Soccer’s sectarian rabble should get the boot

IT is to be hoped the invitation extended to Eoin Ryan MEP to visit Scotland in relation to the sectarian chants by some Glasgow Rangers’ ‘fans’ will focus the minds of the Scottish authorities that the lumpen rabble involved are devoid of any social, moral or cultural breeding.

They bring nothing but shame on themselves and the club they purport to support. Unfortunately, such sectarian abuse is not uncommon in either Scotland or Northern Ireland.

In 1996, Jason Campbell, a 23-year-old Rangers’ ‘fan’ was convicted of the unprovoked murder of a 16-year-old boy because he was wearing a Glasgow Celtic jersey.

Floral tributes to the dead boy placed at the spot of his murder were defaced and destroyed by Rangers’ supporters. In September 2008, Neil Lennon, current Glasgow Celtic coach and former footballer, suffered a serious assault having first been subjected to sectarian abuse, again by Rangers’ fans. In 2003, also in Glasgow, Mr Lennon was attacked by two students simply because he was a Celtic footballer. In the same year, Neil Lennon was threatened by loyalists in Belfast and, as a consequence, decided never to play football for Northern Ireland again.

Not even children are immune from these sectarian attacks. Last summer in Coleraine, a group of children from Dublin who were competing in the Milk Cup international youth football tournament were subjected to a vile sectarian attack and had to be relocated for their safety. What a deplorable indictment of some sections of society in the North.

If the Scottish Football Association (SFA) wishes to retain a shred of integrity or honour, it must take decisive action to end this bigotry. It should not be allowed to stand idly by for to do nothing sustains and encourages these bigots. If the SFA does not act, then the world governing body, FIFA, must take a stand.

Tom Cooper

23 Delaford Lawn

Knocklyon

Dublin 16