Tag: football

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Not one police officer injury at Bonfire Night last year and only one the year before so English and Welsh officers are coming for something else, not us

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From BBC Scotland, today, the above and: Scotland’s biggest police operation since the visit of President Donald Trump last year is to take place on Bonfire Night, in the face of a “unique” combination of safety concerns. As many as 1,700 officers could be deployed on and around 5 November to deal with fireworks-related disorder, a European football match involving Celtic and potential protests in Glasgow. Additional public order vehicles and drivers are being brought in from 18 English and Welsh police forces under mutual aid arrangements. The force has already vowed that anyone caught up in disorder around Halloween … Continue reading Not one police officer injury at Bonfire Night last year and only one the year before so English and Welsh officers are coming for something else, not us

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WHAT NEXT? Falkirk fan and academic cites Rangers’ downfall in debate over Man City charges punishment after club found guilty of all but one

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Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 In the Sun last night, the above, and: RANGERS’ demotion to the bottom tier could be a precedent for the punishment dished out to Manchester City, a Celtic icon has said. The Premier League giants have been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges relating to breaches of financial rules. A Celtic hero now wonders if City will be met with a similar fate and kicked out of the EPL and forced into League Two, at the bottom rung of the EFL. He reckons a precedent … Continue reading WHAT NEXT? Falkirk fan and academic cites Rangers’ downfall in debate over Man City charges punishment after club found guilty of all but one

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Domestic violence already twice as common spikes around England games but not those in Scotland

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From BBC Sport yesterday: As the full-time whistle blew in Atlanta on Wednesday, signalling England’s exit from the World Cup, a wave of disappointment spread across the country. But for some, there was a very different emotion growing inside. Domestic abuse rises by 26% when England play and by 38% when they lose, according to research by Lancaster University. During a major football tournament such as the World Cup, some women and girls are constantly living in fear. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cwymljn8y10o In Scotland, there is no evidence of domestic violence spikes around football internationals. This aligns with the Tartan Army‘s developed culture … Continue reading Domestic violence already twice as common spikes around England games but not those in Scotland

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‘So no I will not support England’

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By Liz S “If they win we’ll never hear the end of it” Indeed In fact every time they have a game in this world cup then every TV channel news programme and daytime trash TV programme cannot stop talking about it. In fact , as a Scot, you almost feel as if you are in a foreign country and watching foreign Television programmes. Then of course the , checks notes, UK PM posts constant motivation comments on ‘X’ to the England team and also if England win their game he then posts comments on ‘X’ praising them. However I did not … Continue reading ‘So no I will not support England’

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Per capita Scotland’s international football team performs 8 times better than England’s even BEFORE looking at the massive effects of her colonisation within the UK and beyond

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Correlate population with international footballing results to show how countries like Scotland and England compare Analyses of FIFA rankings and population show a positive but moderate correlation (roughly Pearson r ≈ 0.5 between population rank and FIFA rank). Larger populations tend to produce better-ranked teams on average because they offer more potential players to select from. England vs Scotland: Direct Comparison Population (approx. mid-2020s estimates): England ≈ 57 million; Scotland ≈ 5.5 million. England is roughly 10–11 times larger. Current FIFA Ranking (around June 2026): England typically top 5 (e.g., 4th with ~1,830–1,840 points); Scotland around 38th–43rd (e.g., ~1,490–1,510 points). … Continue reading Per capita Scotland’s international football team performs 8 times better than England’s even BEFORE looking at the massive effects of her colonisation within the UK and beyond

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Scotland need not be ashamed as colonialism explains world cup success

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Thanks to Kath for prompting this. There is a correlation between national football team success and countries with imperial/colonial pasts, especially those involved in the transatlantic slave trade and exploitation of West Africa. Recent research directly quantifies this. A University of Zurich AI study in 2026 simulated the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 1,500 times and found that colonial history continues to shape outcomes on the pitch. Former European colonial powers benefit significantly from players with family roots in former colonies, especially in Africa and in the Caribbean. If players with “colonial backgrounds” (e.g., Kylian Mbappé for France, or similar for … Continue reading Scotland need not be ashamed as colonialism explains world cup success

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Is there nothing the ‘heid-the-baws’* at BBC Scotland will not talk Scots down on – bringing Scottish football and themselves into disrepute with shoddy research on heidin’ the baw

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From BBC Scotland today: Heading in football has been under the spotlight for more than 20 years – scrutiny born of fear and confusion. Fear that the act itself could have long-term effects on the brains of those who do it most. and: New data shows the Scottish Premiership records significantly more headers per match than most of Europe’s top leagues. BBC Scotland looked at figures from the start of season 2021 until now, covering aerial duels and … Continue reading Is there nothing the ‘heid-the-baws’* at BBC Scotland will not talk Scots down on – bringing Scottish football and themselves into disrepute with shoddy research on heidin’ the baw

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Bairns lead the way with most Scottish squad players, best stadium name change and are first to cap ticket prices

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Professor John Robertson OBA (Open Bairns Admirer) OK, first my apologies to Gordon Gibson, for this. Motherwell deserved better. Second, I declare my uncontrolled bias and thus must rate my researcher reliability score to be SFA. I see today that Falkirk FC, ‘The Bairns‘ of the Bairnabeu Stadium in the Bog, Falkirk, have been first in the league, to cap their ticket prices at £25, in the wake of bumper crowds this year. Also, source-free, I feel sure I’ve seen a proposal to rename the Falkirk Stadium (yawn) the St Jimmy Bairnabeu Stadium, after Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in … Continue reading Bairns lead the way with most Scottish squad players, best stadium name change and are first to cap ticket prices

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Scotland v Portugal – Guardian and BBC Scotland see two different games

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Thanks to @Kokotxas1 for alerting me to this: The Guardian‘s Ewan Murray sees an even game (above) and reports: Scotland delivered a resolute defensive display to hold Portugal to a goalless draw and secure the first point of their Nations League A campaign. The Scots passed up a glorious chance in the opening minutes through Scott McTominay and were then starved of possession as the visitors searched for an opener. Scotland will take great heart from the small step made here. Not only did they scrap in a form which was successful prior to recent turmoil but had they a … Continue reading Scotland v Portugal – Guardian and BBC Scotland see two different games

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Covid deaths – BBC Scotland lie to conceal Scotland’s better outcomes and UK Government’s under-reporting

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In a report on the BBC Scotland website today, with a carefully chosen image to connect Covid outcomes to the SNP leader at the time, this: The impact on Scotland In Scotland to date, more than 18,000 people have died with Covid and ONS (Office for National Statistics ) analysis suggests death rates were very similar in Scotland and England and slightly better in Wales and Northern Ireland. The question the UK Covid inquiry will ask is did the different decisions in Scotland have any real impact on the virus, for better or worse? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-67985184 This is patently inaccurate and … Continue reading Covid deaths – BBC Scotland lie to conceal Scotland’s better outcomes and UK Government’s under-reporting