RANGERS fan Murdo Fraser, the Conservative list candidate for Mid Scotland and Fife, appears to have started a social media storm after tweeting that the “Queen’s XI” had won the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park.

Rangers fan Fraser Tweeted: “Rangers 5 Celtic 4 — The Queen’s 11 deliver Her Majesty the perfect birthday present.”

Twitter was soon overflowing with comments condemning Fraser, the former deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives who is standing for the Perthshire North seat at the Holyrood Parliament elections.

Comments included: “No respectable politician should write that stuff” and “Murdo I am a Rangers fan, over the moon. But c’mon Murdo ‘Queens 11’, talk about ill-thought tweets.”

Another said: “As a fellow Gers fan your tweet is both offensive & divisive, we know the Tory way is divide & conquer but you crossed a line.”

Some tweeters raised the possibility of his account being hacked. In reply, Andrew Dalgleish tweeted: “You really are going for the Unionist hard liners votes aren’t you?”

John Carnochan tweeted: “Sir, do you really believe this great sporting fixture requires to be connected to politics in this way.”

A tweet from Gary Elliot stated: “Totally inappropriate and inflammatory tweet. You should be ashamed of yourself.

SNP supporter Graeme Turner tweeted: “What a stupid tweet. I’m a Rangers fan and find that offensive. Keep politics and religion out of football.”

Fraser, the convener of Holyrood’s Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, stood against Ruth Davidson for the leadership of the Scottish Conservatives, promising that the party would be independent of the UK Conservatives.

Inverness-born Fraser, a lawyer by profession, has form in support of his favourite club. After Rangers fans rioted in Manchester at the Uefa Cup final in 2008, Fraser said the Greater Manchester force had “serious questions” to answer about its tactics.

He said: “I thought there was an over-reaction in terms of deploying riot police which possibly inflamed the situation and I think there has to be an inquiry here looking at how ready were the police for so many fans to come and visit the city.”

However, after viewing CCTV images of Rangers fans rioting, he said: “The attacks on police officers and paramedics are deplorable and have to be condemned without reservation.”

The match itself, which Rangers won on a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw after extra time, passed off relatively peacefully.

Fewer than 10 people were arrested as 50,000 spectators attended the first Old Firm clash in more than a year with thousands of fans watching in pubs and clubs across the country. Police Scotland had warned fans to be on their best behaviour, and just nine men aged between 18 and 56 were arrested at the game and will be reported to the procurator fiscal for “minor public order offences” such as breach of the peace, sectarian singing and pitch incursion.

Earlier in the week, senior officers said a “small minority who spoil the occasion for others’’ will be targeted before the game. Officers also visited known domestic abusers ahead of the game as they said history shows a rise in drink-fuelled violence around an Old Firm tie.

Rangers went into administration in 2012, owing millions to the taxman, and had to start working their way up the leagues before clinching promotion to the Premiership earlier this month.

Victorious manager Mark Warburton said: “The club has been into a dark place in the last four, five years and they’ve deserved this so hopefully they enjoy this and we move forward.”

With Rangers winning the Scottish Championship, Old Firm games will become a regular fixture in the Scottish Premiership again from next season.