The historic rivalry between Scotland's biggest two football clubs, Rangers and Celtic, reached new depths this week when it emerged that high-profile figures associated with Celtic, including manager Neil Lennon, were sent parcel bombs through the post. Thankfully the parcels were dealt with accordingly and nobody was hurt.
This latest episode however marks a new low in behaviour which has marred the rivalry between the clubs, which so far this season has included dozens of arrests, public bust-ups between the clubs' management staff and players and rather unhelpful poppy-day protests by the Celtic supporters. Even earlier today, when in light of recent events supporters were on their best behaviour, there were still arrests and others pointlessly walked around parading banners of their symbols of choice, none of which had anything to do with football.
Feeding into this rivalry is the additional fact that the Scottish Premier League is one of the least competitive top-flight competitions in Europe, if not the world. It is effectively about two clubs - Rangers and Celtic. This brings further intensity and relevance to the rivalry. So far this season, league and cups, they have played each other on seven separate occasions. Familiarity really does breed contempt.
The Sunday Supper remedy is to de-legitimise the less savoury aspects of the rivalry, with the potential by-product of a more competitive Scottish Premier League. Here are the suggestions:-
1. The matches between the sides, known as 'Old Firm' matches, should be played behind close doors on one occasion at both grounds in the event of extreme misbehaviour at any match.
2. The matches should be played in front of a reduced capacity crowd if this would be considered to make policing easier.
3. Familiarity breeds contempt. They should play each other less often. A Scottish Premier League with 16 or 18 teams and only two (instead of four) rounds of matches would facilitate this.
4. Fine them heavily when appropriate.
If these ideas were put in place, it would quickly emerge that the idiots are spoiling the game for everyone else. It is time to get tough.
