THE head of an anti-racism group that reported Rangers to the governing body of European football for singing sectarian songs is married to a Celtic fan, it emerged yesterday.
Piara Powar, executive director of Football Against Racism in Europe (Fare), an independent anti-discrimination group based in London, is married to BBC broadcaster Aasmah Mir.
The presenter, who was brought up on the outskirts of Glasgow in Bearsden and has worked on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland, has previously talked about her passion for Celtic.
Rangers chief executive Martin Bain last week became embroiled in a row with Mr Powar’s organisation after Uefa informed the Ibrox club they faced a new and second disciplinary charge from their Europa League ties against PSV Eindhoven last month.
Mr Bain said Fare had been involved in a “deliberate and targeted campaign against the club”, prompting a denial by Mr Powar. The new charge could cost the club up to £2 million and force them to play two European home ties behind closed doors next season.
There is no suggestion Mr Powar’s decision to give evidence against Rangers was influenced by his wife. However, it was reported she told one interviewer she could never support Rangers because men wearing the team colours came to her former school and handed out BNP leaflets.
Uefa will hear the disciplinary case against Rangers on April 28.
The football club is expected to use the hearing to argue that Uefa should not accept complaints from external groups and should rely on the judgements of their own match officials.
Uefa officials did not notice sectarian chanting but charges were made after the match, when a complaint was made against Rangers. Simon Lesley, board member of Rangers Supporters Trust, said: “We’re in no doubt there is a witch hunt against us.
“Fans of several clubs in Europe engage in racist behaviour but we are the only club targeted. We are asking for a fair crack of the whip. If our fans cause bother, Rangers supporters will try to eradicate it.
“We’ve been working hard to cut offensive chanting but no matter what we do, we keep on getting hammered.”
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