Neil Doncaster has finally spoken out about the anti-catholic singing and chanting at last week’s Raith Rovers v Sevco match, broadcast live by BT Sports.
Twelve days after listening in silence to a similar song-sheet during the League Cup semi-final at Hampden it seems that the SPFL have been stung into addressing the issue.
While the English football authorities tackle incidents on public transport head on the SPFL are still hanging on the defence of clubs doing everything they can to prevent such singing.
Perhaps Doncaster can find out the last time that a club from Ibrox published anything to tell supporters that ‘The Billy Boys’ is banned.
In 2006 after appearing in the last 16 of the Champions League UEFA banned that song and instructed the SFA to do likewise. In 2011 visiting fans were banned from the Malmo v Rangers (IL) Champions League qualifier as punishment for breaking the ban.
Three days after the Starks Park fixture Doncaster announced: “We hope to have sight of the match delegate report from Friday night’s Raith Rovers v Rangers SPFL Championship match within the next 24-48 hours.
“It remains the SPFL’s position that if it can be established that clubs have done everything required in overall management of the event pre-match, during the game and post-match then they have no case to answer.
“But setting that aside, the vast majority of decent fans will share a strong degree of anger and despair that the good name of Scottish football is once again being dragged through the mud by the distasteful, shameful and selfish actions of a mindless minority who seem hell bent on indulging in outdated and offensive behaviour.
“I know that clubs, players and many others across the game share this frustration.
“While we can’t comment further until we review the match delegate report, we will work with our clubs and the police to do everything within our powers to act against those involved in such unacceptable conduct and behaviour. However ultimately we also need the supporters to play their part to help stamp out such behaviour.”
Rather than express his frustration over the issue perhaps some action could be taken to wipe out the anti-catholic chants heard on a regular basis if for no other reason than to attract a sponsor to the national league in a country where per head of population more people attend matches than any other in Europe.
On Friday night BT Sport will show Sevco’s visit to Falkirk.