February 20 | comments icon 2 COMMENTS     print icon print

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Condemnation of Rangers’ fans anti-Catholic chanting

Rangers fans have been condemned after anti-Catholic chants were heard on Saturday during the team's first match since going into administration.

Despite the team’s high-profile measures of tackling this behaviour in recent years, their 0-1 defeat by Kilmarnock at Ibrox on Saturday afternoon was marred further by songs such as The Billy Boys, previously banned by UEFA.

The football club’s fans are said to have also targeted match day referee Iain Brines with anti-Catholic slurs in response to his refereeing decisions during the match, such as the sending-off of Bosnian defender Sasa Papac.

“Sadly poisonous sectarian bigotry is all too often a part of some Rangers’ fans identity,” Peter Kearney, spokesman for the Scottish bishops, said.

“Despite repeated efforts by the club—and to their great embarrassment—anti-Catholic hostility is still alive and well among many Rangers fans.”

The anti-Catholic chants came during an afternoon of protests by Rangers supporters that included rallies outside Ibrox against the team’s financial mismanagement.

The chanting was condemned further by Dave Scott, campaign director from anti-bigotry charity Nil by Mouth.

“This was a day when some Rangers fans came to show their true feelings for their club,” Mr Scott said. “I suspect any true supporter will be sickened to their stomach that others have chosen this day of all days to dredge up these songs of hate and ignorance.”

Rangers have not yet commented on the issue of sectarian chanting.

The Scottish Government’s first legislative action against bigotry and sectarianism, The Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012, comes into force next month.

Comments - 2 Responses

  1. Gavin McCleary says:

    And Celtic supporters at Easter Road, Inverness and Tynecastle this season. When do you intend to get your ‘own’ house in order Mr Kearney? Indeed offensive at Ibrox. Anti-protestant songs and pro-ira songs yet again and no reaction on here.

  2. john hood says:

    you mention anti-protestant songs,being sung by the celtic support,could you elaborate because as a protestant who follows celtic home and away,i dont recognie this spurious charge you make,regarding pro ira songs,yes they should not be sung at football,but the worst singing is still coming from rfc “fans” dont they realise that not everyone who died during the irish famine,were catholic…..this famine song and the bile they sing regarding the late great mr stein brings nothing but shame to all protestant rangers fans

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