Letter: Ban the bigotry

Scotland should welcome the round table meeting of all parties talking about the blight of bigotry after another Rangers-Celtic match which painted our country in a bad light (your report, 9 March).

While it is fine for the First Minister to pledge to rid Scotland of the problem, unless his government and other politicians take the ultimate decision to change their direction in encouraging separate schools for different religions, faiths and cultures, any initiatives will just be papering over the cracks.

Sectarian behaviour has to be tackled at a young age, and the only way is for all to be schooled together. Religion should be kept for the home, not the education system.

Iain J McConnell

Speedybank

Gifford, East Lothian

There is a way forward for both Celtic and Rangers. Remember the days when the police stopped people at the turnstiles and confiscated alcohol? Well, why don't both clubs make a stand and refuse entry to supporters with sectarian banners, scarves, badges and flags?

As a Rangers fan all my 47 years, and having lived out of the bubble that is Glasgow for some 28 years, my visits to Ibrox and Parkhead, and in particular immediately outside those stadiums, sicken me to the pit of my stomach.

Scottish police are present while street traders peddle sectarian hatred in the form of badges, scarves, flags and CDs. If both clubs and Strathclyde Police were willing, they would immediately take action against those people who are keeping both sets of fans in a football Stone Age.

Let's at least try to clean the game up for future generations.

J Watson

Wellington Gardens

Ripon, North Yorkshire