This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2016/jan/21/petition-calls-on-bbc-to-remove-sports-journalist-from-his-role

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Petition calls on BBC to remove sports journalist from his role Rangers fans petition calls on BBC to remove sports journalist from his role
(35 minutes later)
A petition has been launched calling on BBC Scotland to remove Chris McLaughlin from his sports reporting role.A petition has been launched calling on BBC Scotland to remove Chris McLaughlin from his sports reporting role.
It is the latest manifestation of a controversy that erupted in August last year when Rangers football club told McLaughlin he would no longer be welcome at its Glasgow ground.It is the latest manifestation of a controversy that erupted in August last year when Rangers football club told McLaughlin he would no longer be welcome at its Glasgow ground.
The BBC retaliated by announcing a boycott of Rangers’ games at Ibrox. The corporation said that it would continue to report on the club but would not send reporters to their matches or press conferences.The BBC retaliated by announcing a boycott of Rangers’ games at Ibrox. The corporation said that it would continue to report on the club but would not send reporters to their matches or press conferences.
Clearly, the ban has upset some fans. The petition on change.org, in the name of “Bears Fightback”, complains that the BBC did not send a reporter to “the third most attended football match in the UK, and the most attended match in Scotland on January 16th 2016” due to McLaughlin being banned from its stadium. This, it says, “is unacceptable.”Clearly, the ban has upset some fans. The petition on change.org, in the name of “Bears Fightback”, complains that the BBC did not send a reporter to “the third most attended football match in the UK, and the most attended match in Scotland on January 16th 2016” due to McLaughlin being banned from its stadium. This, it says, “is unacceptable.”
The petition also states: “Chris McLaughlin has proved that he cannot be impartial when it comes to reporting on Rangers FC and its supporters...The petition also states: “Chris McLaughlin has proved that he cannot be impartial when it comes to reporting on Rangers FC and its supporters...
“This ‘journalist’ is banned because he has proved on multiple occasions that he cannot conform to the BBC guidelines on impartiality.”“This ‘journalist’ is banned because he has proved on multiple occasions that he cannot conform to the BBC guidelines on impartiality.”
But many of the comments appear to be critical of the petition, employing sarcasm to deride the move.But many of the comments appear to be critical of the petition, employing sarcasm to deride the move.
According to a Sunday Mail article, McLaughlin was banned for “misleading and unbalanced reports” about the club.According to a Sunday Mail article, McLaughlin was banned for “misleading and unbalanced reports” about the club.
On 11 January, when Rangers reintroduced its ban on McLaughlin, the BBC issued a statement registering its disappointment. It said of the ban: “We believe it is unjustifiable and we stand by the integrity and the quality of our journalism.
“We will continue to report on Rangers both on and off the pitch and will feature match action where appropriate but, until this issue is resolved, we will not be sending journalists to Ibrox or attending Rangers’ press conferences.”