HOTLINE

SADLY, it was the songs of hate and not the football which dominated the Hotline as the sectarian issue in Scotland reared its ugly head once again.

First up was Steven McCarthy, Paisley. He said: "I'd like to know why the SPL are not taking any action against Celtic for sectarian singing.

"I keep reading how they are going to clamp down on clubs this season but the Celtic fans sang IRA songs for 90 minutes at Inverness on Sunday and not a word from the SPL."

On the same subject, Peter Barber, Scotstoun, Glasgow, said: "UEFA and the SPL are quick to condemn Rangers fans for bigoted chanting but they don't appear so determined to question the Celtic support.

"There has been IRA chanting at every Celtic game this season and it could quite easily be heard during the commentary at Inverness on Sunday."

Paul Quinn, Edinburgh, said: "My seven-year-old son kept asking me what was song the Celtic fans kept singing as we watched the match together.

"How do you explain to a kid that they are actually glorifying a terrorist organisation?

"The saddest part about all this is that neither Celtic nor the SFA seem prepared to take a proper stance against this stain on football."

Derek Reid, Dollar, said: "Neil Lennon reckons he gets abuse simply because he's a Catholic. I think he's talking nonsense.

"Peter Grant got more abuse from Rangers fans and it wasn't because he was a Catholic either. They are abused because they are irritating and because they play for Celtic. It's nothing to do with religion."

John Weir, Cumnock, said: "I was reading the extracts from Lennon's book and he mentions that there is a small sectarian problem among supporters.

"Well, I think I detected it on Sunday at the Caledonian Stadium when the Soldier's Song and IRA chants could clearly be heard throughout the game. Maybe it was the Inverness fans as they've always had a terrible reputation."

Disgruntled Celtic fan Gary Malone, Maybole, said: "The job is just too big for Gordon Strachan. It always has been and always will be.

"The only reason he won the title was because he was up against possibly the worst Old Firm manager in history."

Happy Bear, Sam McGraw, Grangemouth, said: "Rangers went from sixth to first place in the space of the weekend and I think they will be unstoppable now that they have regained their confidence in front of goal."

Carol Lowrie, Glasgow, said: "Hearts representing Scotland in the Champions League is a joke.

"Even in the SPL they are little boys playing in a man's league and every time things go against them they spit out the dummy."

Jim Millar, Cumbernauld, said: "It was good to see Hearts losing with so much dignity at the weekend.

"Paul Hartley's claim that Robbie Neilson would not have been sent off if he had been a Rangers players smacked of sour grapes."

Bob Halford, Dunfermline, said: "Dunfermline have now gone 180 minutes and managed just two shots on target.

"We need some new players and a new manager. It's a pity we don't have the money for either of them."

Real good quote of the day

'It's sad that neither Celtic nor the SFA seem prepared to take a proper stance against this stain on football'

Taken from the Daily Record