UEFA tolerates Scotland's shame

ANY prospect of the European football authorities eradicating bigotry from Scottish football was lost last night when UEFA passed the buck to the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Executive, describing sectarian singing and chanting as a Scottish social problem.

In a statement outlining the reasons behind its Control and Disciplinary Body's decision on Wednesday to find Rangers supporters not guilty of alleged discriminatory chants at both legs of the Champions League tie against Villarreal, UEFA revealed it felt unable to take action over what it considers to be a historical issue in Scotland.

Observing that neither the SFA nor various governments down the years have successfully addressed the issue, the body took the view that UEFA "cannot demand an end to behaviour which has been tolerated for years".

The judgment was condemned by anti-sectarianism organisation Nil By Mouth, which described the verdict as "a shaming judgment for the whole of Scotland".

The UEFA statement said that it was the song "Billy Boys" which formed the basis of the charge brought against Rangers by one of the UEFA disciplinary inspectors and which was instigated by UEFA disciplinary services manager Peter Limacher last month. Throughout the statement, however, the song is referred to as "Billy Boy" which is perhaps an indication of the general bemusement felt by the body in being asked to consider a peculiarly Scottish problem. It was later changed to "Billy Boys".

After studying the evidence brought in the charge, as well as the weighty document lodged by Rangers in their defence, the body concluded that "supporters have been singing the song 'Billy Boys' for years ... without either the Scottish football or governmental authorities being able to intervene. This result is that this song is now somehow tolerated."

The body decided that, despite the singing of the song by their supporters, Rangers had not infringed Article 5 of UEFA's disciplinary regulations and could not be punished according to Article 6. Article 5 details 'principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship' demanded of UEFA member associations and clubs. One breach of those principles is considered to be conduct which "is racist, discriminatory, politically extremist, insulting or of any other nature as to violate the basic rules of conduct."

Article 6, under which Rangers would have been punished if found guilty, states that "...clubs are responsible for the conduct of their players, officials, members, supporters and any other persons exercising a function at a match at the request of the association or club."

While Rangers were initially relieved and delighted by the not guilty verdict handed down by the body, there was concern among senior Ibrox management last night that UEFA's subsequent reasoning for the judgment will be interpreted by some of the club's supporters as approval of the continued singing of songs such as "Billy Boys" at matches.

David Murray, the Rangers chairman, has been clear in his determination to completely stamp out all such songs. In March last year, he said: "There is simply no place any longer for the FTP [F*** the Pope] brigade and those that would have us wading through Fenian blood." It is the latter sentiment which features in "Billy Boys", a song which has its roots in 1920s gang warfare in Glasgow between Protestant and Catholic gangs in the Bridgeton area of the city.

In his immediate reaction to UEFA's not guilty verdict on Wednesday night, Murray took the opportunity to further condemn those among the Rangers support who continue to indulge in any form of sectarian singing or chanting, referring to them as "90-minute bigots". He called on other Rangers supporters to exert peer pressure on those who persist in sectarian behaviour, adding that "these fans now have to be totally committed to move forward, or the social, and possibly financial, implications for Rangers Football Club could be severe."

In a brief response to UEFA's statement, Rangers were at pains not to view it in any way as condoning their supporters singing "Billy Boys".

"We stand by the very strong statement made by Rangers chairman David Murray on Wednesday," read the statement.

Murray will anxiously await the reaction of the Rangers supporters at Ibrox tomorrow when Alex McLeish's team face Aberdeen in the Premierleague.

There is no doubt that European football's governing body has opted to pass responsibility over an issue it finds difficult to comprehend, far less legislate upon. UEFA will now look to the SFA and Scottish Executive to take action domestically against sectarianism in football before it feels able to impose any punishment for alleged offences in future European ties.

David Taylor, the chief executive of the SFA, revealed last month that his organisation is currently working with the Scottish Executive on an Action Plan for Sectarianism within Scottish football which he pledged would be produced before the end of 2006.

Jack McConnell, Scotland's First Minister, has also committed himself to addressing an issue he describes as "Scotland's secret shame".

Nil By Mouth slammed UEFA's explanation of why it found Rangers not guilty. A spokesman for the group said: "This is a shaming judgment for the whole of Scotland.

"What UEFA have said is that they can't take action against Rangers because sectarian chanting and singing has been tolerated in Scotland for years. This is bizarre and outrageous.

"The overwhelming majority of people in Scotland, including the chairman of Rangers, think it is completely unacceptable to sing songs about being 'up to our knees in Fenian blood'.

"Now that UEFA have washed their hands of the problem it is now up to the SFA to make their position clear to all football clubs in Scotland."