let any of us in when the place was only half full. Total cants.


That is just a selection, gleaned after a perfunctory search. Of course, I suppose it is just possible that all those ROI fans were involved in removing Union Jacks and singing Loyalist songs etc, but I doubt it. Or I could just be making it all up*.

However, I prefer the explanation which subsequently emerged from a conversation between an NI fan and a local contact in Slovakia, who explained that most of the "Security" Firms who provide doorstaff for Bratislava pubs and clubs etc are owned by organised crime. As such, they are actually operating protection rackets against the owners of these venues, and periodically make a display of "muscle" to keep the owners intimidated. Apparently football fans make as good a victim of this muscle as any. Certainly, the thugs who attacked the NI fans were all dressed alike in black, military clothing, with baseball bats and knuckle-dusters etc.

* - I've often wondered how myths such as eg NI fans being the cause of the violence in Bratislava, rather than the victims etc emerge. I used to attribute it to misunderstandings and exagerration and so on. But from this particular thread, I see that at least some derive from malicious liars simply making things up, to suit some bigoted agenda...

Anyone else remember the Celtic / northern Ireland supporter "Let's all do the bouncy" wheeled out on occasion by Evil Genius as conclusive evidence of what needed to proved / disproved?

If you cannae do the bouncy, you're a tim.
If you cannae do the bouncy, you're a tim.
Cannae do the bouncy, cannae do the bouncy,
If you cannae do the bouncy, you're a tim.

[T Fearon]

I'm still waiting for the "moron with the 20p" who issued the Lennon death threat, to be unveiled. Until he is handed over there will be no justice.

[wallyman]

EG obviously avoids the flag incident as a factor. 

What's this?

[Olaf]

Lat year, at least one male North of Ireland fan came home from Slovakia with one testicle less than he went out with

Why do you find this humorous?  

Notwithstanding your obvious disdain for every NI supporter any reasonable thinking person would find it impossible to find any humour of any nature in this comment.

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

EG obviously avoids the flag incident as a factor. 

What's this?

Reason for the trouble in the bar was that as well as singing (odious songs) and abusing the bar staff, the worlds greatest fans decided to vandalise the pub by taking a Tricolour of the wall, I mean the disgrace of having a Tricolour in an "Irish Bar", just to wind up the GAWA (allegedly  )!

[Archie Mitchell]

9 minute hat-trick for Kris Boyd to equal Larssons goal scoring record in the SPL. Cert to break it tonight.

[T Fearon]

So what? WestlIfe haVe sold more records than the Rolling Stones but that does not make them the better group. In any case Boyd will probably be gone in January.

When he has played for three European Cup winning sides, scored in a major European Final and won a Champions League medal he can be mentioned in the same breath as Larsson.

[Archie Mitchell]

Record gone.

[Archie Mitchell]

Fantastic 5 for Kris Boyd tonight.

Kenny Miller got sent off so will miss the Old Firm. Rangers won't score on Sunday with him not playing.

[nifan]

When he has played for three European Cup winning sides, scored in a major European Final and won a Champions League medal he can be mentioned in the same breath as Larsson.

Boyd is a great goal scorer - Larsson was a great player. Dont think anyone but the staunchest Rangers fan would actually compare them in terms of all round impact.

[Galwaybhoy]

So what? WestlIfe haVe sold more records than the Rolling Stones but that does not make them the better group. In any case Boyd will probably be gone in January.

When he has played for three European Cup winning sides, scored in a major European Final and won a Champions League medal he can be mentioned in the same breath as Larsson.

No chance of giving him a bit of credit for beating the record no?  No one said he is as good a player as Larsson.

[saffron sam2]

So what? WestlIfe haVe sold more records than the Rolling Stones but that does not make them the better group. In any case Boyd will probably be gone in January.

When he has played for three European Cup winning sides, scored in a major European Final and won a Champions League medal he can be mentioned in the same breath as Larsson.

This man does it with more class.

I suppose it would be only right to congratulate the new spl all time top goal scorer this morning and far be it from me to take any of the shine away from the lad's achievement, but just wondering will we ever see him score two goals in a european final or help barcelona to win a champions league final or refuse TWO TIMES to leave Glasgow and the supporters 'I love so much' and go and play for some outfit in manchester, or chip the keeper like he was a child, when playing against your greatest rivals in a derby, not to mention the goals and achievements for his country, so gtf KB, and just in case you might start getting a big napper about yourself you might want to have a look at a Jimmy McGrory fact file! But here, in the meantime, check this one out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvq4p6L03YM