Union Bears unfurl sinister 'Defend Europe' Far Right banner
During Rangers' Europa League tie with Fenerbache last night, Rangers Ultras group the Union Bears unfurled a far right banner targeting 'foreign ideologies' and a sinister 'Defend Europe' slogan.
Just hours after Rangers announced that they would be hosting Glasgow’s first ever Iftar celebration, the club’s Ultras group the Union Bears unfurled a far right banner targeting ‘woke Foreign ideologies’ and a much more sinister Defend Europe slogan that the far right across the UK, Europe, and the USA are now wielding against an influx of migrants fleeing from war-torn regions in the Middle East and Africa.
Rangers fans are notoriously right wing and have always taken the opposite stance to Celtic supporters who have a long history of battling against fascism and supporting the subjugated across the world including in Palestine. Last night’s actions by the notorious Union Bears is just another in a long line of stunts by the fan group and spits in the face of anyone at Rangers who supports the club’s Everyone, Anyone campaign.
We can all read into the ‘woke Foreign ideologies’ section of the banner, whether they were indeed attacking the club for hosting an iftar or for the Rainbow flag being flown at Ibrox last month - but the Defend Europe follow-up and it’s meaning is clear as day and that warrants further action from the club as well as Police Scotland, and football authorities in Scotland and Europe.
Defend Europe is a slogan used by the far right and ultra-nationalists throughout Europe. It was first coined by the French group Bloc Identitaire and its youth wing Generation Identity in the 2000s - before expanding across Europe in the 2010s. Their ideology centres around identitarianism which is rooted in an anti-liberal, anti-islam, and anti-multiculturalist world view. Further asserting that white Europeans are facing demographic and cultural extinction in their own countries. Germany has classified the Identitarian movement as right wing extremist, while the French government banned the Generation Identity group for racial incitement, violence, and paramilitary ties - following links to the gunman in the Christchurch mosque attack.
It’s not the first time that the Union Bears have hit the headlines, ahead of the Glasgow derby game in January 2023, Police found a stash of weapons inside Ibrox after the group was given early access to set up banners. This followed on from a Union Bears member being caught with a baton while setting up a pre-match display the previous year. In a number of incidents in 2024, members of the Ultras group targeted Celtic pubs throwing fireworks and attacking fans before derby games.
The Union Bears are a continuous stain on Rangers Football Club, Scottish Football and have once again shamed Scotland with their racist, far right anti-migrant ideology.
Meanwhile, Police have announced that they will be exercising additional powers ahead of this Sunday’s Glasgow derby at Celtic Park, where away fans will be in attendance for the first time since the ticket debacle between the two clubs first perpetrated by Rangers initially cutting the allocation in 2018 before an outrun ban on fans thereafter after Celtic refused tickets citing safety and security concerns.
Police will use powers under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, allowing officers to stop and search people, whether they are in a vehicle or on foot. They can request the removal of any item that they believe us being used wholly or partly for the purposes of concealing a person’s identity. Police Scotland said the powers will be used from 8am until Midnight on Sunday, to help prevent disorder and serious violence.
Chief Superintendent Stevie Dolan, who is in charge of the policing operation, said: "Implementation of the Section 60 legislation is only undertaken when there is sufficient risk of serious disorder or violence.
"Unfortunately, this fixture attracts a minority of people who seem intent on using the game as an excuse for violence and the use of weapons. The disorder that took place before the fixture in December 2024 was completely unacceptable and we are still carrying out extensive investigations to identify those who were involved, with a number of people arrested.
"Attacks on genuine supporters, the public who can get innocently caught up in disorder, police officers or emergency workers who are there to help and protect will not be tolerated. Neither will the possession of offensive weapons or dangerous instruments, including pyrotechnics, or any attempt to evade justice by concealing one’s identity.
"Our officers will take all necessary action to ensure public safety and will be actively patrolling key areas to ensure that it is maintained.
"The number of away supporters attending this fixture is significantly more than over recent years. We want the vast majority of football fans who just want to enjoy the game to do just that without the fear of disorder. That’s also the same for the general public in the city centre and its environs. I would also encourage fans to be aware of changes to the layout of the stadium entrances and arrive in good time."
Safe to say though, if the Union Bears are involved in anything on Sunday it will centre around putting violent disorder first, and supporting their club a distant second.