Gordon Smith: We have to treat sectarianism the same as drink-driving

The sort of sectarian abuse suffered by Steve Clarke is nothing new.

In my time as SFA Chief Executive between 2007-10, it was an issue we fought hard to get to grips with.

I was at Celtic Park when it felt like the whole of the stadium was chanting a very similar song towards Walter Smith, then the Rangers manager.

And I was present when Tommy Burns, Neil Lennon and Martin O’Neill were similarly targeted at Ibrox.

I have also received it personally due to my connections with Rangers, as a player and the club’s Director of Football.

So, despite the feeling in certain sections of the SFA that we could be opening a bit of a can of worms if we tackled sectarianism, we pressed on and held discussions, both with the Old Firm and the authorities.

My feeling then, as it is now, is that there was a need for strict liability.

Rangers and Celtic had to be held accountable for the actions of their supporters inside grounds.

But we were dissuaded on two fronts.

The clubs convinced us they were working extremely hard to deal with the problems themselves.

Secondly, there was the promise of legislation to come from the Scottish Parliament.

That legislation was the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act, passed in 2011.

Designed to clamp down on sectarian behaviour in and around football grounds, it proved hugely controversial and, indeed, was repealed last year.

It has come and gone – yet the problem remains.

We had the chanting at Steve Clarke at Ibrox , and just days earlier, Kris Boyd suffered sectarian abuse – and was struck by a coin – when Celtic visited Rugby Park.

For anyone to be treated that way is completely unacceptable.

We have seen the football associations on both sides of the border crack down on racist abuse.

The same approach has to be adopted for slurs based on a person’s religion.

The big question, of course, is how do we put a stop it?

For me, the crucial point is that in order to change the attitude of fans, we need to first change the behaviour of fans.

Think about the country’s experience with drink-driving.

In years gone by, people would think nothing of seeing someone go behind the wheel after having had a couple of drinks – or more.

Now that is not tolerated.

So, similarly, we must put in place legislation that makes clear supporters’ sectarian behaviour is hurting their club.

That means stripping points.

Taking this action would be hugely unpopular with the clubs.

They will argue there is only so much they can do as it is very hard to identify exactly which fans are committing offences.

I don’t accept that.

These days, where clubs have CCTV and the means to identify culprits via their ticket, it should be possible to round up the guilty parties.

The root of the problem football has with sectarian singing are large, influential fan groups, within which the singing is led by a few individuals.

They pick the chant, and others follow their lead.

I am convinced this leads to what some describe as 90-minute-bigot syndrome, where you get people – who wouldn’t dream of abusing others in their normal walk of life – are happy to do so when they are at the football.

Take away the dodgy party songs, and they would be just as happy to watch the games without it.

Go a few years without hearing it, and I think many of them would find it out of order if they chanced upon it again.

True, it is part of Scottish culture, especially on the west coast – but that is no excuse.

We are a small nation.

Steve Clarke’s reaction to his treatment at Ibrox made the news being beamed out of London, which was embarrassing.

Is that how we want people from outside Scotland to view us?

It shames the Scottish game to hear our managers feel they have to speak out on the issue.

But having heard Clarke so vocal at Ibrox, it is surprising he didn’t say more after the Celtic match.

In the end, though, we all have individual responsibility for how we behave.

Both when I was a Rangers player, and any time it happens now, I have never responded to sectarian abuse – and for one single reason.

Abuse does not demean those on the receiving end.

It demeans those who deliver it.