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The Herald’s Apology to Rangers FC
I
feel I need to explain the context of The Herald clarification/apology published today regarding my column about Rangers FC and the fight against bigoted chanting.
Rangers took exception to a column I wrote in which I questioned “the mettle” of the current club board in tackling offensive chanting.
This opinion was based on the fact that, at a meeting I attended at Ibrox Stadium on August 31st 2015, a Rangers director told me that he thought The Billy Boys was “a great song”.
I subsequently expressed my dismay at the director’s comment in an email exchange with Rangers. There was, and is, no question of me calling any Rangers director a bigot.
Rangers duly complained to The Herald about my column. As the weeks passed a dispute arose, and the pressure brought upon the newspaper became severe.
The Herald told me repeatedly that they now had to find a way to a public resolution with Rangers. Having searched many avenues to reach an agreement with the club, the newspaper ultimately denied my request to withhold any clarification/apology until my own position was clearer.
The Herald has never told me that they disbelieved my version of events. I also retain the highest regard for Magnus Llewellin, the paper’s editor who has tried to resolve this problem.
My opinion – as expressed in my column – was based on a truthful account of my meeting with a Rangers director.
About Graham Spiers
Graham Spiers is a Scottish sports journalist who currently writes for The Herald and The Times, and
also works for the BBC. He has won Scotland’s Sports Journalist of the Year award four times.[/QUOTE
Wow! The power of Sevco is frightening, poor old Spiers being hung out to dry by his paper. Whatever happened to standing up for journalistic integrity? Now the Celtc fans will boycott The Herald & they'll be back where they started!