The BBC’s coverage of Rangers and Celtic’s respective 2-2 draws on Wednesday night has raised some interesting questions about the broadcaster’s editorial tone. Both Glasgow giants experienced almost identical matches, taking the lead, falling behind and eventually recovering to secure a point. Yet the BBC Rangers Celtic coverage presented two noticeably different interpretations of essentially the same circumstances.

Celtic Deserved Their Point, Rangers Were Lucky?

Celtic hosted Dundee United at Parkhead, while Rangers travelled to a notoriously difficult Tynecastle to face Hearts.

Both sides took early leads, both conceded twice and both eventually equalised. However, the BBC’s assessment of the respective performances was strikingly different.

In Celtic’s case, the broadcaster emphasised their second half pressure and concluded that Martin O’Neill’s side secured a “deserved point”.

Meanwhile, Rangers received rather less generous treatment.

The BBC described Derek McInnes’ side as “disjointed” and suggested Hearts deserved to win. Rangers, apparently, would simply “settle for the point”.

A Curious Contrast in BBC Reporting

There is something rather peculiar about this distinction.

Celtic were playing at home against Dundee United, while Rangers faced a Hearts side unbeaten in 25 consecutive home league matches before Wednesday.

Surely recovering to secure a point at such a difficult away venue deserves at least some recognition?

Instead, the BBC focused heavily on Rangers’ shortcomings, while Celtic’s recovery received a considerably more sympathetic assessment.

Of course, nobody is suggesting Rangers performed brilliantly. Indeed, Ibrox Noise has already heavily criticised McInnes’ selection and tactics.

But that is not the issue here.

The issue is whether two remarkably similar results received consistently balanced editorial treatment.

Is There an Argument for Pro Celtic Bias?

It would be excessive to claim that these two reports alone establish institutional bias at the BBC.

Nevertheless, there is certainly an arguable pro Celtic slant in the language employed.

Celtic’s recovery was framed around pressure, tactical improvements and a deserved reward. Rangers’ recovery was framed around their deficiencies and Hearts’ disappointment.

One side apparently earned its point. The other escaped with one.

That is quite a difference in interpretation.

Rangers Deserve Consistent Treatment

Perhaps the most interesting aspect is that Rangers actually faced the more difficult venue, while Celtic surrendered their advantage at home.

Furthermore, Rangers equalised considerably later, showing the determination to fight until the closing stages.

Yet the respective BBC assessments leave noticeably different impressions.

The BBC Rangers Celtic coverage does not prove deliberate favouritism, but supporters are entitled to question why the language appears so contrasting.

Nobody demands praise for Rangers when performances are poor. However, if Celtic deserve credit for recovering from 2-1 down, surely Rangers deserve comparable recognition for doing precisely the same thing?

Consistency, rather than preferential treatment, is all supporters should expect from a national broadcaster.