Rangers chairman Dave King has issued a statement apologising to Steve Clarke
Friday 22 February 2019 13:25, UK
Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke has called on everyone to get together to eradicate sectarianism from society and football.
Clarke and club captain Kris Boyd were allegedly targeted with sectarian abuse in separate incidents within a week and the Kilmarnock boss spoke out about the problems he feels still exist in Scottish football.
Clarke claims he was subjected to sectarian abuse during his side's Scottish Cup fifth-round replay against Rangers at Ibrox, and on Sunday, Boyd was struck by a coin and allegedly subjected to sectarian abuse during the Scottish Premiership match against Celtic.
When asked at a press conference if anything can be done to deal with the issue of sectarianism, he said: "I think things can be done, [whether] they will be done is probably more difficult to address.
"I'm not a policeman or a politician, I'm a football manager. I've worked in football for pretty much all my adult life.
"It's not nice. If you take the issue of racism there have been advances, but you see in recent times there are still instances, still occasions when it comes out.
"There have been advances in the society here in Scotland.
"When I was a player at St Mirren back in 1984-86, Rangers didn't sign Catholic players. There was an enquiry when Graeme Souness took over about me going to Rangers. I remember the manager at the time, Alex Smith said 'you can't do that son'.
"It's wasn't because of any racism or sectarianism from Alex, he was just protecting me.
"Not long afterwards, Maurice Johnston went there as the first headline Catholic to sign for Rangers. Obviously there have been massive advances.
"When I mentioned the other night about Rangers' approach [to take over as manager] it was one of the issues we discussed because of me being from the west coast. Rangers assured me that they as a club had addressed it and were trying to address it, and it wasn't an issue anymore.
"But I think when you see what happened to me the other night, what happened to Kris on Sunday, it's still an issue.
"The man (Kris Boyd) sitting next to me is a braver man than me because he lives in this part of the world and is willing to sit beside me and support. We support each other. At Kilmarnock we are all inclusive, there are no divides.
"I could have brought Youssouf Mulumbu up here, a black Muslim. We have no divides here and that is what we would like for every club in Scotland, for every part of this country. But we don't have that at this moment in time.
"What I spoke about my children was correct, it's what I feel. I'm so happy they don't have to understand or live with this.
"I've had so many messages of support from people in England saying they saw me on the telly and hope I'm okay, but wondering what was the reason. They don't understand what we're talking about up here. That's a sad reflection on us as a society."
Former Rangers striker Boyd claims dealing with sectarianism is "part and parcel of being an Old Firm player", and that education is the only way to deal with the problem.
He said: "I don't know any different. The manager has moved away and lived another life, and then come back. I've not. I had a two-year spell out of the country [in Turkey and the MLS] but I was back more or less every month.
"It's part and parcel of being an Old Firm player. I can't sit here and have any problem with, to an extent, Rangers and Celtic because it's why you get paid what you're paid. I've had a good life off the back of it.
"I'm not saying it's right but there's a price to pay when you play with the Old Firm. I'm used to the chants, maybe because it happens so often. It's water off a duck's back but does it make it right? No. My issue was that things went a step too far and when there are coins or objects thrown at people, there's a problem and it needs to be addressed.
"We will wait until something serious happens and then act on it. We have an opportunity right now to act on it. So why don't we?
"It's not just people who go to football games - there is a wider range of society that needs educating.
"There is an education part that is missing because you are not born a bigot or racist. It's taught."
Rangers chairman Dave King issued a statement on Friday apologising to Clarke, saying: "Myself and every single person at Rangers Football club abhors the sectarian element that continues to be so prevalent in Scottish football.
"We will continue to do everything we can at our club to root sectarianism out and to deal in the strongest manner possible with any individuals that are found to have engaged in such practices.
"We are also deeply distressed that Steve Clarke has been subjected to this unwarranted abuse and, on behalf of
myself and the club, I offer our most sincere apology and hope that it does not deflect from the wonderful job he has done at Kilmarnock.
"He is a top manager and it would be a great loss to Scottish football if incidents like this forced him away from our game."
