Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin was furious at Rangers fans’ chant, revealing it was too loud and it was stolen from Celtic fans

Jim Goodwin did not hold back his frustration after Dundee United’s clash with Rangers, taking aim at the visiting supporters for what he described as an “overbearing and unoriginal” chant that dominated the atmosphere throughout the match.

Speaking after the game, Goodwin admitted that while hostile environments are part and parcel of football, the sheer volume and repetition of the chant crossed a line. “You expect noise when you come up against a club like Rangers,” he said. “But this was something else entirely—it was relentless, it was deafening, and quite frankly, it lacked any originality.”

The Dundee United boss went a step further, claiming that the chant in question had clearly been lifted from the repertoire of Celtic supporters, Rangers’ fiercest rivals. That accusation added another layer of irritation for Goodwin, who suggested that such borrowing reflects poorly on the creativity of fans.
“It’s not even their own,” he continued. “You hear it and immediately think of Celtic. If you’re going to come to a stadium and try to make an impact, at least come up with something that belongs to your own club. Football is built on identity, and that includes the supporters.”

The match itself was already a tense affair, with Dundee United battling to impose themselves against a Rangers side known for its intensity and attacking threat. However, Goodwin insisted that the atmosphere generated by the away end had a noticeable effect on the flow of the game, particularly for his younger players.

“For some of our lads, especially the younger ones, that kind of constant noise can be difficult to handle,” he explained. “It’s not an excuse, but it’s a factor. Communication becomes harder, concentration can dip, and when it’s the same chant over and over at that volume, it becomes more of a distraction than just background noise.”

Despite his criticism, Goodwin was careful to acknowledge the passion of Rangers supporters, noting that their commitment to following the team home and away is undeniable. However, he maintained that there is a difference between passionate support and what he perceives as excessive or derivative behavior.
“I respect fans who travel and back their team—that’s what makes football special,” he said. “But there’s a line where it stops being about supporting your side and starts becoming something else. Tonight, I felt it crossed that line.”

The comments are likely to spark debate among supporters of both clubs, particularly given the long-standing rivalry between Rangers and Celtic. Accusations of copying chants are not uncommon in football, but they rarely come so publicly from a manager, which adds extra intrigue to the situation.
For Dundee United, the focus will now shift back to performances on the pitch as they look to climb the table and build consistency. Goodwin emphasized that while the atmosphere was a talking point, his primary concern remains improving his team’s results.

“At the end of the day, we have to be better,” he admitted. “We can’t allow external factors—whether it’s the crowd, the noise, or anything else—to dictate how we play. That’s something we’ll work on.”
Still, his post-match remarks ensured that the spotlight remained, at least temporarily, on the stands rather than the pitch.

In a sport where fan culture is such a defining element, debates over chants, originality, and respect are never far away—and this latest episode involving Rangers supporters and their perceived borrowing from Celtic will only add fuel to that ongoing conversation.

As the dust settles, it remains to be seen whether Goodwin’s comments will prompt any response from Rangers fans or the club itself. What is certain, however, is that the incident has once again highlighted just how influential—and at times controversial—the role of supporters can be in modern football