The BBC decided to boycott Scottish Championship side Rangers’ home games "after one of its journalists was banned from Ibrox stadium," according to Paris Gourtsoyannis of the LONDON TIMES. Chris McLaughlin, a sports reporter, has been told that he is “no longer welcome” at the stadium. Senior Rangers figures "are understood to be unhappy" with some of McLaughlin’s coverage of recent matches involving the club. In a response to the ban, the BBC "will not send any of its staff to Ibrox" while McLaughlin’s ban remains in place. Graham Spiers, one of Scotland’s most high-profile sports journalists and a regular contributor to The Times, "has also been banned for criticising the club." A Rangers Football Club spokesperson said that both journalists had been told that they were “no longer welcome at Ibrox.” He said, “All Rangers are asking for is fair reporting of their affairs. It’s entirely up to Chris [McLaughlin] and Graham Spiers what they want to make of this. The remedy lies with them. Rangers is not attempting to restrict press freedom. Every single media outlet is welcome at Ibrox at any time” (LONDON TIMES, 8/1). In Glasgow, Lynn McPherson wrote the BBC boycott "will begin with Rangers’ League Cup tie with Peterhead in Glasgow." McLaughlin "was banned after being accused of filing misleading and unbalanced reports by the Ibrox club." The Peterhead game "was not due to be televised by the BBC" but it will now have no staff at the stadium for live radio or online updates. The boycott "is set to affect Rangers’ games in the Ladbrokes Championship" against St. Mirren on Friday and Hibernian on Aug. 23. A Rangers spokesperson said, "The decision wasn’t taken lightly. It wasn’t a kneejerk reaction." The club also banned London Times sports writer Graham Spiers last week "after accusing him of unfairly criticising the club." He "rejects the accusation" (Scotland DAILY RECORD, 8/2).
