The self-serving, self-indulgent elements of the Celtic and Rangers support go on trial this afternoon.
The ageing agitators and gullible youth influenced by them have, by their dubious conduct, blackened the name of both clubs in recent weeks.
How long, for instance, before television reaches for the off button where live coverage of games involving the Old Firm is concerned?
When will the broadcasters regulatory body have it brought to their attention that weekly apologies are now having to be made to the viewing audience over the transmission of foul and abusive language, sometimes contained within offensive songs?
And insist that satellite television finds a way of dealing with the problem.
Or else.
Knowingly broadcasting offensive material wouldn’t be tolerated in any other form of television programming.
So why would the coverage of football matches be made an exception to the rule?
A wonderful display of football from Celtic against Dundee United last Sunday was then followed by a regrettable tirade of abuse directed at Sky pundit, and former Rangers striker, Kris Boyd.
When Rangers go to Tynecastle at lunch-time the target, presumably, will by Sky’s Andy Walker, formerly of Celtic, on the basis that ‘honours’ must be seen to be even when it comes to malevolence.
Obscenity is the new normal and television is being generous with its patience regarding the matter. So far.
We can only hope a game of unrelenting excitement breaks out in Edinburgh to distract the anti-social element.
At Tynecastle and Celtic Park, Hearts and Motherwell have to contradict the notion the Old Firm are about to put considerable distance between themselves and their theoretical challengers in the league table.
It will be a demanding afternoon for Robbie Neilson in particular.
The Hearts manager gives the distinct impression he believes the season so far to have been one long, uninterrupted miscarriage of justice where his team are concerned.
The club, he thinks, have been on the receiving end of repetitive incompetence on the part of match officials. And sometimes he’s right, provoking a creative form of criticism in his public speaking.
It was Robbie who gave us the expression about there being a “long Glasgow blink” with reference to referees at Celtic Park and Ibrox who have a long, hard look at big calls.
And then give nothing against the home team out of a respect for tradition.
Also, having been sent off at Ibrox in October, Robbie said he “heard the silence” when Hearts scored a late equaliser while he was up the tunnel.
Great stuff. I love it.
But today’s game is in the capital, so do officials suffer the same rapid eye movements in that city? And one other thing. Craig Gordon is an early contender for Player of the Year because of his outstanding goalkeeping – but why does he get so much work to do in the first place?
Might that be down to Hearts’ defensive laxity?
We’ll know the answer by the time Celtic discover if they have a support – or silence – when they most need the backing of the crowd during an injury crisis.
It’s an odd time to be protesting against the appointment of a security adviser when your last home game was marred by bottle throwing – but some fans have to make up their mind whether Celtic are a football club or a political organisation.
A lady from the Celtic Trust came on the radio the night before the European win over Real Betis and made a disparaging reference to the “people in the heated seats” at Celtic Park.
So is it class warfare now?
I thought all of those inside the ground were simply Celtic supporters.
Whether you’re in the first-class compartment or anywhere else on a train, you’re all passengers.
If no player is bigger than the club then no supporter is at the same time.
Ange Postecoglou doesn’t need political posturing right now. He needs an emotional response to lift a team on its knees.
Some people need to decide whose side they’re on.
