Rangers game marred by inappropriate chanting

RANGERS Football Club have said they are “disappointed” in fans who were involved in sectarian chanting during the team’s game against Berwick Rangers today.

Inappropriate songs were heard from a section of the travelling support during the Irn-Bru Third Division clash at Shielfield Park, the home ground of Berwick Rangers.

Superintendent Tim Smith, from Northumbria Police, said: “By and large, the fans were very well behaved, but there was a short outburst involving some sectarian chanting towards the start of the game.

“At the beginning of the game, we identified that some chanting had taken place and we have taken video evidence of that to do follow-up inquiries.

“In addition, two people have been arrested for that offence and are in custody.

“We have video evidence that will be investigated by officers from the FOCUS (Football Co-ordination Unit for Scotland) team from Strathclyde Police.”

During the match, which ended in a 3-1 win to Rangers, the Ibrox side released the following statement: “The club is disappointed by certain outbursts of inappropriate singing by a section of the support at Berwick. Our fans have been excellent this season both home and away and we do not want to see this tarnished.”

Rangers manager Ally McCoist said those involved had let themselves and the club down.

“I came off the park to be told the club have issued a statement,” he said. “I back the club’s statement 100 per cent. If there was some ­unsavoury chanting, they’ve probably let themselves down – and they’ve let us all down a little bit.

“I would be very hopeful it’s an isolated incident and we can move on.”