Linfield fans have moved quickly to distance themselves from the anti-catholic songs sung at their Challenge Cup tie at Dundee United.
The Belfast club have traditionally had close links to the clubs from Ibrox but have attempted to move on with a more inclusive attitude while clamping down on hate songs from supporters.
Saturday’s game at Tannadice was attended by only 1,967 supporters but television viewers on BBC Alba had to endure several songs that have no place in society never mind being broadcast nationwide.
Reporting on Saturday’s incident the loyalist Belfast Telegraph stated: “A number of Linfield fans have denounced supporters of Rangers for singing sectarian songs, including The Billy Boys, at a game the Belfast club were playing in Dundee at the weekend.
The strains of several contentious songs, including one mocking the late IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands, could clearly be heard as the Blues faced Dundee United in a Scottish Challenge Cup game at Tannadice on Saturday.
The match, which Linfield lost 1-0 to a goal in the last minute, was attended by less than 2,000 people and it was broadcast live on BBC Alba, which is a Scottish Gaelic language digital station.
Linfield fans who travelled to Tayside from Northern Ireland have blamed Rangers supporters for singing the controversial songs, which also included ones which are normally associated with the Glasgow club like Rule Britannia and I was born under a Union Jack.
One Linfield fan said: “It was clear from the accents that there were a lot of Rangers’ people there. No one is saying that our own supporters are angels but the club have tried to move away from the old sectarian stereotypes and songs.
“Obviously there were problems at the Celtic game in July but the supporters who came over from Belfast on Saturday were paying a lot of money to be there and they weren’t out for trouble. Many of them wouldn’t even know the words of the songs that were being sung at their end of the ground.”
Loving how Linfield are so quick to throw Rangers under the bus here and make out their fans are angels ???????? https://t.co/2LPaUQSjYf
— Brian Edmonds (@vannostrilboy) October 9, 2017
Linfield Fans Blame Sevco Fans who Blame Chelsea Fans ???????????? https://t.co/j9ces4s4Dy
— Celtic Collectibles (@CollectCelticFC) October 9, 2017
Maybe it was Chelsea fans, pretending to be Rangers fans, pretending to be Linfield fans??
— Geordie Reid (@geordreid) October 9, 2017
The club want the bigot pound but linfield fans hate them as much as the rest of Scotland.
— BhoysforLife (@888MumbaiMagic) October 9, 2017
If all Linfield club can do is criticize Rangers fans for sectarian Singing can i suggest your Fans refrain from the Same at Ibrox?
— Corby Lad (@Corby_71) October 9, 2017
A couple of random unnamed ‘fans’ aghast at Rangers? Orange Walk going Linfield fans not knowing the words? Really, really? ????
— Cossy (@C055Y) October 9, 2017
It’s unlikely that any action will be taken against Linfield who lost 1-0 to Dundee United’s Development League side.
Despite the UEFA enforced ban on The Billy Boys it is sung at almost every Sevco match without any punishment being handed out.
There has been no comment from BBC Alba or the SPFL following the match at Tannadice.