Rangers' fate over 'Famine Song' in balance as SPL reserves judgment

THE Scottish Premier League has played down suggestions it is poised to take action against Rangers for alleged sectarian chanting by some of their supporters during last Sunday's Old Firm fixture at Celtic Park.

It is understood that SPL match delegate Alan Dick will mention instances of songs and chants, including the controversial 'Famine Song', in his official report on the game which is expected to arrive at the governing body's Hampden offices today.

Dick, the former Motherwell and Partick Thistle secretary, previously reported Rangers supporters to the SPL for sectarian chants during the match against Inverness at the Caledonian Stadium in August 2007.

On that occasion, no disciplinary proceedings were raised by the SPL board following an investigation which noted the "extensive steps" taken by Rangers in campaigning against the element of its support engaging in discriminatory chanting or singing.

Rangers were also informed that a further occurrence of unacceptable conduct on the part of its fans "may lead to a reference to an SPL Commission and the risk of sanctions against the club."

Possible punishments include a fine or even the docking of points, but the SPL last night remained determined not to prejudice their own disciplinary procedure.

"This is all hearsay at the moment," said an SPL spokesman. "We have not seen the match delegate's report which we would expect to receive in the next 24 hours.

"As with a delegate's report from any of our fixtures, if there is an issue with crowd behaviour highlighted, then we will cross-check the details with the police in charge of the match and also speak to the clubs involved.

"We would then write to the clubs for further information before putting it to our board to consider whether there has been a breach of SPL rules."

Rangers made no comment last night, but the Rangers Supporters' Trust reacted indignantly to the latest controversy and claimed the Ibrox club are being singled out unreasonably for attention.

"While it is difficult to comment until we've seen the report, we are looking forward to an even-handed and consistent approach to the application of this legislation," said their spokesman David Edgar.

"We find it hard to believe that Rangers fans are the only fans in the country who have ever sung an offensive song, yet we are the only ones who have been reported under the rules.

"There were instances of distasteful chanting coming from both ends on Sunday but, yet again, the focus is only on one set of fans. It therefore becomes very difficult for the supporters to understand what is going on.

"Are the rules genuinely in place to eradicate offensive chanting or simply to punish Rangers? What about Aberdeen fans singing about the Ibrox disaster or Celtic fans singing about Nacho Novo and the IRA?

"We are committed to ridding Scottish football of all genuinely offensive chanting and Rangers fans have responded magnificently over the last couple of years. However, we are left with wondering if this is a rule for all the SPL clubs or a rule simply for Rangers."