These people go out of their way to be offended and are making the line between rivalry and bigotry smaller and smaller as the days go by……as is their want!

These days, to suggest you dislike or do not agree with the points of view of a team/colour/manager/ex manager/chairman/player/ex player/tea lady/or ned fan who hangs about outside the stadium – you are instantly branded as a bigot!

As we all know, AC Milan fans welcome and encourage love of all things relating to Inter Milan and would never dream of creating such divisions within a cities population……and the feeling is mutual…..eh……no!

Barcelona – Real Madrid, Roma – Lazio, Feyenoord – PSV, Benfica – Porto…….. all hate each other with a passion similar to Rangers and Celtic, Dundee Utd and Dundee, Hearts and Hibs – but the striking difference is that there is not the OBVIOUS religious divide between the teams as you get in Scotland. Yes, political, but not religious…..which I would argue is the root of more upset and war over the years than politics has ever provided, and therefore magnifies the MOPE cause and is an all to convenient reason to complaint, moan and be perpetually offended.

Truth is, rivalry has gone out the window – particularly in Scotland (perhaps Britain) as people become more and more willing to be offended by, what is 95% of the time, something that is either true or funny.

I agree that some banners seen at football can be offensive – but it’s so rare these days.

The white knight brigade has served its purpose to a point – it’s time to give football back to the people again……and let them have a right good go at one another!

The ever so eager Daily ‘Why let the truth get in the way of a good story’ Record, who knew there would be someone offended at Paul Sturrock’s comments about Dundee, are the same people who sat on their hands and did nothing as bananas were thrown at Mark Walters!

Contradiction, deflection and denial are the trademark of any good MOPE!

This continually offended section of society is now feeding the press, who are all too willing to print anything they think will sell papers and create ‘debate’. Unfortunately, it’s playing right into their hands!

For example, depending on your particular footballing preference, I know you will be sitting reading this thinking, “oh God, another moaning Rangers/Celtic/Hibs/Hearts/Dundee Utd/Hamilton/Aberdeen/St Mirren/Falkirk/Motherwell/Kilmarnock/Inverness Cale supporter (delete were applicable).

Reason being, under Scots law, I can call upon the defence of Veritas which – as you know – is also title of a well known student newspaper.