Stephen. The RST spokesman, David Edgar, appeared on a radio show with Graham Spiers and argued in defence of the Billy Boys. He said that it could be argued that it wasn't sectarian, and neither was the term "fenian".

Surely this is what Spiers is alluding to? Do you not remember that radio show where the RST argued in defence of Billy Boys?

Cheers

Doug

Doug, Glasgow, Scotland

sectarianism is alive and well throughout scotland.it is not an exclusive west coast problem. I've been subjected to sectarian comments in Dundee, Aberdeen, Motherwell, Edinburgh, Falkirk , Paisley etc whilst supporting Celtic. The fans of the other teams insist they are only winding up the old firm supporters, therefore, they aren't really sectarian. Absolute nonsense.
I cannot believe we are still finding an issue with catholic schools. Sectarianism comes from your peer group, parents, friends, other supporters etc. I went to a catholic school but the majority of my friends were "protestant" (non denominational), my wife and chidren are members of the church of scotland and go to church every week. my children didn't even know what a catholic was until I had to explain to them why Neil Lennon couldn't play for his country anymore.
better parental guidance would help stamp out sectarianism - not closing catholic schools.
why no mention of orange lodges in the debate?

andy, glasgow, scotland

Another disgraceful bunch of bull from a half-wit rent-a-mouth. Anyone with a modicum of knowledge of Scottish football knows that there is a revolting thread that runs all the way up through Glasgow's football supporters, to their boards and ultimately the SFA. Appointing this goon to the top job is a joke.

David, USA,

I think people are missing the point. He is saying both teams have problems with sectarianism but it appears only Rangers are being taken to task over it.

Celtic parade their Irish/catholic heritage but Rangers are attacked for their British/Scottish/protestant/unionist heritage.

They claim rangers are more bigoted than Celtic?? That's like saying your jobby is smellier than my jobby.

As for Rangers being an anti-catholic club? They were formed 15 years before Celtic by 4 friends for their love of football. Not when it became a money making exercise.

eechuta, Glasgow,

Representatives of Rangers have every right and reason to try to influence perception in their favour. That this often comes down to appeasing the "They're pure jist as bad as us byraway" brigade is a function of their position and current situation relative to their history. Understandable, in other words.

What I don't get is why the Chief Executive of the SFA feels the need to push this stance. Sure, Jim Farry got caught in the end, but at least he tried to be secretive. Gordon Smith apparently doesn't even see the value of *perceived* impartiality.

wullie, vancouver,

As Chief Executive of the SFA, surely he must be seen to be impartial. Unfortunately, this interview makes it quite obvious that he favours one Glasgow team before any other, and therefore any credibility that he had with football supporters of those other than that his old team has sunk without trace. Time to return to commentating on the BBC Gordon.
Rangers were found guilty by UEFA for one reason, and one reason only, BECAUSE THEY WERE!!! Only when threatened with real sanctions by the governing body did the club start to pay more than lip service to the issue of sectarianism. When Rangers played behind closed doors in Italy last year, sectarian chanting was clearly heard, and there was only the Rangers official party there.
Now sadly, fans have turned their attention to insulting the memory of one of the country's greatest managers with their chants, but will Gordon speak out against it when he gives an interview to one of the tabloids. As an impartial observer, he surely will.

GT, BRIDGEND,

Mike from Glasgow, thanks for the kind words, but internet gangsterism is a poor substitute for acting like an adult.

I particularly enjoy the lie that Celtc are an inclusive club - perhaps having an exclusively Roman Catholic Board from 1888 through to 1996, a mere 118 years, doesn't count?

And as for denying your greatest ever manager, Jock Stein, a Directorship because he was a Protestant?

Pot, kettle, you know the rest...........

The desperate, cliche-ridden nonsense coming from Spiers and other members of the chattering classes today simply proves the point that Gordon Smith made. How ironic.

Spiers has over a decade of practice to distill his anti-Rangers poison but inventing 'facts' to suit his agenda is an old habit he just can't shake off.

stephen smith, Birmingham,

AK
Is it not strange that denominational schools work everywhere else, England, Canada, USA, Australia etc etc but because of the institutionalised sectarianism in the west of Scotland and the heraldic history of Rangers FC and still the contemporary belief of majority of Rangers' support; "separate schools" are to blame. More like to blame for their own prejudices and shortcomings. To keep bringing them up and blaming them tells us more about themselves and why these schools were introduced than about the existence of denominational schooling. They must have another bandwagon to jump on by now.

