Letter: Uefa own goal

A number of points can be raised in relation to the recent charges against Glasgow Rangers FC (your report, 15 April). First, making Rangers play two home games behind closed doors would be an unimaginative form of collective punishment.

The club will be hit financially by such a move, despite the fact that most people are willing to acknowledge that it has been proactive in trying to combat sectarianism.

The majority of fans who do not indulge in the singing of these songs will also be punished and the team on the park will be penalised through the loss of an energising backing from the stands.

Second, the fact that Uefa is acting at the behest of Football Against Racism in Europe complicates things considerably, particularly in relation to the issue of sectarianism in our society.

It serves to perpetuate the idea - one not without its supporters in Scotland - that sectarianism is simply the same as racism. In fact, this requires difficult intellectual and interpretive contortions.

Finally, it says little about the faith Uefa has in the match delegates it appoints.

Presumably the Northern Irish delegate at the Ibrox game was selected for some kind of perceived expertise in these issues, yet Uefa seems willing to discard his match report in favour of the opinion proffered by an outside organisation of questionable intent.

Alasdair McKillop

Comiston Road

Edinburgh