BBC Scotland on mute as The Famine Song returns

BBC Scotland have decided not to cover the endorsement of The Famine Song and the social media reaction to the latest support for racism from inside Ibrox.

Nil By Mouth expressed their disbelief that a significant Scottish club should provide a dog-whistle to a song that has led to arrests in the last six weeks as racist chanting was heard through Glasgow city centre.

The National seems to be the only publisher prepared to cover the preferred backing track for the launch of the latest football kit from Ibrox. Other publishers make decisions on commercial grounds but BBC Scotland has a wider remit and the resources to provide far deeper coverage of events.

The club was accused of ‘calling for action on racism one week then blowing the dog whistle for bigotry the next’https://t.co/N1haYWK9NQ

— The National (@ScotNational) October 15, 2021

Less surprisingly there was no comment from the SFA, SPFL or Show Racism The Red Card (Scotland) to the endorsement of The Famine Song.

Those three bodies are all known for their lack of action relating to events at Ibrox, while UEFA has twice forced closures of part of Ibrox due to racist incidents no action has ever been taken by the Scottish football authorities.

1/3 The laudable mission statement from Rangers ‘Everyone, Anyone’ campaign. The question the club has to answer today: does using the tune to what has sadly become in Scotland ‘The Famine Song’ on an official video live up to a single letter of it? pic.twitter.com/JLek612lCz

— Nil By Mouth (@NBMScotland) October 15, 2021

To Rangers fans getting in touch – we know that this tune used with other songs that aren’t offensive. But we also know that last month arrests made in Glasgow as a large group chanted the criminal version – with club banning people charged. That’s why it’s the wrong choice now.

— Nil By Mouth (@NBMScotland) October 15, 2021