strachan's celtic deserve praise for a job well done: UEFA investigation might ruffle feathers at the SFA

As this issue goes to print, Gordon Strachan and his players are on the verge of writing their names into the Celtic history books.

With the League Cup already won, Strachan's team is one victory away from securing the SPL title at the first time of asking. It is a remarkable achievement, but one which, because of his two spectacular failures earlier in the season, has merely muted the doubters among our supporters rather than silenced them.

Comparisons with his predecessor serve little real purpose, other than provoke lively debate, yet Strachan's record this season suggests his team has found a level of consistency that has carried on where MON's team left off. Only two defeats this season - one at Ibrox under highly controversial circumstances and the other an unfathomable home defeat to one of the worst teams in the league - is impressive. It has also left our old friends in the media having painted themselves into a bit of a corner.

On the one hand they were doing their best fairly recently to talk up the resurgence of the Edinburgh clubs; on the other they have to imply that a lack of a challenge from the cash-strapped Kinning Park giants has diminished this particular league title.

Still, the points gap at the top of the league tells its own story, and we're left now to see just how rapturous will be the praise for Rangers should they manage to come second in the league, 20-odd points behind Celtic.

If I ever even begin to contemplate coming a similar points tally behind them with no cups in the cabinet and only a place in the last 16 of the CL to show for it as a successful season then please someone administer the coup de grace.

If we are to buy into the red tops' agenda, this undignified situation is a mere blip and will be rectified just as soon as Murray's latest revolution gets into gear with the arrival of the Frenchman. Forgive me while I stifle a yawn. We've all been here before. It would be interesting if Rangers actually failed to claim a chance to appear in the qualifying rounds of next season's Champions League, but I would argue that there is nothing to fear from the south side of the city in the next three years.

Like the question of who comes second, it's a bit of a moot point. As long as Celtic come first the rest can take care of themselves.

But there is one first that Rangers have achieved, and if we are not ready for the challenge it lays down then it could have serious implications for us as well; they are the first Scottish club to be closely scrutinised by UEFA because of the actions and chants of the knuckle-dragging element among their support.

UEFA's current investigation into the endemic sectarianism at Rangers seems to have deeply affected the Scottish Media Loyal with the more zealous of them leaping to Rangers' defence. Rather than commenting on the UEFA investigation which could see various sanctions applied to Rangers, these prime examples of David Murray's lap top Poodles seem be doing their best ostrich head in the sand impersonation to avoid commenting on the issues the UEFA investigation raises and instead have tried to drag Celtic into the debate. Their efforts to avoid the question would put politicians to shame.

The Celtic support, lest we forget, were commended by UEFA just three seasons ago. UEFA praised the Celtic fans for their good behaviour and presented representatives of the Celtic support with an award in recognition of the good impression we made during the Seville season (note: this isn't an award we bestowed on ourselves). One can only wonder why the Scottish Media Loyal are so keen to overlook this fact.

If UEFA do penalise Rangers by, for example, banning them from Europe or making them play home ties behind closed doors, they will be setting down a challenge to those who run Football in Scotland to act against sectarianism and bigotry in football in this country. Given that the Scottish football authorities have ignored Rangers' sectarianism for well over 100 years what faith would you place in them to act now? SFA, exactly.

However they will need to be seen to do something lest UEFA impose further sanctions on Scottish football in general. Can't have UEFA imposing sanctions on Dignity FC and the Scottish Football authorities being seen to adopt their traditional see no evil, hear no evil approach. Aided and abetted by the Laptop Loyal you can be sure that the Scottish football authorities won't treat this as being a problem unique to Dignity FC.

Rest assured, that in order to emphasise their neutrality, they will drag Celtic into this investigation. UEFA wish to investigate Rangers, yet here in Scotland our authorities will wish to extend this investigation to include other innocent parties. The ultimate irony would be if UEFA ban Rangers yet the authorities in Scotland act to penalise us (and remember that the Celtic have won awards from UEFA for their good behaviour in recent seasons) in addition to Dignity FC. Can't punish one without punishing the other will be their mantra, even if Celtic are guilty of no crime.

Why are those vested with the authority to run Scottish football so scared of Rangers and their media chums? I hope that those in charge of Celtic are alert to the dangers that may lie ahead. Why should the good name of our club be tarnished by associating us with Rangers and that bigoted, sectarian rabble that constitute a high percentage of their support? If ever evidence was required of how we are held back by the term 'Old Firm' this is it.

A Final word for now on the subject of sectarianism. How ironic was it to hear Walter Smith recently add his voice to those calling for an end to bigotry and sectarianism in Scottish football. Of course not one member of the Scottish Media Loyal had the integrity or courage to ask him what steps he took to overcome this problem during his lengthy tenure as Rangers manager.

Quelle surprise... not.

MARMADUKE BAGLEHOLE and GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE