“In Scotland, there is no punishment if clubs prove they did everything possible to prevent offensive behaviour.”
It’s unlikely that football authorities will ever totally banish sectarianism from Scotland’s No 1 sport.
That doesn’t mean they should stop trying. The powers-that-be must keep chipping away, otherwise this bane on the game will only escalate.
Unfortunately, sectarianism has been with us for as long as I can remember.
Even Old Firm giants of the past, Jock Stein and Willie Waddell, tried but failed to stop the offensive singing and chanting.
On the opening day of season 1972-73, both managers took unprecedented steps to try and force fans to see sense.
Celtic boss Stein actually took to the terracings of Stirling Albion’s old ground, Annfield, such was his anger at sectarian singing coming from a section of the travelling support.
“These wreckers are chanting about things that have nothing to do with football,” Stein said after jumping into the crowd to lecture them.
The same day, Rangers boss Waddell addressed the fans from the Ibrox pitch by microphone after the European Cup-Winners’ Cup had been paraded and the players had received their medals.
Rangers had defeated Moscow Dynamo in Barcelona a few months earlier, but a pitch invasion at the Nou Camp meant the trophy was presented out of sight.
Waddell blasted: “The greatness of this club has been smeared all over the world by an unruly mob, who spread destruction and venom wherever they go.
“It’s to these tykes, hooligans, louts and drunkards, who have no respect for society, that I pinpoint my message.
“It’s a declaration of war by Rangers. With the support of the police, we will do everything possible to clean up the morass you are spreading.
“So you are warned. Do not bring alcohol into stadiums. Do not throw cans. Do not use obscene language. Do not sing provocative songs.”
So 43 years later, what’s happened?
Rangers warned supporters police would enforce a zero-tolerance approach to criminal behaviour at Falkirk on Friday night following recent sectarian incidents at Hampden and Stark’s Park.
Celtic, who still have fans guilty of singing sectarian songs, face a ninth fine in eight years from UEFA after supporters set off flares in the San Siro on Thursday night.
The big difference is that UEFA employ a strict liability policy, something the SFA couldn’t get Scottish clubs to go along with.
So under UEFA rules, clubs are punished for fans’ misbehaviour. In Scotland, there is no punishment if clubs prove they did everything possible to prevent offensive behaviour.
Back in 1972, the intervention of Stein and Waddell men who had played for their clubs and were steeped in their history had little effect.
43 years on, who can do any better?
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