Lennon: 'We can't cure sectarianism'

• Neil Lennon: 'I was at the heart of it for five or six years' Picture: PA

Despite efforts by both Celtic and Rangers to stamp out bigotry, sectarianism may be "incurable", with firm action the only hope of tackling it, he said.

His comments came as an anti-racism group, which has raised fresh accusations of sectarian singing by Rangers fans, defended itself against claims that it was targeting the club.

Lennon said he believed the problem lay outside the stadiums. He said: "It starts in the home. It's passed down from generation to generation.

"You would like to think that in ten or 15 years' time we won't have all this. But I'm ten years down the line and we're still talking about it.

"It's not a football issue, really. It's brought to the grounds, but it's nothing to do with what we deal with on a day-to-day basis."

A Northern Irish Catholic who has been the victim of a sustained campaign of sectarian abuse and threats during his time with Celtic as both a player and manager, Lennon added that he felt both Old Firm sides had done their best to tackle the problem on the terraces.

Leader: 'Incurable' no excuse for football sectarianism

Speaking at the club's training ground ahead of a weekend clash with Aberdeen, Lennon added: "I don't know if there's a lot more that the clubs can really do about it. Someone said recently that it's incurable - and it might just be that, in some instances.

"It's got to come from the home, first, more than anything to do with the schools or clubs.

"I was at the heart of it for five or six years, Martin O'Neill (former Celtic manager] made a point of it. But that's six years ago and we're still talking about it.

"I don't know if closing grounds will help. I don't think so. It might for maybe a short period of time, until the tensions start to rise again."

Asked about being the victim of sectarianism, Lennon continued: "Yeah, I have been. I'm not looking for any sympathy, though.

"I'm a football manager. Some of the things that get said to you at grounds are distasteful. I'm pretty much immune to it now. I'm not saying it's right, though; it's wrong. Unless people really take a heavy-handed approach to it, it's going to continue."

Lennon's comments come at the end of another torrid week for Scottish football and follow the news that Rangers could be forced to play two home European matches behind closed doors after a new accusation of sectarian chanting from its fans was made to Uefa, the game's ruling body in Europe.

The club is already facing disciplinary action over earlier claims of sectarian behaviour.

Yesterday, Football Against Racism in Europe (Fare) hit back at a claim by Rangers' chief executive, Martin Bain, that the club was the victim of a "deliberate and sustained campaign" by the pressure group.

Piara Powar, executive director of the Fare network, an umbrella body for anti-racism groups across Europe, said: "The Fare network is focused only on our core mission of tackling discrimination in football and encouraging social inclusion through the game. We have no axe to grind with any club."

Rangers were already facing a two-match away ban for a previous charge of sectarian signing in the first leg of a Europa League last-16 match, against PSV in Eindhoven on 10 March.

The latest complaint was made following the return leg at Ibrox on 17 March. A successful prosecution by Uefa could cost Rangers 1.5 million in lost ticket sales, and the club is seeking an urgent meeting with Uefa.

Mr Powar said Fare had submitted separate observer reports to Uefa following each of the Rangers marches.

He added: "The reports were gathered as part of an ongoing monitoring programme undertaken by partners of the network, in this case prompted by concerns at sectarian singing at previous Rangers matches."

However, Mr Bain said Fare's motivation had been questionable, because a Uefa delegate who had also attended the Ibrox game had submitted a positive report on fan behaviour.

"We have never said that sectarian singing is not a problem, but this now has all the hallmarks of a deliberate and sustained campaign," he said.

A spokeswoman for Uefa said it was not unusual to consider independent complaints, and not just from anti-racism groups.

She said: "However, just because a disciplinary case has been opened, it doesn't mean that Rangers will put under any disciplinary sanction."

The Rangers Supporters Trust last night backed Fare's core mission of tackling discrimination in football - but has demanded to see evidence that Rangers are not the only club being targeted.

The outstanding fact is that sectarian chanting and singing by football fans is indefensible; it sullies the reputation of clubs and besmirches the reputation of Scottish football. Page 30