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Scottish Premiership returns with McInnes adding new twist to Old Firm rivalry
The Scottish Premiership begins amid widespread frustration across the game, following Scotland’s poor World Cup campaign and disputes involving several clubs, supporters and football authorities. The season’s main sporting focus will again be the Old Firm, with Derek McInnes taking charge of Rangers after leaving Hearts and bringing added tension to matches against Celtic.
Celtic supporters are unhappy with the club’s leadership, while Hearts fans remain resentful over the end of last season, including the handling of a pitch invasion during Celtic’s title-clinching match. Rangers have challenged aspects of an independent report into disorder after their Scottish Cup defeat by Celtic, and other clubs face their own concerns: Motherwell are contesting an SFA fine and Hibernian suffered a 2-0 European qualifying defeat in Kosovo.
In short
- McInnes’ Rangers appointment intensifies Old Firm attention.
- Scottish football enters the season amid significant discontent.
- Several clubs face disciplinary, supporter and European concerns.
Explained simply
The Scottish Premiership is the top division of Scottish football, and the season has begun. The main sporting focus will be the Old Firm, the rivalry between Celtic and Rangers, the two largest clubs in Scotland. Their matches attract enormous attention and dominate the football calendar each year.
The season starts against a backdrop of frustration in Scottish football. Scotland's national team performed poorly in the World Cup, and several disputes have emerged between clubs, supporters and the football authorities. Celtic supporters have expressed discontent with their club's leadership, Hearts fans remain resentful about last season, and Rangers have undergone managerial change while also challenging findings in an independent report about disorder following their Scottish Cup defeat.
These grievances mean the season will unfold with greater underlying tension. The Old Firm rivalry, which already commands intense attention, will now take place within a broader atmosphere of discontent and friction across Scottish football.
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