RANGERS directors last night confirmed they will hold urgent talks with representatives of Club 1872 after their official supporters’ organisation yesterday called for them to ban Celtic fans from Ibrox.
The group has written to the board after sectarian banners were displayed and effigies of Rangers supporters were hung from the stands during the Old Firm game at Parkhead on Saturday.
The Ladbrokes Premiership club described the scenes during a game which Mark Warburton’s side lost 5-1 as a “sickening and shameful display of outright sectarian hatred”.
Read more: Rangers fans urged to give Senderos time after his calamitous Old Firm debut
The Glasgow rivals will next meet in the league at Ibrox on New Year’s Eve and Club 1872 want Rangers to ban Celtic supporters from attending.
Scottish Professional Football League rules state that clubs “must make provision for the admission of such reasonable number of visiting supporters at every home league match”.
Read more: Club 1872 call for Rangers board to ban Celtic fans from Ibrox after Old Firm display
But Rangers banned Celtic fans from Ibrox back in 1994 after then owner Sir David Murray revealed they had caused £20,000 worth of damage to the stadium during Old Firm games in the previous two years.
Celtic, who had one of their toilets vandalised by Rangers fans during the match at the weekend have promised to look into the conduct of their support, but they declined to get drawn into a “tit for tat spat”.
A Rangers statement read: The club’s directors are fully aware of the disgust felt by Rangers supporters who were subjected to a sickening and shameful display of outright sectarian hatred towards them. We also share the fans' anger and will be contacting Club 1872 as a matter of urgency.”
Celtic responded: “Celtic will not become involved in a tit for tat spat regarding all events at Celtic Park on Saturday. We will deal with all issues arising in a proper and professional manner in line with our well established policies.
“Saturday was a fantastic event for the club and our fans worldwide. We thank the overwhelming majority of our supporters for the positive backing they gave to the team and for making this such a great occasion.”
The Celtic fans who hung effigies of Rangers supporters from the stands at Parkhead on Saturday have been widely condemned by both Celtic and Rangers fans as it took place on Worldwide Suicide Prevention Day.
The Club 1872 statement read: “Club 1872 has reviewed pictorial and video evidence of the disgusting behaviour of sections of the Celtic support during the Old Firm game on Saturday.
“In light of this, we have today written to the Rangers board requesting that they ban Celtic supporters from Ibrox until Celtic can prove that they have taken substantive action against the Green Brigade and other overtly sectarian elements within their support.
“The Green Brigade has been cultivated, encouraged and rewarded by Peter Lawwell and the Celtic board for many years. So much so that at the beginning of this year they received their own standing section within Celtic Park. This is despite regular displays in support of active terrorist groups, anti-semitic displays and sectarian displays.
“At the Old Firm game on Saturday the Green Brigade displayed sectarian banners which read ‘Kill All Huns’ and ‘Know Your Place Hun Scum’. They also displayed banners in support of the IRA. This follows on from similar banners at last year’s Scottish Cup semi-final.
“They were joined by other Celtic supporters, in a separate part of the ground, who hung effigies of Rangers supporters with their hands tied behind their backs and ropes around their necks.
Read more: Rangers fans urged to give Senderos time after his calamitous Old Firm debut
“These displays were disgusting, threatening, sectarian and criminal. The groups responsible are easily identifiable if the will is there to do so. The reaction of both Celtic and Police Scot-land has so far been pitiful.
“They have been joined in inaction by the Scottish government, media commentators and anti-sectarian campaigners who are conspicuous by their absence. It would appear sound bites are only of value when those on the receiving end of offensive behaviour wear green.
“It is bad enough that our travelling support is subjected to such behaviour but it is another thing entirely to invite it into our own stadium.
“We believe the Rangers board has a duty to ensure that these groups of Celtic supporters are not permitted entry into our home under any circumstances. Since we do not expect any action from Celtic, the only way to ensure this is to ban all of their supporters from Ibrox.
“We would also remind our own supporters that damage to the toilets at Celtic Park will only see a financial penalty for our own club. The fact that this also happens at every Old Firm game at Ibrox is no excuse. Supporters should remember that in everything they do they rep-resent Rangers and should act accordingly.”
Rangers fans also sang the Billy Boys during the Old Firm game at Parkhead on Saturday.
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