We’re jaded with stories about soccer violence. So much so that we’re no longer stunned when looking at pictures of men trampled by police and hooligans tossing anything in sight in order to incite a raucous. Glasgow Rangers fans provided the latest episode of “When Soccer Fans Act Like Bitches” last night during the UEFA Cup Final. Rangers were defeated 2-0 by Zenit St. Petersburg, but that’s hardly the reason why myriad men decided to rage against police and anything in their path. Fans were ticked because a giant television screen went out during the game, leaving Rangers fans with nothing else to do but pillage.

Throughout the day the atmosphere had been friendly but when a “technical hitch” hit the screen in Piccadilly Gardens, many fans, already heavily drunk, turned nasty.

Violence broke out at around 7.30pm and the trouble continued for around five hours.

The broken big screen was pelted with bottles, as were riot police as they moved in to try to quell the trouble. Police and council officials blamed a “minority” of fans for the violence.

And then there was the 18 hours of drinking before the match.

Privately it is known that city officials wanted “anyone but Rangers” to get through to the final.

Publicly the council promised a warm welcome, with a relaxed attitude to fans drinking on the street - normally outlawed - and three fan zones with big screens.

Beer was on tap from off-licences with supporters carrying crates of cheap lager around - Tesco opened at 7am, 18 hours before kick-off.

So tap the kegs and make sure those televisions work next time, or else you’ll have belligerent soccer fans careening down streets like wild Buffalo.

Rampaging Rangers fans ‘may have jeopardised England’s bid to stage 2018 World Cup’ [Daily Mail]
Image [Daily Mail]
Video [YouTube]