BLACK and foreign football players are more likely to be racially abused at Rangers and Celtic matches than when playing against almost any other clubs in Britain, according to a survey carried out on the nation's terraces.
Scotland's leading teams came second and third behind only Everton in a ''league of shame'' based on the number of racist taunts heard at football games last season.
The survey, compiled by researchers at the Sir Norman Chester centre for football study at Leicester University and to be published in full later this month, found 36% of Rangers supporters and 33% of Celtic fans admitted hearing racist abuse being directed at players during games.
Only Everton fans, who become synonymous with racism for pelting black Liverpool player John Barnes with bananas in the 1980s, admitted hearing a higher number of racist taunts, 38%.
In contrast, only one in five Manchester United fans heard racist abuse and just 16% of Arsenal fans admitted witnessing racism on the terraces.
The research casts a shadow over the name of Scots supporters who pride themselves on their good behaviour.
But the Old Firm clubs yesterday reacted to the findings and highlighted their own campaigns to fight racism.
A spokesman for Rangers Football Club said last night: ''The report from which this information has been taken and to which Rangers Football Club willingly contributed has not yet been publicly published.
''When it is, readers will learn that fans were asked to comment on whether or not they had witnessed racist behaviour at football matches, and not necessarily from amongst our own fans.
''Like everyone else in the football world we shall wait to read the full report and take whatever action is felt necessary thereafter.''
Celtic spokesman Peter McLean yesterday insisted the club took a hard line on racist supporters, and claimed the study did not neccesarily reflect badly on Celtic fans.
He said: ''The survey itself seems unclear. It doesn't state whether the racist remarks are within the team's own support or the opposition.
''Celtic has been one of, if not the most active club in Europe working against racism and encouraging social integration.''
A spokesman for the Scottish Football Association yesterday brushed aside any suggestion of a racism problem in Scottish football.
He said: ''There are multi-racial players in the ranks of the Scottish leagues and the SFA is of the opinion that racism is not a major problem in Scottish football at the moment.
''However, the association will not be complacent and will continue to monitor closely our national game.
''It is continuously striving to create an environment at football matches which is safe, orderly and free from unsociable behaviour.''
Percentage
who heard
racist abuse
Everton ................................. 38
Rangers ................................... 36
Celtic .................................. 33
West Ham ............................. 32
Newcastle .................................. 31
Blackburn .................................. 29
Sheffield Wednesday ......... 28
Leicester ................................ 27
Middlesbrough .......................... 27
Liverpool ................................. 26
Tottenham ................................ 26
Chelsea ..................................... 24
Leeds .......................................... 23
Aston Villa ............................ 22
Coventry ..................................... 21
Nottingham Forest ................. 20
Manchester United ................. 20
Arsenal ................................. 16
Southampton ............................... 16
Derby ........................................ 14
Charlton ................................. 12
Wimbledon .................................. 11
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