City football fans 'guilty of bigotry'

an Edinburgh University academic has warned that bigotry affects Hearts and Hibs as well as the Old Firm.

Dr John Kelly, an expert in sport and sectarianism, said he heard offensive chants sung by supporters of both clubs at the weekend derby at Easter Road.

Twenty fans were thrown out of the ground for unruly behaviour and another three were arrested for alleged drunkenness and encroaching onto the pitch.

Dr Kelly, who says he has no affiliation to either team, said: "The latest Hibs-Hearts derby exposed the bigoted, intolerant and inflammatory behaviour of some Edinburgh fans that seems to have escaped scrutiny from the police and media alike."

Derek Watson, chairman of the Hearts Supporters Trust, said he agreed to some extent with Dr Kelly, but religious bigotry at derby games was "a lot less than it used to be".

A Hibs spokeswoman said any supporters who indulged in unacceptable conduct would be banned from Easter Road and denied tickets for away games.