SCOTZINE, the respected online magazine website is to close its doors after ten years due to an increasing level of threats directed towards its founder Andy Muirhead and in particular his family members.
In a statement released last night Muirhead explained his decision to close down Scotzine and revealed that “the main reason (for closing the site) is the level of venemous abuse and threats aimed at my loved ones.”
Muirhead, as has been commented on by posters on CQN, has led the media coverage into the Police hunt for on-field troublemakers at the Scottish Cup Final and has not been afraid to name and shame individuals as they have been identified. 
“I have received many threats over the years directed at me personally, these I can handle. But threats and abuse aimed at my wife is the last straw,” said Muirhead.
And he revealed that he has taken the matter to Police Scotland but has been left frustrated by what he regards as a completely inadequate response, describing them as being as useful as a ‘chocolate teapot’.
“Despite the threats and abuse aimed at my wife – on more than one occasion, when she was pregnant with my son Ollie and now as she is pregnant with our second child – the refusal of Police Scotland to do anything about the threats not once, not twice but four times is beyond a joke,” revealed Muirhead.
“An organisation which is supposed to protect innocent men, women and children tells you to ‘lock your door’ and ‘don’t open it unless you know who is knocking’ – if this is the level of policing in Scotland and how they deal with online threats then god help us all because they are as useful as a chocolate teapot.”
“Nothing matters more to me than my family, and that is why I am ending my time with Scotzine.”
Earlier in the day Muirhead tweeted this:
“I see the state aid nutter is now targeting my sister on twitter. Guy really has no shame first my wife then my sis, trying to bully women.”
Recently Derek Johnstone revealed on local radio that former Celtic striker and BT pundit Chris Sutton had to be accompanied to a recent match League Cup match at Ibrox by two bodyguards after his perfectly valid criticism of Mark Warburton, the Ibrox manager.
His former Celtic colleague Neil Lennon received bombs and bullets in the post in his time as Celtic manager.
The revelations in the recent Offshore Game Report into Scottish football were all but ignored by a fearful Scottish media and even an official letter from UEFA which confirms the status of the club playing out of Ibrox as a new club was not reported in the Scottish media.
Tom English at the BBC was offered exclusive access to this letter not once but twice but failed to respond.
We have suggested previously that this was probably because English wanted to continue to attend games without the need for two bodyguards.
Now a high profile Scottish football news platform is calling it a day due to threats directed at family members.
The full Scotzine statement is reproduced below. Those on Twitter should check the @scotzine timeline to read more about the threats that have been made.
What a sorry state of affairs!
OFFICIAL SCOTZINE STATEMENT…
TIME TO BID ADIEU
Over the past ten years of producing Scotzine I have worked with some amazing and talented people, who have brought quality to the website. They know who they are, but I would like to thank them for all their hard work over the years.
I was hoping to use the site’s tenth anniversary to improve upon the work that so many had put in over the years, but with a new baby on the way and initially considering crowd funding – then rejecting it – any proposed plans I had were shelved.
Working full time and my personal commitments & responsibilities as a husband and especially a father, saw the coverage on the site drop to a level that I am disappointed with and know that the site is worse off for it. But it is only a website and there are more important things in my life.
And that is a major reason behind my decision to call time on Scotzine. I can no longer commit the same amount of time I have over the past ten years, but above all the main reason is the level of venemous abuse and threats aimed at my loved ones.
I have received many threats over the years directed at me personally, these I can handle. But threats and abuse aimed at my wife is the last straw. I would love to be able to get my hands on the scumbags who think they are hard men by bullying women, but given they hide behind their anonymity while sending out their poisonous hatred not much can be done about them – even though I would have taken great pleasure in breaking their legs.
Despite the threats and abuse aimed at my wife – on more than one occasion, when she was pregnant with my son Ollie and now as she is pregnant with our second child – the refusal of Police Scotland to do anything about the threats not once, not twice but four times is beyond a joke. An organisation which is supposed to protect innocent men, women and children tells you to ‘lock your door’ and ‘don’t open it unless you know who is knocking’ – if this is the level of policing in Scotland and how they deal with online threats then god help us all because they are as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Nothing matters more to me than my family, and that is why I am ending my time with Scotzine.
Of course, some scumbags will see this as some sort of victory – my departure from writing about Scottish football – and revel in the demise of Scotzine, but who really cares about the sad lil pricks of this world who hide their identities to spout hatred against others while they waste their lives doing nothing else.
My life does not revolve around football, unlike some knuckledraggers. My life does not revolve around a website or social media, unlike some knuckledraggers. My life is my wife, my son and my soon to be second child – due in February – and that is something I can be immensely proud of. And no amount of hatred will ruin that.
So what now for Scotzine? Well the site will remain live for a bit. Our social media accounts will be locked soon. And we will decide to either close it down permanently or pass the baton to someone else.
Either way I bid adieu to all those who have worked on the site over the years, our readership and those I have met at games whether they are journalists, bloggers or ordinary fans.
And what of the haters? We all know they will turn to some other target now as that is their way. They hate to read the truth, they hate to see people have opinions that differ from them and above all they hate it when you don’t blink, when they target you for abuse and threats – hence reason why they then move on to your loved ones.
Hopefully, Police Scotland pull their finger out and do their job before it is too late and someone is attacked or worse by one of these knuckledragging scumbags.
There is nothing more for me to say other than, Goodbye!
Andy Muirhead
