Rangers fans warned over 'Famine Song'

Published on Wednesday 29 October 2008 15:25

RANGERS fans have been warned that they could face arrest if caught chanting the 'Famine Song'

Supporters were urged not to sing the song ahead of their club's match against Hamilton last night.

A message was flashed on a big screen which contained a warning from police that fans caught indulging in the chant may be arrested.

Controversy over the song flared when Celtic supporters contacted the club to complain it had been chanted by sections of the Rangers fans during their 4-2 victory at Parkhead on August 31.

The Ibrox club has since asked fans to refrain from singing the song, which refers to the famine which killed an estimated one million people in the 1840s and set in motion the mass migration of Irish people.

It includes the line: "The famine's over, why don't you go home."

A Rangers spokesman said police had approached the club before last night's game and asked that the message be passed on.

He said: "They informed us that anyone singing the Famine Song may be subject to arrest. This information was passed on to spectators."

A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said: "Strathclyde Police will work closely with clubs to eradicate any racist and or sectarian behaviour in football."

Police could not confirm last night whether any arrests had been made in connection with the match.

Rangers won the match against Hamilton 2-0, and now progress to the semi-final of the Co-operative Insurance Cup.

The aftermath of the August 31 derby saw Irish diplomats raise concerns with the Scottish government over Rangers fans' chanting.

It is understood a Celtic supporter complained to the Irish Embassy in London, with the matter referred to the Irish Consul in Edinburgh.

That was followed by the Northern Ireland sports minister saying he was unlikely to accept an invitation to Parkhead after pro-IRA chanting by Celtic fans.

DUP MP Gregory Campbell wrote to Mr Reid to complain about songs sung by Hoops fans during their September 13 game at Motherwell.

In his letter, which he penned in his capacity as MP and not sports minister, he demanded the club take more action.

And in the latest development, Celtic chairman John Reid condemned the song as "racist" and also warned he would not tolerate offensive chanting by his own club's supporters.