RANGERS fans sparked controversy at their game against Hamilton by displaying a banner seemingly mocking the Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke who spoke out about sectarian abuse.
Ahead of the match, a section of away supporters unveiled the banner which read: “Get well soon Steve Clarke.”
Clarke had spoken out following his club’s defeat to Rangers during the William Hill Scottish Cup fifth round replay on Wednesday night, saying he had been subjected to chants of “sad Fenian b******”.
Clarke said the abuse he suffered belonged “in the Dark Ages” and insisted he had to speak out as the only way to beat bigotry is to highlight the issue.
He also revealed that when Rangers approached him with a view to appointing him manager late in 2017, the issue of sectarianism was raised by him at the meeting.
Clarke admitted that by being so vocal about the bigoted chants he would attract more unwanted attention, but was adamant that speaking out was the right thing for him to do.
He said: "I have brought a lot more pressure and spotlight on myself now, and I have to live with that. But hopefully we can find a way to make it better. Will it ever go away? Probably not. But if we don't address the issue, it will certainly get worse.
"All these problems are in society and manifest themselves through football because it's such a popular game. But if we don't address it through the clubs, the problem will always be there.
"If we try to eradicate it in football, maybe we can help make it less in society. Will we ever eradicate it? I'm not so sure. But hopefully we can. If we can get it out of football, it would be a start. Maybe through football, we can help lessen it in society."
The banner controversy comes in the wake of a strong statement from Ibrox chairman, Dave King, who apologised to Clarke and criticised fans responsible for the sectarian abuse.
Speaking on behalf of Rangers, King said: “Myself and every single person at the Rangers Football Club abhors the sectarian element that continues to be so prevalent in Scottish football.
"We will continue to do everything we can at our club to root sectarianism out and to deal in the strongest manner possible with any individuals that are found to have engaged in such practices.
"We are also deeply distressed that Steve Clarke has been subjected to this unwarranted abuse and, on behalf of myself and the club, I offer our most sincere apology and hope that it does not deflect him from the wonderful job he has done at Kilmarnock.”
And Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers also voiced his support for Clarke, saying sectarianism could drive managers out of Scottish football.
Kilmarnock striker Kris Boyd criticised Celtic fans earlier in February when he was hit by a coin and subjected to what he considered sectarian abuse at Rugby Park.
"The shouts and abuse I can handle as a bit of banter," Boyd, 35, said on Instagram. "Getting hit with a coin, though, is a step too far."
At Saturday's Livingston v Kilmarnock game, which Livingston won 1-0, a section of Kilmarnock fans displayed a banner with a photograph of Steve Clarke saying: "Now we have a leader."
After the match, Rangers manager Steven Gerrard said: "For me, at the risk of repeating myself, we don’t want to hear that or see anything.
"I was quite clear in my press conference last week. There is no place for it. We want it to stop.”
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