The recent controversy involving a Celtic fan who claims he was sacked by a Rangers-supporting employer after mocking the Ibrox Stadium disaster has sparked intense debate and emotion across Scotland’s football community. This incident serves as a sobering reminder of how deeply football rivalries, especially between Celtic and Rangers, can permeate beyond the pitch into workplaces and personal lives. While banter is a long-standing tradition in football culture, there’s a line between rivalry and disrespect — and invoking a tragedy that claimed lives crosses that line. The Ibrox disaster of 1971, which left 66 people dead, remains a painful memory, and mocking such an event is not just offensive, but profoundly insensitive.
At the same time, the reported firing raises serious concerns about workplace fairness and potential abuse of power rooted in sectarian tensions. If the dismissal was solely based on football allegiance, that too is unacceptable. This incident illustrates how toxic tribalism in football can lead to real-world consequences, from fractured relationships to job losses. It challenges us all — fans, employers, and communities — to rise above hatred and remember that sport should unite us in passion, not divide us through prejudice or cruelty. Respect and empathy must prevail over rivalry.
