THEY sing about standing up if you love Rangers at Ibrox. Well, now it is time for those fans’ actions to speak louder than the words.

If you love Rangers, you won’t chant sectarian songs. If you love Rangers, you won’t knowingly harm the club, the management and the players. And if you love Rangers you won’t deprive your fellow supporter of a chance to watch the team they follow near and far.

The choice now is very simple for a section of Gers fans. You are either in or out and it is time for them to decide what really is more important - the songs or the football.

The charge from UEFA that will force Rangers to close off 3,000 seats for the Europa League play-off with Legia Warsaw this week sent shockwaves through the Light Blues’ fanbase on Friday. It had to.

A warning or a fine would have been forgotten about but drastic action should have the desired impact in getting the message through to those that continue to indulge in behaviour that leaves Rangers with a target on their back.

If it doesn’t, if the message isn’t taken on board, then worse will follow. Ibrox will be shut completely and a ban from European competition will be on the cards.

The very thought of that should embarrass and shame fans and the reputational and financial damage they could self-inflict would be huge.

Debates about the meanings behind certain words or songs are pointless right now and it doesn’t matter who filled in the paperwork that was sent to UEFA after the game with St Joseph’s last month.

Fans know what they can and cannot sing and are fully aware of the punishments. The are bang to rights, so don’t commit the crime and then complain about the ramifications of it.

This isn’t a time for whataboutery, it is a time for soul searching amongst Gers supporters.

Targeting your anger at UEFA, Football Against Racism in Europe, the media or whoever else is as nonsensical as singing these songs in the first place when you know the consequences.

Forget what other clubs sing, forget what objects they throw, what flares they light or what banners they display. Those arguments are pointless, meaningless, when Rangers as a club and a team are going to suffer because of the actions of those that care most about it.

Right now, it is all about Rangers and if this situation doesn’t change attitudes and actions then there is no hope for some of their fans.

If you want to stick two fingers up at UEFA, then good for you. But don’t do it at Ibrox. Rangers don’t need you and Dave King and his board don’t want you.

Nobody cares if you don’t like the rules, you don’t have a choice but to play by them right now.

There is a time and a place for a proper, wide-ranging conversation about what is and isn’t offensive and what can or should be punished.

In a Scottish sense, the issues are far more complex than just shutting a stand or docking points because of a song that may offend and the action taken against Rangers shouldn't be seen as a step towards Strict Liability here.

Sectarianism is more nuanced and complicated than silencing a couple of songs in the stands.

But that is a separate issue to the situation Rangers find themselves in and that is all down to common sense and decency right now.

You can’t sing about hating Fenian b****** or being up to your knees in Fenian blood and The Billy Boys has to be binned. As do any references to the Pope or the IRA.

And songs like 'Flute for 50p' and the ‘We hate Catholics’ chant to a Tiffany soundtrack should send a shiver down the spine of any fan when they get an airing in public.

Fans seemingly never stop to think what message they are sending out, what image they are portraying of themselves and their support, when they fill the air at Scottish grounds or in foreign city centres with chants that have nothing to do with the team they follow follow.

It would be wrong to label every man, woman or child that belts out these lines a bigot or a racist. Indeed, many will live, work and socialise with people of all faiths, colours, religions and backgrounds.

But anyone who continues to indulge in this kind of stuff when they are there to support their team should be taking a long, hard look at themselves right now, and be shouted down by others around them if necessary.

Sing about the great players of yesteryear or encourage the stars of today. Celebrate your club’s illustrious history and inspire successes of tomorrow.

Just hours after Steven Gerrard had issued a rallying cry to supporters on Thursday night, he had to once again had to address the behaviour of that very fanbase.

What if there came a point where he couldn’t be bothered with the negative headlines, reputational damage and sporting implications?

What if he decided to head back down the road and leave all of this behind? Where would that position Rangers in the eyes of the world, both in and out of the game?

Gerrard has often spoken of the impact the Gers fans can have on his players but his side will now take on Legia with their 12th man having shot themselves in the foot.

The 39-year-old gave his support to the ‘Everyone Anyone’ campaign that was launched last month and Rangers will continue to do what they can to change attitudes and behaviours within Ibrox whilst playing their part to achieve similar aims in Scottish society.

The message from ‘Everyone Anyone’ could not have been clearer and the excellent work behind it, and that will come from it, won’t be in vain in years to come.

Rangers fans have too often been at the centre of the sectarianism debate. Now they can lead from the front and clean up their act.

Listen to your board, your manager and your fellow fan. It’s time to show you love Rangers.