Scottish chiefs hope Boruc gets message

SCOTTISH Football Association president George Peat hopes the very fact Artur Boruc was yesterday found guilty of improper conduct — rather than the amount he was fined — will act as a deterrent to the Celtic goalkeeper in future.

Boruc received a £500 (€627) fine and a severe reprimand after being photographed making one-fingered gestures to Rangers fans during the last Old Firm derby on August 31.

And while he was censured and warned about his future conduct at yesterday’s SFA disciplinary commission, such a mild financial penalty is bound to raise a few eyebrows.

Asked if the sanction was sufficient to encourage Boruc to mend his ways, Peat replied: “I certainly hope so.

“We haven’t had many of these incidents, thankfully, and I just hope that this serves as a message — not so much the fine but the actual fact that he’s been punished.”

Peat was speaking at an event in Glasgow to promote the campaign ‘Show Racism the Red Card’.

He vowed the SFA would do all they could to help eradicate the problem from football.

“I think it’s a great idea actually to publicise this and try to eliminate racism. The SFA will support that 100%,” he said.

“It has no place at all in football, as in any other part of life. Where we’re involved on the football side, we’ve got to do our very best to eradicate it.”

Sectarianism is also a problem that has dogged the Scottish game in the past.

Rangers boss Walter Smith recently expressed his fear the club might never rid themselves completely of the scourge.

Peat said: “It’s a difficult one. I think Walter’s got a good point there. There’s a small minority I think who are obviously keeping the same view.

“We’ve just got to hope through time that their views change.”