August 28 – Scotland manager Steve Clarke Scotland hopes a UEFA ban on Glasgow Rangers will help the club eradicate racist behaviour.
Rangers have been ordered to close part of their Ibrox stadium for Thursday’s Europa League meeting with Legia Warsaw because of racist behaviour –including sectarian chanting – during the match against St Joseph’s on July 18.
Clarke said he himself faced “sectarian” abuse “from the dark ages” while in charge of Kilmarnock last season. “Maybe it will make some people think about what they’re going to say in the future, hopefully,” he said.
Arch-rivals Rangers and Celtic have long been guilty of sectarian chanting based on long-established political and religious ideology and Clarke told the BBC both clubs “have to do a little bit more to stamp it out.”
Rangers chairman Dave King issued a strongly-worded statement in response to the UEFA punishment which will lead to 3,000 seats being closed off, urging those supporters responsible to “stay away from Ibrox and our club”.
“Our supporters have been asked repeatedly by the club to refrain from indulging in this, and other forms of unacceptable behaviour. Sadly, the warnings have fallen on deaf ears and the actions of this minority will cause the club and the majority of good and decent Rangers supporters to pay a heavy penalty.”
“If any individual supporter is unable to behave in a civilised manner then please stay away from Ibrox and our club. You are harming Rangers and that is something a genuine supporter would never wish to do.”
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