POLICE Scotland has launched a “retrospective investigation” after Rangers fans were filmed chanting about the famine ahead of a match against Celtic yesterday.
The fans were seen heading through Glasgow city centre with police alongside them while singing the chants.
The footage has been widely condemned, with Health Secretary Humza Yousaf among those saying he was “disgusted” and calling for an official probe into what happened.
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Anti-sectarianism charity Nil By Mouth’s David Scott said: “There is no celebration of football or identity here just ugly, bigoted hatred.
“This sort of garbage should be no more welcome in the 21st century as another player racially abusing Glen Kamara or morons on a supporters bus doing the same to Kyogo Furuhashi. It’s the language of the sewer.”
Now Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins has spoken out.
He said police officers “did not facilitate this event and to say so is inaccurate”.
“Officers on patrol came across this group as they were making their way through Glasgow City Centre,” he said in a statement. “Due to the numbers and to ensure public and officer safety, additional officers were called to assist and, at this point, individuals' details were noted and the group dispersed.”
An investigation into anti-Irish Catholic singing has now been launched, with a number of lines of enquiry being followed up, he said. Officers will be reviewing CCTV footage and expect a “number of arrests to be made”.
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Higgins went on: “This type of anti-Irish Catholic behaviour is wholly unacceptable. Our enquiries are ongoing to identify those who were involved and we will take the appropriate action against them. We would ask anyone who has any information that could assist our investigation to contact us.
“However, the challenges of the sectarianism still evident in some parts of Scotland are a much broader societal problem and whilst policing will have a role to play in addressing the symptoms, it’s causes are a problem which require a more effective, joined-up, civic response.”
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