David Walker: Out-of-tune bigots must be silenced

In August, 1972, general manager, Willie Waddell, took to the Ibrox pitch to address the Rangers support before a League Cup tie against Clydebank.

Three months previously, the greatest night in the club’s history had been tarnished by crowd trouble following the Light Blues win over Moscow Dynamo in the European Cup-Winners’ Cup Final.

A two-year ban from UEFA competitions – later reduced to one – followed.

“The greatness of the club has been smeared all over the world by an unruly mob, who spread destruction and venom wherever they go,” said Waddell.

“It is to these tykes, hooligans, louts and drunkards that I now pinpoint my message.

“Rangers Football Club want no part of you, who spread viciousness with party songs and foul, obscene language.

“So you are warned – do not use obscene language. Do not sing provocative songs.”

Waddell had decided enough was enough.

On the same day, Celtic were at Annfield to play Stirling Albion. At half-time, manager Jock Stein felt compelled to climb into the visiting support and demand they stop singing songs that had nothing to do with football, and quite a lot to do with Irish history.

The greatest manager in the club’s history had decided enough was enough.

Two great men, at opposite ends of the Old Firm divide, but singing from the same hymn sheet.

Forty-seven years on, what has changed?

Well, thanks largely to Graeme Souness’s acquisition of Mo Johnston in 1989, Rangers’ signing policy can no longer be questioned. Catholics are signed. Some in the current side observe their religion, and openly bless themselves before going out to give 100% for the club badge.

Off the field, however, it’s a different story.

The songs being sung are still the ones that were sung in Barcelona in 1972, and now Rangers have once again fallen foul of UEFA.

Proof, if it were needed, that no matter how genuine and well-intentioned the club’s efforts have been to stamp out sectarianism – Pride Over Prejudice, Follow With Pride and the current Everyone Anyone campaign – they have fallen on deaf ears among those who don’t want to listen.

And the real worry for Rangers is that we are not talking about a tiny minority here.

UEFA’s demand that 3,000 seats remain empty for Thursday’s Europa League tie is the first proper shot across the bows sectarianism inside Ibrox has had since 1972.

And following Friday’s news from Nyon, once again the silence from the SFA and SPFL has been deafening.

Now the onus falls squarely on the Rangers support.

Any repetition this week and beyond of the repertoire that got the club into bother in the first place could have huge ramifications. UEFA could close Ibrox and demand that the next European tie is played behind closed doors.

What an embarrassment that would be for a proud Scottish institution.

As Willie Waddell put it 47 years ago, the greatness of the club would be smeared all over the world.

Again.

A football club that has been around for nearly 150 years should have a wide choice of songs that do not involve sectarianism, religion and hatred.

Rangers’ vast support has that choice.

Now is the time for their fans to sing them, and drown out those who still seem quite content to use another theme.