BBC rejects claims of bias as Rangers lodge complaint over Ally McCoist portrayal
BBC Scotland has rejected claims of bias after Rangers FC complained over the opening sequence of the broadcast of the club’s victory over Motherwell on Wednesday night.
The club has complained over two issues, one in response to a Mad Men style opening sequence which depicted McCoist falling to the ground and another from BBC Radio Scotland’s satirical football magazine Off the Ball.
Off the Ball ran a sketch entitled ‘Super Ally or Fat Sally’ asking fans whether they still backed the manager.
Fans are also understood to have complained as a result of both broadcasts.
The club’s website has run a statement which read: “Rangers Football Club has lodged a formal complaint with the BBC following what it regards as a tasteless opening title sequence for last night’s live League Cup TV coverage. The Light Blues have today been inundated with emails and phone calls from supporters who are – rightly, in our opinion – furious with the way the programme began. It started with an animated montage which depicted a Rangers official, clearly manager Ally McCoist, falling from an office window at Ibrox and smashing a club crest.
“The incident follows a discussion which took place on BBC Radio Scotland show Off The Ball on Saturday entitled “Super Ally or Fat Sally”, which questioned whether fans still backed McCoist.
“While the manager is known for his good sense of humour, he is both angry and disgusted by the BBC’s treatment both of him personally and of the club. As such, Rangers have made contact with the BBC this morning asking why they have chosen to act in such a manner and we await their response.”
A BBC Scotland spokesman explained that the Mad Men style opening sequence was “a creative attempt to set up the clash between Motherwell and Rangers.”
They added; “We accept that the creative animation, however well intentioned, may not have appealed to everyone but we would like to stress that there was no intention to cause any offence.”
The statement concluded; “We absolutely reject, however, any suggestions that we have an anti-Rangers bias.”
Last year the club banned the BBC from covering its home matches after it ran a documentary on its then owner Craig Whyte's business dealings.