You will probably also find that GSTQ will be booed far less when the Act of Settlement 1701 is repealed and abolished.

DH, Ayr,

I certainly am offended by GSTCOW, I'm Scottish.

V2, Vienna, Austria

well done to spiers for highlighting the bigotoery ,that has gone on in scotland,for over a century,with the tacit support of the establishment,even know thers a well orchestrated campaign to villify and sully the late great jock stein a protestant and manager of celtic ,and who gave his life for scotland at anfield ,and not a peep from smith his employers or other established clubs ,condemming this outrageous slur on a great scot,shame on them ,shame on them all you all know who you are ,dignity far from it

stephen, glasgow, scotland

Yes, ira songs are offensive, if you want to glorify baby killers, and the ethnic cleansing of protestant farmers on the border,
the murder of many scottish soldiers,
And also, the ira killed more catholics than any other group in ulster, so i hope that answers your pathetic question

Robert Bruce, Belfast, Ulster

As a Scot living in London, I find the whole celtic-rangers thing to be an embarrassment. People down here assume that all scots support one or the other and when I tell them that I'm an arab I'm asked, "So is that a Catholic or a Protestant team then?". Sectarianism is a west coast/Glasgow problem, not a Scottish problem and it is shocking that this irrational hatred is allowed to dominate our most popular sport.

I've even been accused to be a "hun in disguise" by celtic fans and had similar comments from their gers counterparts. Personally, I wish they would both do us all a favour and relocate to Belfast and give the rest of us non-bigoted supporters a break.

I would argue that the real discrimination in Scottish football is against any and all non-old-firm teams - particularly those from the east of the country. Sadly, with this man at the helm of the SFA this is unlikely to change.

There are more than 2 football teams in scotland.

ian, london,

Surely the comments from Smith mean his position as the Chief Executive of the SFA no longer tenable. Why is it that the "red card for racism" campaign receives 100% backing from all clubs without the need for excusary. Yet when it comes to running sectarianism out of Scotland senior figures in football feel they can get away with putting diatribe in print. Smith should resign or be removed from his position. Decent Scottish football fans have been encouraged by the moves of the Scottish Executive to rid sectarianism from the Scottish game. Smith cannot hold such an important office if he is not 100% behind the removal of sectarianism from our beautiful game.

Sid, Paisley, Scotland

Gordon Smith is an Ayrshire man. He has introduced junior teams into the Scottish Cup (bear with me on this).

The problem stems in the first instance from Protestant Scots from Ayrshire who were planted in the north of Ireland in the late 1700's by King William of Orange to quell nationalistic tendancies in the country.

The same men who were planted returned to Scotland in the early 1900's to work in the shipyards on the Clyde- their allegiances were towards Rangers, until then largely a club with no particular allegiance, and used it to vent hate against the existing, large and impoverished Catholic population that had been settled in Glasgow for some decades due to an enforced economic migration from Ireland (potato famine) that had been caused by the British government that had failed to halt the crisis in the first place.

The other week, fans from a junior team in Ayrshire displayed a 'Big Jock Knew' banner in front of television cameras for all to see.

The Griffin, Glasgow, Scotland!

The Billy Boys was sung at ibrox for decades until certain
media journos decided they were offended,so they went to UEFA and also printed their own versions of the whole
scenario.Why was no one offended all those years ago?.
The said line'up to our knees' is sung that fast that no foreign
official from UEFA would understand it, IF, it wasn't written down for him.
There is a lot of things wrong in Scottish football but credit goes to Gordon for highlighting that it is not all down to Rangers.

As for your book Mr Speirs don't try and advertise it among The
Rangers fraternity as you have no chance.

Big Bill, Glasgow,

For years, any criticism pointed at the "Celtc way of Life" was branded sectarian. It may be hard to take for some people, but there is actually no law within Scotland, the SFA, the UEFA or even the EU, which makes it illegal to disagree with Celtic FC or their supporters views. Political correctness must not be misused as a weapon in any any dispute over domestic or religious policy.

W. Koelsch, Cologne, Germany

Tackling bigotry is not his forte, obviously. That interview is as much frightening as it is scandalous. He says that by booing 'God Save The Queen' we are insinuating that the National Anthem is offensive? Mr Smith, since when has 'God Save The Queen' been the National Anthem of Scotland? If you feel so strongly about it, Gordon, why not enforce it to be played before Scotland matches if it's the national anthem? See how many boos you get then?

I have yet to hear Celtic fans sing "f*** the head of the Church of England" as well.

