TWO men have been arrested following complaints about sectarian songs being sung during the Rangers match with Kilmarnock.

BT Sport, which broadcast the match live, received complaints from armchair fans with one describing a "high level of sectarian singing" during the game at Rugby Park which ended in 1-1 draw.

Police Scotland confirmed that two men aged 22 and 23 were arrested in connection with alleged offences contrary to the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.

They were released on an undertaking to appear at court at a later date.

The Herald:

BT said: "Some viewers complained. We take our responsibility as a broadcaster very seriously and apologise if inappropriate behaviour by fans at this live game caused offence."

The Billy Boys song with its reference to "Fenian blood" was clearly heard by those watching at home.

One complainer told BT Sport through social media: "If there is to be bigoted chanting throughout the Rangers game should there not be some sort of warning before it starts. Or block it."

In January the Scottish Professional Football League governing body examined issues about sectarian chanting heard during Rangers' match against Hibernian at Ibrox on December 28.

The Herald:

It is understood that SPFL will not consider what action, if any, to take until it has receipt of the match delegate report. 

Following the match against Hibs, which Rangers won 4-2, the Glasgow club issued a website statement condemning fans who took part in what they described as "inappropriate singing".

Rangers stressed at the time it was a minority of fans involved and it would assist Police Scotland in identifying the culprits.

European football's governing body Uefa fined Rangers in 2006 and ordered the club to make a public announcement at each of their home games pointing out that the chanting of the Billy Boys was banned after it was heard during a Champions League match against Villarreal.

In February, nine arrests were made over the alleged use of pyrotechnics and sectarian chanting during the Scottish Cup fourth round tie between Stranraer and Celtic.

In April, Dave Scott, campaign director of Nil By Mouth, accused the SPFL of doing nothing to tackle sectarianism in Scottish football. One third of arrests for sectarian activities relate to football.

Speaking as part of a debate hosted by Action on Sectarianism, Scott said without the football authorities help sectarianism will not be got rid of and called on the Scottish Government to intervene.

“The SFA has failed in that no club has been fined a point or a pound for sectarian behaviour," he said.

“The clubs early on did make a show of trying to do something about it. But it was usually for the press opportunity. They do little unless it involves UEFA, Scottish football has just ignored the issue. Recently they asked for facial recognition software as a solution rather than work with the fans."

He called for clubs to adopt the Strict Liability Rule, where they are punished for the behaviour of their fans regardless of their attempts to control them, saying without it sectarianism would always prevail.

“There is a lot of arrogance which seems to hide a lot insecurity to tackle it. Most people who go to football are incredible people, but there is a very noisy minority," he said.

Two weeks after Scott's comments police investigated the singing of sectarian songs by Old Firm fans during the Scottish Cup semi-final. The match resulted in 18 arrests in and around Hampden and in the city centre.

Before the game police vowed there would be a crackdown on supporters singing sectarian songs.

It came after their previous meeting in February last year, but made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Flares were let off at Hampden and 10 of the 19 arrests concerned alleged sectarian breaches of the peace.

Police praised the behaviour of most fans at the game but criticised a minority who set off the flares and took part in sectarian singing.