GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 09: (L-R) Rangers Interim Head Coach Barry Ferguson and Coaches Neil McCann and Issame Charai during a Rangers training session at the Rangers Training Centre, on April 09, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Former first team coach Issame Charai has spoken out about the ‘sectarian’ poison that is part and parcel of the matchday experience at Ibrox.
On January 29 the Moroccan who was brought up in Belgium was appointed as first team coach, less than a month later Phil Clement was sacked with Charai retained as part of Barry Ferguson’s uber-staunch management team.
During his brief stay at Ibrox UEFA imposed a two year suspension on the Copland Road Stand after racist chanting and banners were picked up during the Europa League home match against Fenerbahce.
No action has ever been taken by the Scottish authorities but after the UEFA sanction was imposed CEO Paddy Stewart made some box-ticking comments.
Charai left Ibrox in the summer to manage Westerlo, picking up on an interview from Belgium covering ‘cultural’ issues The Sun reports the former Ibrox coach saying:
I honestly underestimated that a bit. I thought, ‘Ah, that’s a bit like Antwerp-Beerschot in Scots.’ But nothing could be further from the truth. It goes way too far.
Before I even landed in Glasgow, I was politely requested not to wear anything green. Because that would have been the beginning of the end. The chants in the stadium too, I can’t repeat them here.
That sectarian stuff is also largely banned, but that doesn’t help. Four hours before the match, hundreds of people are already lining up to ask for the same autograph again or to buy a pin.
The sectarian stuff is fine as long as it is an SFA match.
Saw my first Glasgow Derby at Ipox…over 60 years ago….It was a cesspit then…and it hasn’t changed…Still in the Dark Ages.
Ibrox without sectarianism and racism is nothing.
That’s why nothing will change there – they can’t afford to alienate the vast MAJORITY of their fan base.
I read one of the first VideoCelts articles about the anti-racism group, Show Racism The Red Card (SRTRC). Though the anti-racism educational charity group didn’t challenge racism effectively in Scotland, choosing to ignore criticism of the anti-Irish Catholic “Famine Song” which people of Irish descent find offensive and sectarian. The matter was only raised when an Irish government official reported it to the authorities. Those responsible for singing that song are now supposed to be prosecuted under Scottish hate crime legislation. Anti-censorship campaigners will say it’s the Sevco fans’ right to free speech and be allowed to insult the Irish about the Great Famine if they so desire. Police Scotland make token arrests, the SFA don’t impose sanctions and it will continue on and on without being properly punished.
My late Irish grandmother from County Donegal had her own unique way of dealing with it. She attended games at Celtic Park well into her 70’s, after an old firm game she was travelling home to the Gorbals by bus. It stopped for a time at a set of traffic lights near Glasgow Cross. She sat there in her hand knitted Celtic scarf and tammie hat when a large group of passing huns started shouting abuse, giving finger gestures, spitting and banging on the windows to frighten her. She said, I just smiled out the window, clasped my Rosary beads and began praying for them! The experience didn’t bother her too much, and anyway, she was hard of hearing! God Bless her
Scottish society marches on confidently into the 17th century.
Very powerful statement John S. Says it all!
Scotland is still institutionally anti-Irish and anti-Catholic, despite some small changes for the better. The hate remains, albeit a little more hidden in general, bur still is quite horrific from many of those who support the phoenix club and in authority. My great hope is that the new regime there will bring about some change, but it has taken almost 4 centuries to get this far and we still have stupidity every July.
Did this make the Daily Record clickbait?