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Irish Consul complains about Rangers chant.
16 September 2008
Provided by: Irish Times
NEWS ROUND-UP: RANGERS SUPPORTERS have attracted scrutiny from the Scottish government, after complaints about chanting at last month's Old Firm derby were made by the Irish Consul General.
The issue has been raised with regard to a song about the potato famine of 1847, which contains the line: "The famine is over, why don't you go home?"
A section of the Rangers support have indulged in this chant since last season and did so at Parkhead on August 31st, which prompted one Celtic fan to write to the Irish embassy in London.
The Consul General in Edinburgh has since raised the matter at her regular meeting with the Scottish government.
The government has released a statement: "The Scottish government is totally committed to combating sectarianism and bigotry, which is why we have expanded on the work of the previous administration and are doing more.
"We are working with the clubs themselves, as they are part of the solution to the problem."
Rangers, in acknowledging they have a problem with the song, say they are awaiting police guidance on the matter. A club spokesperson said:
"Following the recent Old Firm match, the club were made aware that a substantial number of complaints had been made regarding the singing of the chorus of a song known as The Famine Songby our supporters at this match.
"Rangers approached Strathclyde police for guidance on this matter, with a view to issuing a joint statement indicating that persons singing this song in future may face the possibility of arrest. Strathclyde police were not able to commit to this until they had carried out further investigation.
"Clearly The Famine Songhas provoked such a response in certain quarters. It is the club's view that the interest of our supporters and the club will be best served by supporters refraining from singing The Famine Song."
Steve Clarke will begin work as Gianfranco Zola's number two at West Ham United this morning having secured his release from Chelsea after protracted and occasionally strained talks between the clubs finally resulted in a compromise over compensation last night.
West Ham will pay about €1.25 million to secure the Scot, who has severed a 20-year association with the Stamford Bridge club to move across London.
Clarke had been Zola's choice and Zola had suggested his former clubmate at his interview last week, only for Chelsea's board to block the 45-year-old's appointment and turn down his resignation request.
Gael Clichy has given Arsenal a boost by declaring himself fit to travel to Kiev for tomorrow's Champions League group-stage match with Dynamo Kiev.
Phil Brown, the Hull City manager, has condemned the tackle from Newcastle United's Danny Guthrie that left his striker Craig Fagan with a broken leg and facing more than three months on the sidelines.
Although Fagan got to his feet after the second of two inexcusable 90th-minute lunges during Hull's 2-1 win at St James' Park on Saturday, X-rays later revealed a fractured right tibia.
Brown hopes the Football Association will explore ways to further sanction Guthrie. He feels there should be a deterrent against similar recklessness.
"I think a red card and a three-game ban is insufficient," he said. "He has put a fellow player into a cast for a minimum of six weeks and possibly three months."
The midfielder was sent off after running several yards to first kick out at and then scythe Fagan down as he shielded the ball.
Guardian Service
(c) 2008, The Irish Times.
Irish Times
Scottish Authorities Lack of Action Against Rangers Supporters Raised in Irish Parliament
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
The Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin is questioned in the Dáil about the inaction of Scottish authorities in tackling the racist Famine Song.
Alan Shatter an Irish T.D. has once again raised the issue of the racist Famine Song with the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Dáil (the Irish Parliament) in Dublin. In the question tabled today (24th March 2009) there is implicit criticism of the failure of the Scottish authorities to deal with the matter.
Mr. Shatter’s question stated:
“To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that sectarian and racist chanting by Glasgow Rangers supporters again occurred during the course of the soccer match between Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Celtic on 15th February 2009; the reason no meaningful action has been taken to date by the Scottish authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.“
The Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin responded that:
“I am aware that, notwithstanding significant efforts by the relevant authorities, instances of sectarian behaviour have occurred at Scottish premier league games, and of the distress and offence that this can cause.
I am fully supportive of the efforts of the Scottish Government, Police and Football Association to tackle sectarian behaviour, from whatever quarter. I am confident that the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that sectarianism has no place in any aspect of Scottish society.
Since its opening in 1998, the Consulate General of Ireland in Edinburgh has maintained a wide-ranging dialogue with the Scottish Government. The Consulate remains in close contact with senior officials in the Scottish Government in relation to incidents of sectarianism of the kind referred to in the question. The Consulate General will continue to closely follow any developments in this regard“
The issue of racist singing by Rangers fans has now been raised a number of times in Dáil Eireann and also in the European Parliament. There was a lot of anger in political circles in Ireland that the most recent league game between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic was polluted with an increased number of renditions of the racist Famine Song as well as other sectarian songs from the Rangers support. Many politicians in Dublin are now unconvinced that adequate action is being taken to eradicate the racist singing and are disillusioned after hearing the song again, louder than ever, six months after it was noted at a game last year. This disillusionment has been compounded by the lack of action taken by the Scottish authorities after the league game on February 15th. Politicians in Dublin are shocked that the verocity of the racist singing at the recent league game has been ignored by all the relevant authorities.
It remains to be seen if Alan Shatter’s latest question on this matter in the Dáil will force the Scottish authorities into some action. Most comments to date from the Scottish authorities and in the Scottish media are couched in terms such as ‘sectarian singing’. This terminology has been part of an ongoing attempt to deflect criticism from supporters of Rangers and from the club itself. The use of the correct terminology ‘racist singing’ would be noted by the powers that be in UEFA. Politicians in Dublin are also said to be aware that while the racist Famine Song was sung at the recent league game between Celtic and Rangers, a number of other sectarian songs referring to “fenians” were also clearly evident. In particular one vile sectarian song directed at a Celtic player Scott Brown while he lay injured has astounded politicians in Dublin.
There is no doubt that there will be further pressure on the Scottish authorities to take action against those who sing the racist Famine Song following this latest Dáil question. Whether any action will be taken remains to be seen.
One way or the other unfolding events will now be keenly watched by politicians in Dublin and we now also hear within the European Parliament.
