BBC banned by Ally McCoist following news report on Old Firm violence
Rangers FC’s manager, Ally McCoist, has banned the BBC –accusing it of editing footage to suggest that he sees Old Firm violence as a joke.
According to The Sunday Mail, the new Rangers manager made the decision after watching reports: “The Ibrox manager went berserk after watching the corporation’s flagship evening news programme.
The tabloid claims that the BBC News at Ten showed a short clip of McCoist ‘smirking’ while being questions about match trouble.
As a result of this, the BBC has been banned from interviews and press conferences until he recieves an apology, which began with the first game of the season on Saturday.
The Trinity Mirror redtop says that McCoist claims the two-second clip of him suggested he doesn't treat the issue seriously, and the pre-recorded footage of him smiling is from a previous question about football and not violence.
And it reports that BBC journalist Chris McLaughlin was yesterday removed from a post-match Ibrox press conference following Rangers' 1-1 draw with Hearts on the opening day of the SPL season.
The Sunday Mail quotes a source as saying: "McCoist was livid when he saw the item on Friday night. He reckons he's been stitched up by someone editing the programme and made to look like he thought the question was a joke.
"Rangers decided to withdraw co-operation with the BBC until they clarify that he wasn't smirking while being asked about such a serious issue."
The report in question concentrated on the increased number of arrests that took place during last season’s Old Firm matches as well as the rising cost of policing them.
McCoist was shown fielding questions from about violence at the Old Firm games last season, where he replied: "I didn't really see any violence at any Old Firm fixtures."
This was apparently followed by a close-up image of him smiling, before he was then shown as being asked about his concern for the behaviour of fans, where he answered “No.”
A BBC spokesman told the Sunday Mail: "We're aware that Rangers have expressed concern about a news item."