Celtic chairman John Reid yesterday condemned as “racist” one of the songs chanted by Rangers fans at the recent Old Firm derby.
Mr Reid, who also warned he would not tolerate offensive chanting by his own club’s supporters, has written to Hoops fans about the controversy which erupted after last month’s clash.
Celtic fans contacted the club to complain about the Famine song sung by Rangers supporters during their 4-2 victory at Parkhead on August 31.
The Ibrox club has since asked their fans to stop singing the song which refers to the famine which killed an estimated one million people in the 1840s and began the migration of Irish people.
It includes the line: “The famine’s over, why don’t you go home?”
Rangers also sought guidance from Strathclyde Police on the matter with a view to making singing the song an arrestable offence, although the Rangers Supporters Trust defended the chant, saying it was not racist, and no worse than any other football song.
Former Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Reid has now sought to clarify Celtic’s position, saying he had “no hesitation” in condemning the song as “racist and deeply offensive”.
He said: “As both Rangers Football Club and Strathclyde Police have stated, the content of the song – which is directed against the community of Irish descent in Scotland – is in breach of race relations legislation and exposes its perpetrators to the risk of prosecution.
“The Irish Famine was a human tragedy of immense proportions. It is one of the few such events for which the British Government has expressed specific regret for its share of responsibility.
“Few of those who sing this song will have stopped to think that famine is non-sectarian and the millions of people who died or were forced into mass emigration – some of them to Scotland – were from all faiths and traditions within Ireland.
“We should condemn racism and sectarianism wherever they arise. That is an essential part of Celtic Football Club’s ethos.”
Mr Reid added: “In condemning the actions of others, Celtic must always be vigilant with regard to our own conduct and reputation.”
The aftermath of the derby saw Irish diplomats raise concerns with the Scottish Government over fans’ chanting.
It is understood a Celtic supporter complained to the Irish embassy in London, with the matter referred to the Irish consul in Edinburgh.
That was followed by the Northern Ireland sports minister saying he was unlikely to accept an invitation to Parkhead after pro-IRA chanting by Celtic fans.