IRISH airline Ryanair has had a dig at fans of Rangers following the Scottish club's Europa League Final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday.
Rangers took the lead in the final through Joe Aribo before being pegged back by a Rafael Borré strike for the Germans.
Ryan Kent missed a glorious chance to win the game late in extra time before Frankfurt won the penalty shootout.
When the airline — often criticised over its additional charges — was quizzed on Twitter as to how much Frankfurt would have to pay to carry the trophy on as hand baggage, the airline responded with a jibe at Rangers.
"Trophy free, we'll charge for Rangers tears instead," the airline's Twitter account posted on Friday.
Trophy free, we'll charge for Rangers tears instead. https://t.co/PJnz58qToL
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) May 20, 2022
The response quickly went viral, gathering more than 40,000 likes and in excess of 6,500 retweets.
It also drew criticism from Rangers fans, with some claiming they would never use the airline again while others vowed to take the matter further.
However, the airline — which saw Rangers fans ejected from one of its flights to Portugal earlier in the week — proceeded to double down.
When one Twitter user vowed to take the matter "all the way to the top", the airline responded with an image Randall Weems — the resident snitch from the cartoon Recess — wearing a Rangers badge and taking notes.
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) May 20, 2022
When another user urged fellow Rangers fans to remember Ryanair's gloating the next time they go to book a flight, the airline replied: "Yes, remember this.
"Store your tears as we'll accept them as payment for your next flight.
"Emotional baggage is extra."
yes, remember this, store your tears as we'll accept them as payment for your next flight. emotional baggage is extra.
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) May 20, 2022
While some fans were angry at the posts and rival fans lapped them up, at least one Rangers fan saw the funny side.
After pointing out the barbs were typical of Ryanair's social media tone and that the airline is known for 'baming up everyone', Ryanair's Twitter account replied: "You understood the assignment."
you understood the assignment
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) May 20, 2022
Rangers offset the disappointment of their Europa League defeat with victory over Hearts in the Scottish Cup Final on Saturday, but even then Ryanair continued the jibes.
Seemingly regarding Rangers' domestic cup success as scant consolation for their European defeat, the airline shared a screen-grab on Saturday evening of a Google search for 'What is the Scottish Cup'.
👀 https://t.co/MCsIMPhzmU pic.twitter.com/oX5sLT0pXh
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) May 21, 2022
Saturday’s 2-0 extra-time victory over Hearts ensured Rangers boss Giovanni Van Bronckhorst claimed a trophy in his first season in charge, having succeeded Steven Gerrard in November 2021.
Despite its popularity on social media, in February Ryanair was rated the worst short-haul airline for pandemic flights and refunds in a survey carried out by consumer magazine Which?
