Rangers issue detailed response to opening day Rugby Park events

Rangers have issued a detailed response to a number of events that happened at Rugby Park earlier this month.

Away supporters were left outside the ground after kick-off which resulted in a crush, while Rangers fans also ran onto the pitch and jumped on the roof of a disabled shelter which collapsed.

They have now handed a statement to fan group Club 1872 where they have asked for an apology from Kilmarnock and some high profile figures, while also condemning the behaviour of some of their own supporters.

The statement in full:

"Following a debriefing meeting at Rugby Park at the end of last week, Rangers is happy to provide an update to supporters, who have been calling for clarification on issues arising from the match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday, August 4.

"Rangers felt it appropriate and sensible to wait until after the post-match debriefing session before commenting despite many others, including a Kilmarnock director, Phyllis McLeish, pundits and a politician, William Coffey, making misinformed as well as misleading comments.

"However, now that the events of last Sunday have been fully analysed by all parties, we can offer a reasoned and fact-based insight into what happened.

"Kilmarnock’s new ticketing system did indeed fail despite suggestions to the contrary. It has been accepted there was also a failure to deal properly with the problems this caused.

"There was no recognisable plan of action to deal with such a situation and it was very close to kick off before someone thought the problem, which had started to cause panic among those Rangers supporters, who were being pushed and squeezed together toward the turnstiles, should be brought to the attention of the police.

"By that time some Rangers fans were being crushed and in a state of alarm, and there are many testimonies which bear that out.

"Kilmarnock has accepted their ticketing system failed (and that there had been problems with it at the game against Connah's Quay Nomads) despite one of their directors promoting the irresponsible notion there had been no operational problems.

"We would hope to receive a retraction and an apology from Kilmarnock for having pointed the finger of blame at Rangers fans for the issues which arose ahead of kick off.

"Those pundits, particularly two BBC Scotland contributors, Michael Stewart and Tom English, who made flippant and insulting comments without knowing the facts of what actually happened, might also wish to reconsider their comments and apologise now that the debriefing has revealed that a ticketing failure, and not the impatience of Rangers fans, caused the problem before the kick off on Sunday.

"Mr Coffey might also wish to reconsider his own words.

"No one at the debriefing disputed the view that there would not have been congestion and supporters would have gained admission smoothly and safely had the system operated properly. This view is supported by Police Scotland.

"Rangers believe it was correct procedure to wait until after the debriefing, called by East Ayrshire Council’s legal services department, who issue the safety certificate for Rugby Park, before commenting.

"Although there has been an attempt to roll everything that happened at Rugby Park into one issue it is important to retain a sense of perspective and balance.

"The congestion before the match had no bearing on what happened at the end of the game when Rangers fans went on to the pitch to celebrate a late winning goal.

"Their presence on the pitch cannot be condoned and Rangers are working with Police Scotland to identify and trace those who crossed the line between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

"The same applies to the handful of fans who jumped on to the roof of the enclosure reserved for disabled supporters causing that covering to collapse. Their behaviour endangered the safety of their fellow fans and we are fortunate no one was badly hurt.

"Those fans will also be dealt with appropriately as soon as they are identified.

"Rangers believes the safety of all fans to be paramount and will not tolerate this kind of behaviour whether away or at home".

Kilmarnock have issued a response to this statement where they say there was no 'system-wide' failure with the ticketing and that it was a printing issue that caused a delay in fans getting into the stadium.

They also say this delay caused Rangers fans to break through a gate and enter Rugby Park.

Kilmarnock's statement in full:

"Kilmarnock Football Club notes with disappointment that Rangers Football Club has issued a statement via Club 1872.

"It was agreed and understood by all those attending last Friday’s debrief to wait until the investigations had been completed and appropriate actions identified and agreed between both clubs, the ticketing company, Police Scotland and East Ayrshire Council before issuing any public statement. This process remains ongoing.

"A printing issue in relation to a number of tickets in the Chadwick Stand caused a delay in some supporters gaining entry to the stadium. This was not a systemwide failure with the ticketing system and any suggestion to the contrary is inaccurate.

"Kilmarnock Football Club does not accept that this delay gave Rangers supporters good reason to break through a gate and enter the ground. We had hoped to continue with the constructive approach taken in the meeting last week and had offered to work with Rangers Football Club in advance of future fixtures.

"As Rangers have recognised, problems before the match had no bearing on the incident at the second goal when Rangers supporters entered the field of play and damaged the disabled roof covering to the point of collapse. It was extremely fortunate that no disabled supporters were seriously injured.

"We look forward to Rangers Football Club taking action to identify those responsible and dealing with those fans appropriately.

"As a club that cares about the safety of all supporters, we will continue to work with all parties to conclude our investigation and work to ensure we provide the safest, friendliest and most welcoming football experience we can."

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