Athletic Club pay respect to victims of Ibrox Disasters
Athletic Club pay respect to victims of Ibrox Disasters
Club president Jon Uriarte and Jose Angel Iribar laid a bouquet of flowers next to the statue of John Greig, placed at the stadium in honour of 91 fans who died during the respective tragedies of 1902 and 1971
Athletic Club paid tribute to the 91 spectators who perished in the respective Ibrox Disasters of 1902 and 1971.
Club president Jon Uriarte and Jose Angerl Iribar laid a bouquet of flowers in their honour next to a the commemorative statue of John Greig, the former Rangers FC captain who was playing during the disaster of 1971 and who also led the Gers against Iribar's Athletic in 1969.
"We wanted to pay tribute to the victims of the tragedies that occurred here," Uriarte said. "We have brought some flowers as a mark of respect for the deceased.
"It's also very special for us to play here because our origins are linked to the people of England and Scotland."
Rangers' CEO, Patrick Stewart, attended the floral offering on behalf of the Glaswegian side, while Iribar and Greig will be reunited during Thursday's Europa League clash.
The first of the disasters took place on 5 April 1902, at a Scotland vs England international match. The most recent occured on 2 January 1971, between Celtic and Rangers, with 66 spectators passing away.