THE SECTARIAN and racist behaviour of some Scottish football fans was raised yesterday in the European Parliament by Eoin Ryan, a Fianna Fáil MEP, who said he had written to the eight Scottish MEPs seeking their support in stamping this out.
Mr Ryan raised the issue on the order of business as the parliament began its November session and he told MEPs it was very important that immediate action be taken to stop sectarian abuse.
In his letter to Scottish colleagues he said the so-called "Famine Song" and chants targeting Irish people and people of Irish descent were being heard with increasing frequency at recent SPL matches.
Outlining what had been done by Irish politicians and diplomats on the abuse of one player in particular, Jamie McCarthy, he said the Scottish Football Association was making great efforts to curb "unacceptable songs and chants".
"That this young, talented football player, at 17, is being subjected to this level of abuse and hatred is unacceptable. That this song and sectarian chants continue to be heard from the terraces is something that should not be tolerated and immediate action should be taken," his letter stated.
"Sports should provide a healthy, non-racist and non-sectarian environment for all fans and players, and I believe as MEPs we have a responsibility to bring some influence to bear on the Scottish authorities to act immediately to stamp out this abuse."
