Following the unforgettable TIFO display during last weekend’s Old Firm clash, Rangers fans were widely positive towards the display shown across the Copland stand. Some felt it was perhaps pushing the boundaries, but few could have predicted the fall out that would follow. Instead of embracing this powerful fan-driven moment, the club’s response has left many supporters angry—and rightly so.
The minutes from the latest Fan Advisory Board (FAB) meeting held on 6 May 2025 show that Rangers did acknowledge the positive visual impact of recent TIFOs, particularly at the Old Firm and during key European nights. Yet instead of simply celebrating this passion, or at least remaining silent on the matter, the club appears more focused on tightening control over such displays.
Read the Full Minutes of the Rangers Fan Advisory Board / RFC Leadership Meeting
We’ll publish Part 2 of the minutes once they’re released by the club. It’s clear there was an urgency to get these initial points out quickly, likely in response to the growing reaction across the fanbase.
Approval Processes Raise Eyebrows
According to the minutes, the club is now proposing a formal approval process for all future TIFO initiatives. While safety and compliance are important, fans are questioning whether this move will dampen spontaneity and creativity, especially when displays are often designed to intimidate rival supports and clubs as part of a sporting rivalry.
This top-down approach feels tone-deaf, especially after the overwhelmingly positive reception the Old Firm TIFO received among fans, not just within the Rangers support but across football.
No Acknowledgment of Club Overreaction
Even more frustrating is the fact that Rangers did not acknowledge their own overreaction in the official club statement issued after the Old Firm match. Many fans felt the statement was overly critical, painting what was a moment of unity and support in a negative light. This meeting offered the perfect opportunity for the club to reset the tone, but instead, they’ve doubled down.
Supporters expect better. After all, it’s the fans who bring life to Ibrox, who back the team across Europe, and who pour time and energy into organising these incredible displays. To now impose extra layers of bureaucracy sends the wrong message.
Time for Dialogue, Not Dictates
The FAB continues to be a welcome initiative, but it must be more than a box-ticking exercise. If Rangers truly value their support, then they need to do more than ‘note’ fan contributions—they need to empower them.
The TIFO at the Old Firm was a moment of footballing rivalry which adding to the overall spectacle of the game. It’s time the club treated it that way.
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