ZitatAlles anzeigenThurs 07 Apr 2011
Rangers To Fight UEFA Charge
RANGERS Football Club has been informed that UEFA is to take disciplinary action against the Club following allegations of sectarian singing by supporters during the recent Europa League away game against PSV Eindhoven on Thursday, 10 March.
The Club is to face a disciplinary hearing in Switzerland later this month.
Rangers Chief Executive Martin Bain commented: "We are utterly dismayed to be informed by UEFA that it is to take disciplinary action against the Club. We will defend the Club's position vigorously at the hearing which is scheduled for later this month.
"UEFA has already made clear in previous disciplinary hearings that sanctions against Rangers have been mitigated by the extensive work the Club does to tackle sectarianism. A high ranking UEFA delegation also described our Club as exemplars of best practice in this area and only a few weeks ago the First Minister complimented us on the efforts we make as a Club.
"Our position regarding sectarian and offensive singing has been made clear time and again - we condemn it and those who indulge in it only damage the interests of the Club. We have worked closely with our supporters groups to try to deal with this issue and believe that few other clubs make as big an effort to tackle anti-social behaviour. We are not saying there is not a problem but we are saying that for many years now we have made strenuous attempts to address it.
"We do, however, believe that it is absurd to think that only Rangers supporters sing offensive or sectarian songs. That is patently not the case and we are left to conclude that there is a disproportionate focus on Rangers. It has also become clear there are people who have been determined to undermine our Club at any cost and have constantly lobbied UEFA and other organisations to take action against Rangers."
Ich habe kaum was gehört in Eindhoven, aber selbst wenn, war es nur minimal. Es ist völlig klar, was hier abgeht und es liegt an unseren Leuten der UEFA dies zu vermitteln. Es ist auch grundlegend wichtig zu sagen, wo das Problem liegt und das diese Lieder im Regelfall nur im Kontext des Fußballs, respektive Celtic, respektive gegen die IRA gesungen werden, nicht irgendwelche normalen Menschen oder gar die Iren.