News in 2006

23rd April 2006

League spies report Rangers chants

The SPL are unlikely to act despite match delegates citing sectarian singing by Rangers supporters in two games.

Rangers have been cited twice in the past month for sectarian chanting among their supporters at domestic matches, but seem likely to avoid censure by the Premierleague.

In addition to Uefa charges, match delegates from the SPL mentioned the fans’ behaviour in their reports on Rangers’ 4-1 victory at Dundee United on April 2, and last weekend’s 1-1 Ibrox draw with Aberdeen. John Connolly, the former St Johnstone and Queen of the South manager, has been appointed match delegate for today’s Old Firm derby at Celtic Park and will file a report on any sectarian singing by either set of supporters.

Rangers escaped punishment 10 days ago when Uefa found them not guilty after allegations of sectarian chants by their fans at the Champions League fixture against Villarreal at Ibrox in February, but the match inspector, Gerhard Kapl, has appealed against the verdict and the case will be heard next month.

Premierleague secretary Ian Blair reviewed reports from both the Dundee United and Aberdeen games. "In both cases there was a brief mention by the delegates and I’ve had talks about it with Rangers officials whom I know are disappointed about it," he said. "The incident last weekend was fleeting, at the start of the second-half."

League officials are unlikely to take action against Rangers for the chanting at Tannadice and Ibrox, but next season the Premierleague, with the backing of the Scottish Executive, plan to launch a new campaign to stamp out sectarianism, which will include banning orders to stop offenders entering grounds. "These have been successful in England," said Blair. "They tackle the ringleaders. I believe it will be effective in the fight against sectarianism."

Blair denied it was a reaction to UEFA’s spotlight on Rangers. "That’s wide of the mark," he said. "There was a lot of work going on before it happened involving ourselves, the SFA, the Executive and the police."

Connolly will be involved in the most severe test yet of the match delegate system introduced only six months ago. Previously, only the referee supervisor was consulted if there were incidents at matches, but Premierleague chairman Lex Gold explained that they wanted to broaden the horizons by adopting the system used by Uefa and the English Premiership. "We needed someone at each game who could report to us on all aspects of the game, not just the performance of the referees," he said. "So the delegate’s duties takes in everything, from the state of the pitch to the press conferences at the end. We’ve a rota of 19 delegates and it’s a good mix of people who have been involved at every level of football."

Among the names are former Scotland head coach Craig Brown and ex-club managers Tommy McLean, Alex Smith, Alan Preston and Paul Hegarty. They are joined by administrator Alan Dick, Scotland’s international players’ liaison officer Stewart McMillan, ex-SFA security chief Willie McDougall and former Celtic security head George Douglas. "It’s not jobs for the boys. We need experienced people, and they fit the bill," added Gold.

Match delegates report on the pitch condition, the referee, managers’ behaviour and team performance. The entry on fans’ behaviour is listed under ‘verbal support in unacceptable form’ and is filed after consultation with the police match commander.

Source: The Times