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This week, several articles have appeared using language such as "hostilities", "bad blood" and "grudge match" ahead of Newco Rangers v Dundee United. These articles have been awash with disingenuous nonsense about the "history" of the fixture. (thread)
The first example of these "hostilities" was the match known simply as the 'McCurry game'. Never had anyone in Scotland witnessed a more blatant attempt by an official to force a favourable outcome for one side than in this farce back in May 2008.
- A stonewall penalty for United was turned down. Had it been given, David Weir would've been sent off
- A deflected Danny Swanson goal was ruled out for offside despite coming off David Weir
- Daniel Cousin headbutted Lee Wilkie
- Noel Hunt was punched by Kirk Broadfoot
- A deflected Danny Swanson goal was ruled out for offside despite coming off David Weir
- Daniel Cousin headbutted Lee Wilkie
- Noel Hunt was punched by Kirk Broadfoot
- Mark de Vries scored and was then yellowed for sarcasm
- Neil Alexander jumped into the crowd celebrating a goal, no card
Days later, McCurry admitted that he'd made mistakes. United lodged a formal complaint with SFA. McCurry would never referee in the top flight again.
- Neil Alexander jumped into the crowd celebrating a goal, no card
Days later, McCurry admitted that he'd made mistakes. United lodged a formal complaint with SFA. McCurry would never referee in the top flight again.
The next example of "bad blood" is the abandoned Tannadice game in 2009. BOTH sets of fans were charged HALF for the replay. A Rangers supporters' club took the matter to Dundee Sheriff Court, but lost. United didn't pursue them for costs as a goodwill gesture.
Bears attended subsequent Tannadice games in large numbers and didn't seem THAT fussed about the replay debacle until years after. Incidentally, a match between Partick Thistle and St Johnstone was abandoned in 2013, both sets of fans were charged half for the replay.
Up next, the events of 2012. After years of fielding improperly registered players to avoid tax, Rangers folded. A man called Charles Green bought the liquidated assets and formed a new club and tried to get them admitted to the SPL. A vote took place and this was rejected.
In the lead up to the vote, Hearts were first to publicly state their intention to vote against a new club being admitted to the top flight. United were second and several other clubs followed with similar statements.
Kilmarnock abstained in the vote, the only ones to favour this new Rangers club being admitted to the SPL was old Rangers. During this time, United Chairman Stephen Thompson was remarkably quiet on the matter with very few quotes from him. Yet some claim that he was "vocal."
There are further tales that United were the most instrumental in the newco being denied top flight entry. This is nonsense with no evidence offered in support of this claim. United simply voted against a brand new club being allowed to walk into the SPL. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18703183
In 2013, we were drawn in the Scottish Cup against the Newco at Tannadice. Bears boycotted the game with Charles Green and Walter Smith both endorsing this stance. The papers had portrayed the Newco as world beaters, but it was an easy 3-0 walkover. Green attended the game.
To 2014, the Scottish Cup semi-final was supposed to be at a neutral venue, yet took place against the Newco at Ibrox. United won 1-3 with a season's worst performance. Nadir Ciftci scored an unforgettable goal where he started celebrating before the ball had actually gone in!
Later that year, a tribunal ordered Dundee United to pay Newco Rangers a development fee of £204,000 for Charlie Telfer, a 19-year-old who'd come off the bench once in the 3rd tier.
After, the Newco published an arrogant statement claiming United had used the fact that they'd only existed since 2012 in their arguments - they hadn't. Nonetheless, divulging tribunal details is forbidden, so the Newco had to edit the statement. Here's the revised version:
STV reported that the liquidators of old Rangers were investigating whether they are due a proportion of the Telfer money. The story has since been taken down, but here's the link: https://news.stv.tv/sport/football/clubs/rangers/303123-rangers-oldco-liquidators-seek-chunk-of-charlie-telfer-tribunal-cash/
Incidentally, days after the Telfer tribunal, Neil Alexander won a tribunal of his own during which, Rangers argued that they're a newco and therefore didn't owe him the cash (which predated 2012) he was claiming.
That's the end of this thread. This last week, some reporters have knowingly written articles with numerous inaccuracies in a deliberate attempt to stoke ill feeling. Regardless of how Saturday's game goes, the record has now been set straight | #DUFC