Talking about agendas, Gordon, what about the one being waged against Jock Stein just now?

It ain't the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.

The Griffin, Glasgow, Scotland!

Gordon Smith is right to raise this. There does appear to be an agenda against Rangers especially from the Scottish sports media who tend to be "celtic-minded". It'sa pity certain sections of the media are unable to be impartial and objective but I guess that says a lot about Scottish society and politics.

Neil, Glasgow,

The man who runs to Uefa when a Hearts player dives, yet ignores the diving from Rangers and Celtic players, once again shows he is unfit for office.
His position, like so many before him, depends on two things, his Rangers background, and his desire for the 'Old Firm' to be dominant in Scotland.
A drastic restructure of leading men is urgently required in Scots football today!

Grahma Herriott, Braintree, Essex

brave words Gordon, I hope your insurance is up to date.

k, a, p

Very well said Gordan

Though you may need new windows, give me a bell

Double Glaze salesman, Easrt Kilbride, Britain

Stephen 'it was only a minority' Smith,
Rangers Supporters Trust.

The bastion of all that is upstanding, dignified and loyal.

Revisionism from the appointed mouthpiece for the very soul of the Club.

Take yourself on to one of the local radio shows in the west of Scotland and it's a certainty that Spiers will embarass you in the same manner he did the other trust mouthpiece Edgar

Whatever did happened to the RST Summer summit on sectarianism?

Tick tock

Mike , Glasgow, Strathclyde

I couldn't agree more with what Gordon Smith has had to say, thus far.
To dismiss the fact there has been an agenda against Rangers and it's supporters is naive and shows the level of impartiality that you view this with. Nobody is saying that Rangers supporters have not done wrong, granted it was accepted in bygone eras but in this day some chants and songs are no longer acceptable, for whatever reason. The main crux of this is the media drive to see sectarianism driven out of football and using Rangers as the only club with a problem. How many times have we seen on TV and newpapers wherever sectarianism is mentioned that your guaranteed to hear or read the words Rangers or likewise see pictures of Rangers supporters of the club itself, yes an awful lot, possibly 85% of the time. The very journalist of this article spends his lifetime condeming Rangers FC and it supporters, how impartial is his coverage, whats his agenda. The media ought to look closer at home for an agenda

Rob, Bromborough, WIRRAL

Well said Stephen Mr Spiers does not like the rangers support we know this. However, it is nonsense to suggest supporters groups fought to save the BB is wrong and has no basis in fact. Do you have any evidence Mr Spiers.

Celtc through good PR and lobbying have had an easier ride on the sectarian issue this despite fans still going to games with IRA badges and scarfs.

One I saw recently had "snipers at work on it" sickening.

But while we have segregation at school level based on religion I cant see anything much changing.

AX, glasgow,

Stephen,

Just what I'd expect to hear. Strangely enough Gordon fails to mention that Celtic have always welcomed players and supporters from all backgrounds, religions and races.

Something his old club didn't do for over 100 years.

Smiths comments regards Catholic schools have shown him to be lacking in the intelligence required to fulfill his role.

This is the man who when working in for the BBC whilst Rangers fans ran amok in Villarreal uttered the words:

"Where are Celtic in all of this"

And Smith must score...an own goal!

David Goldie, Fauldhouse, West Lothian

How can Gordon Smith speak about sectarianism in Scottish football when he himself believes that Catholicism is to blame for societies sectarianism?

What is the agenda against Rangers? Did someone ask them to clean their act up?

The Billy boys was indeed horribly wrong but getting rid of that chant has just made room for another sinister campaign which Mr Gordon Smith himself has had to act upon already at a junior cup game. Gordon Smith needs to take his narrow minded head out of the sand and come into the 21st century with the rest of the country.

William, Doran, Antrim

"The Billy Boys, the song which some Rangers supporters’ groups fought in vain to save during the Uefa investigation of Ibrox."

Once again Graham Spiers grasp of the facts is questionable.

I can't recall one single supporter's group who did what Spiers claims - mine certainly didn't.

If he's looking for those with an agenda against Rangers, I suggest he looks in his bathroom mirror.

And if he can prove me wrong, I'll give £100 to charity.

If I'm right, will he do the same?

stephen smith, Birmingham,

are IRA songs sectarian Gordon?
celtic do use their irish heritage to the full.
rangers were just an anti-catholic club pre Souness.
and in the majority of the fans eyes always will be

pete...ABERDEEN FAN

PETE DIVENS, HAMILTON, LANARKSHIRE