By Graham Barnstaple
November 18 2011

Rangers Supporters Trust have issues a statement based on Scottish Government report and use it to claim Scotland isn’t a Sectarian Hotspot.

Their statement says, “The Rangers Supporters Trust welcomes the wealth of detail in the latest “sectarian crime” figures - these prove that violent sectarianism is almost nonexistent in Scottish football or in wider society.”

This is based upon the stats that show there were 693 sectarian charges (mainly minor) compared to 4000 for knife crime. I would suggest that the fact there are 693 charges is not something to be proud of! It should be argued this is 693 too many!

They also claim that “violent sectarianism in almost non-existent”, again I would suggest this should not need the work almost to be seen as successful. It also ignores the amount of non-violent sectarianism we are surrounded with at football on a regular basis.

The Old Firm have both been reported to UEFA for songs, chants etc that are plain wrong in the 21^st Century, but this reaction from RST would seem to lead you to believe there is no problem inScotland.

As I said in the introduction I think they need to get their head out of the sand and admit there are issues. The packages sent to Neil Lennon, Paddy McCourt etc, the murder in Ayrshire all prove we have a long way to go.

This would appear to me to be one issue the RST should have been better keeping quiet about and should continue to work with RFC to improve the atmosphere at Rangers games home and away. When that is complete, then tell us there are no problems inScotland.

This is almost up there with Sepp Blatter claiming there is no Racism in football.