WORLD WAR Z: RANGERS CONDEMN "EMBARRASSING THUGS"

Rangers Football Club have condemned the behaviour of their own fans in Glasgow following Saturday's title celebrations - claiming their actions have utterly "besmirched" the club's name and ruined what was supposed to be a great day.

Scenes of chaos and disorder around George Square has led to five police officers being laid off work with injuries, and NHS staff and ambulance workers being abused and spat at. Twenty eight Rangers fans were arrested and taken to the cells - with Police Scotland saying many more will follow, as they investigate video evidence that has circulated social media showing breaches of the peace and acts of drunken violence by fans on each other and members of the public.

Rangers released a statement last week urging fans to stay away from Ibrox and the city centre as Steven Gerrard's team collected the Premiership trophy. Now they have hit out at those who ignored that warning.

A statement read: "We are grateful to Scottish Government officials, Glasgow City Council and Police Scotland for the constructive engagement in the lead up to the weekend's game. We worked closely with the authorities for two weeks before Saturday's match to ensure a consistency of message.

"Sadly, thousands of our fans behaved inappropriately and in a manner not reflective of the rest of our support. The scenes were totally unacceptable and have utterly besmirched the name of Rangers Football Club.

"These so called 'fans' should reflect upon the values and ethos of our club, and consider the damage they have done to our reputation. We will continue to engage with Police Scotland to try and ascertain the identity of those involved in the disorder and will give officers access to the club's own IT software, ordinarily used to identify season ticket holders at the stadium, if and when require it."

Scottish Football Association president Rod Petrie says the actions of supporters - which included fighting, public drunkenness and sectarian singing - brought "embarrassment to the national game".

He added: "Scenes that require a First Minister, a Justice Secretary, Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Federation to issue condemnatory statements, and images that dominated the news agenda throughout the weekend, represent an abomination not a celebration.

"Those responsible for sectarian singing, vandalism and inflicting physical damage may attach themselves to a football club but cannot be considered football fans and we understand that Rangers FC have already made moves to publicly disown those involved by assisting police in a bid to identify those involved. Police Scotland have made a number of arrests and more are expected to follow.

"The Scottish FA has recently issued its equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, Football Unites. Events on Saturday at George Square served only to depict our game in the poorest light and we condemn the behaviour in the strongest terms.

"We empathise with fans who have been deprived of attending matches throughout this pandemic. That, however, does not excuse the behaviour of those who brought chaos to our streets in the name of football this weekend."

The Scottish Professional Football League also commented, saying the incidents were "simply the last thing the game needs".

An SPFL spokesperson said: "Rangers players, officials and fans rightly celebrated their title win on Saturday and we offer our congratulations for what was a thoroughly-deserved trophy.

"However, the behaviour of many fans at Ibrox during and immediately after the game, and the subsequent chaos which ensued throughout the city centre, was utterly shameful.

"As the club themselves have said, this is totally unacceptable, and especially so given the repeated advance warnings regarding the pandemic.

"At a time when everyone in the game is working hard to enable long-suffering fans to get back into stadia, it is simply the last thing football needs right now.

"The police, emergency services and ordinary members of the public did not deserve to be caught up in this melee. We fully support the actions of the courts, the SFA and the club in dealing severely with those who have so badly let the game down."

The country's First Minister weighed in by calling on Rangers Football Club to 'reflect' on how they can stop their fans behaviour in future.

Ms Sturgeon said she has been left 'disgusted' by the 'selfish thuggish sectarian' behaviour on show last night, as Rangers fans appeared to use league title celebrations as an excuse to indulge in some of the worst loutish, thuggish behaviour seen since Manchester 2008.

The First Minister said she watched in 'disbelief' at the scenes in Glasgow as Rangers fans ignored their own club's requests for them not to do this.

Taking to social media today, the SNP leader slammed yobs who sparked chaos and shared her anger 'on behalf of every law abiding citizen'.

It comes after Glasgow was left looking like a 'warzone' last night with broken glass and litter all over the streets.

Fans swarmed George Square yesterday on trophy day with flags and flares but shocking videos on social media showed major brawls breaking out, a police ring of steel, and missiles being thrown towards officers in central Glasgow.

Memorial benches in George Square smashed for the second time by Rangers fans this season

But ex-Gers striker Gordon Dalziel believes footage of the carnage which has been beamed across all of the UK's nations and regions will only have a negative impact on the club as he condemned those responsible.

He told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard: "There's absolutely no excuse for it.

"You are out there, you are celebrating a long, long journey. The relief of winning that title.

"To see the scenes that we've witnessed… Rangers are a massive football club and that has dented their reputation.

"I was sick to my stomach when I got up this morning and looked at some of the images.

"Look at the enjoyment of those players. The enjoyment of playing for a club like Rangers and stopping ten-in-a-row.

"They will get up this morning to witness those scenes and pictures and I'm sure even the Rangers fans who were there and behaved will admit they were disgusted as well."

Former Rangers midfielder Alex Rae also blasted troublemakers and admitted yesterday's scenes left him embarrassed.

Rangers diehard Alex Rae admitted he was embarrassed by the footage he witnessed:

He said: "It's absolutely diabolical. How you get to that point where Rangers fans are fighting with their own fans is beyond me. 

"It took a shine off the celebrations because the images are actually getting flashed across Sky Sports and BBC.

"It's a real shame because we should be lauding the players and the club for a great success and we're not. We're talking about this and it will rumble on for days.

"We can't have this type of behaviour. We've seen a couple of instances over the course of this season where you've seen anti-social behaviour.

"As last night's gone on, I'm getting more and more frustrated at what I'm seeing. I'm actually getting embarrassed seeing Rangers fans fighting with each other.

"I'm thinking, 'what is this all about?' You should be celebrating. You should be happy. You are trying to get in the mindset of people who are anti-social. It's ridiculous, I can't understand it."