I NOTE with interest the indignation surrounding footballer Leigh Griffiths's recent ignorant and inappropriate comment and am concerned about the hypocritical level of response ("Police probe player over racist tweet", The Herald, January 12).
I contrast this with the continuing sounds of silence and apparent apathy towards sectarianism in this country. I recently attended the Queen's Park v Rangers game at Hampden. The 90 minutes were continuously interspersed with sectarian bile.
In 2012 the Scottish Government introduced the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill, which I understand was introduced to tackle this sort of behaviour. I am still waiting for a reply from Strathclyde Police in answer to my questioning why there were not numerous arrests during and after the game as a result of the offences committed in a public arena. Are our institutions acquiescing by their lack of response to this ongoing problem and enforcing the thinking that Scotland is institutionally sectarian?
Sectarianism is no less and no more acceptable than racism. I would hope to see the same vigour in pursuing both evils.
Alan Gray,
44 Springfield, West Barns, Edinburgh.
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