Rangers' explanation for the crowd disturbances in the Champions League match against Unirea Urziceni has been backed by a top Glasgow policeman who attended the game.
The club have vowed to argue a strong case after being charged with the improper conduct of their supporters during Wednesday's 1-1 Group G draw in Bucharest. Television pictures showed a number of Rangers fans clashing with Romanian police in the stands at half-time, while one supporter was seen to rip out a seat.
But Superintendent Mike Dean of Strathclyde Police, who was helping to co-ordinate security at the Steaua Stadium told the Daily Record: "The situation arose because, despite having an agreement in place with UEFA that four turnstiles would be in operation, there were in fact only two."
He added: "I was there with the UEFA delegate from right up until about 20 minutes before kick-off time, when there was a late surge with 400 or 500 supporters trying to get in through two gates.
"At that stage, the public order riot police went in and sprayed the fans. This caused a lot of tension and the whole thing deteriorated. Fans were still trying to get into the ground at half-time.
"What happened inside the stadium at half-time was probably a direct result of the tensions outside. I was not happy."
The matter will be dealt with by UEFA's control and disciplinary body on Thursday.
Dean, who has has already spoken to UEFA to give them his on-the-spot version, added: "Eventually, we went to the control room and spoke to the match commander. He got very excited and started shouting when all I was attempting to do was give him my advice, with 10 years' experience of these kind of things.
"He then decided he needed the stewards to remove some of the Rangers flags, to clear seats for the fans who were still coming in.
"I told him the fans will do that themselves. But he chose not to take my advice. It was at that point a steward went in to remove some flags and was challenged by the supporters. I can't condone those fans who came rushing down from the back and would warn them the CCTV pictures are of tremendous quality."










Comment 100 - 119 of 119
The bottom line is that for some reason the hun hordes have a chip on their shoulders whenever they travel out of Scotland,They find it ok for Spanish,Italian,French etc catholics to play for their team but when they visit a catholic country all hell breaks loose,
the morons that cause the trouble for Lloyds 11 should realise that sooner rather than later they will bankrupt their dying club,The days of yore are gone and they should move into the modern world!!!!.
#117 If the truth be told stuart, and despite the fact that Mogga maintains he hasn't settled on a final format yet, I think that he had in fact settled on 'his starting team'; McDonald, as you say, a Bhoyd type penalty box striker, with Big Fortune in a Hartsonesque roll, holding the ball up. Samaras and Brown just behind, Maloney and McGeady opposite wide, Hinkel and Fox opposite and equally wide, able to go forward from the back. N'Guemo in a Lennon role. Now with that the backbone of his team, varying shapes would not have been that big of a problem, but injuries have left him constantly second guessing himself. Hopefully we can get a bit of stability.
Lys...I will agree that he needs to put a settled team out for 4 or 5 games, also we were without Maloney, Brown, Boruc and others but we still played well against a top side...Skippy looks a little overweight and lacking confidence...I would prefer him to play a Boyd role and let Fortune do all the work outside the box.
#109 A young man with a crisis in confidence I think aztec! I just hope they find the touch soon... the longer it goes, the worse it will get.
#107 The danger is stuart, games are being won and lost in the dressing room these days; skippy made a statement after the Hamburg game, that I thought gave a glimpse of how the lads feel in the dressing room. He was on about the chances he missed, the usual, vowing to do better...yada yada.... but he said that would only happen if he were selected, and basically he did not know from one game to the next if he would be playing, the same as the rest of the guys! Sorry, but that strongly suggests to me that instead of doing your job and making yourself indispensible that it seems to be some kind of lottery at Mogga's whim, so why bother!!
Lads did you see that Laughertty and Stevie Smith are out of the St Mirren game with food poisioning...who next...and will Bain blame it on the Stewards or the pies?
111 - Freight Collect? Hahaha!!
105 - My mate's been posted missing for a wee while. I'll try and find out what the score is, but I know that EMS Chronopost gave them quite a few interesting leads!!
Econ m8, wgt dims to follow follow... there also a job out of Romania too for Govan...Plastic Seats of some sort and yellow stewards vest!!!!!
100 - There's a german in the Bundestag as well. She goes by the name of ANGELA MERCKEL!!
I hold my hands up celtic played well and were unfortunate not to come away with a win !! Mcdonald was rank he missed two stonewallers !!
101 - Weight and Cube?.. Express (overnight) or econo? LOL!!
Lys...I agree against Killie u could see the signs that they are getting the shape better and playing football
95 - if you gimme an extra 50p, I'll let you large it, and for a further £1.99 I'll throw in a Happy Meal too!! LOL!!!
Pt98...well done m8...its not needed and most of the lads on here are quality and cheer up my days no end with their witty banter...lifes to short for this vile bigoted nonsense...Whats happened to Paul G BTW is he doing time ginger after her majestys finest last visit?
Minger is your bottle empty agin?
Aztec... mibbe they were ripping the pish out of Rangers???? Any way up, it must have riled the 'tic up a bit, because that's the best I've seen them play for some considerable time! A performance like that against a team at the top of the Bundesliga is no mean feat, and they can hold their heads up, they were by no means disgraced..... horsed out on their ar-ses...... but not disgraced!! LOL
97 - I've worked out in KUL, as ops manager of a courier company over there. That was abt 16 yrs ago though!! I think they got taken over by Airpak Express in Singapore.
Aztec it was very well organised...a tribute to your German Queen. I bet it will be tried at IPOX soon...Ginger theres a job for you mate ..courier required to deliver 8000 placards of mainly blue and white colour from Hamburg to Govan...pls quote.
81 SINGING GINGER,THERES A GERMAN ON THE THRONE IN VATICAN CITY. {EX-HITLER YOUTH TAE)REEAALLL HUN.
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