War of faith on the pitch: Celtic and Rangers split Glasgow!

War of faith on the pitch: Celtic and Rangers split Glasgow!

Glasgow, Schottland - The rivalry between the Glasgow Rangers and Celtic is not only an important sporting event, but also a deeply rooted social phenomenon. The city of Glasgow polarizes the duel, known as "The Old Firm" and has both sporty and religious dimensions. While Celtic has traditionally shaped Catholic and emerged from the Irish community of immigrants, the Rangers represent the Protestant side. These fundamental differences lead to tensions that often result in violent clashes between the fan camps.

The fan experiences on match days are often shaped by uncertainty. A Celtic fan named Martin lives in the district, which is dominated by Rangers supporters. On the way to the stadium, he hides his jersey with a jacket, for fear of attacks. This feeling of threat is not only on match days, but also on game -free days when the fan camps often get involved in a heated discussion.

historical context of rivalry

The roots of rivalry go back to 1888 when the first “old firm” game took place, which Celtic won 5-2. Since then, the two clubs have dominated the Scottish football scene. In total, the teams faced 438 encounters, with the Rangers 169 victories and Celtic won 167 wins. 102 games ended in a tie, which underlines the intensity of this rivalry.

Special events shape the history of the old firm. A tragedy occurred in 1971 when 66 people were killed in an accident in the Ibrox Park. In response to this, there was a benefit game between the mixed teams of Celtic and Rangers in the Hampden Park, which attracted over 80,000 spectators.

The current situation

The general atmosphere in Glasgow remains charged and unsafe. Fans report frequent fights and injured during the derbies. This violence not only has an effect during the games, but also in the everyday life of city life, where the confrontations between supporters of both warehouses can flare up at any time. The dominance of the two clubs also becomes clear in Scottish football: No other club has won the championship since 1985.

In an extensive comparison with other great football rivalries in Europe, the special feature of the Old firm is emphasized. Illustrated by the important duels like El Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid or the district derby between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04, the rivalry between Celtic and Rangers remains unique in their connection to religious and political tensions.

For the followers of the two clubs, the old firm is more than just a game; It is an expression of her cultural identity and an emotional experience that goes far beyond football. Despite the danger that is often associated with these encounters, fans' passion remains unbroken, which makes rivalry to one of the most exciting and most questionable phenomena in European football.

For more information on this extraordinary rivalry, visit Krone, Kicker, and and 4-4-2.