Ibrox disaster ‘remarks’ prompt player suspension

A youth football team player has been suspended while allegations that offensive remarks were posted on a social networking site are investigated.

• A youth team player has been suspended by East Stirlingshire FC amid allegations of making offensive remarks about Ibrox stadium disaster

• Brett Molloy denies making remarks and claims he was victim of hacker

The move by East Stirlingshire FC, pending an internal disciplinary process, was revealed in an updated statement on the club’s website.

Under-19 player Brett Molloy denies making offensive remarks about the 1971 Ibrox disaster on Facebook. He said he is the victim of a hacker and has filed a complaint with police.

East Stirlingshire has issued an apology to Rangers supporters for the “offensive” nature of the descriptions said to have been used in social networking posts.

The club’s updated statement makes it clear that there are only allegations against the player at this stage.

“The allegations made against the player are now the subject of a police investigation. The player has been suspended by the club pending its own internal disciplinary process and there will be no further comment on the matter until these have been completed,” it said.

Chairman Tony Ford said: “I have been contacted by a number of people regarding posts made on social networking sites allegedly by one of our under-19 youth team players and I would like to thank those people for bringing this matter to my attention.”

In a statement issued through lawyers, the player said: “I have no comment to make at this time whilst club investigations and police investigations into my complaint are ongoing.”

The Ibrox disaster claimed 66 lives on January 2 1971 when fans were crushed on stairway 13 of the Glasgow stadium at the end of an Old Firm game.