Rangers urged to carry out probe into fans' racist song aimed at Hearts' Skacel

[ian1964 10,447]

Published Date: 24 January 2011

RANGERS have been urged by anti-racism chiefs to carry out a full investigation after their fans sang a racist song at Hearts star Rudi Skacel - calling him a refugee.

Czech Republic international Skacel, 31, was the target of the taunt from Gers fans as he was substituted towards the end of Hearts' 1-0 Scottish Premier League victory at Tynecastle on Saturday.

 

The chant -which Hibs frontman Derek Riordan was once caught singing on the camera of a mobile phone - repeats the phrase "Rudi Skacel is a f****** refugee" to the tune of The Beatles' song "Yellow Submarine".

 

The tune could be heard loudly as the attacking midfielder left the pitch during the televised encounter and the tasteless taunts are understood to be a reference to Skacel's Eastern European origin.

 

Ged Grebby, Chief Executive at Show Racism the Red Card, called for a full investigation to be carried out by both clubs and the SFA as he warned racist abuse against Eastern European players is on the rise throughout the UK.

 

He said: "On Thursday we had a big meeting at Hibernian's Easter Road, to push the Show Racism the Red Card message, so to hear of songs like this being sung just two days after is very disappointing.

 

"It's not a song I'm aware of hearing before but I'm aware of songs of that nature being sung at players from that sort of region, and abuse against Eastern European players is becoming an increasing problem.

 

"Even though he's not a refugee, to sing a song like this is awful and certainly racist.

 

"We've got a meeting with the SFA coming up and I'll be asking them to investigate this case, and also ask Rangers and Hearts to do the same.

 

"Hopefully we can find the ringleaders involved in this horrible chant, and get them through the courts and given a long banning order from attending games."

 

A Hearts spokesman said: "As a club we abhor any form of racism or sectarianism, and work closely with Show Racism the Red Card, but we have nothing to say in regards to this particular case."

 

An SPL spokeswoman said they will look into the behaviour of the fans involved, and decide what action to take, if it is reported in their match delegate's match report.

 

The song has also been a big talking point on internet football forums, with it being condemned on football site pieanbovril as "nothing short of racist."

 

One Dundee fan posted: "I would have thought it certain that Rangers get at the very least a warning for that singing. This is blatant racism."

 

While one Motherwell fan added: "Some of the filth I heard being directed towards Rudi Skacel was nothing short of racist. Will anything be done about it? No."

 

The race row comes just a few years after bad boy striker Riordan was forced to apologise to Skacel after being caught singing the song with Hibernian fans.

 

Skacel said late last year it was "silly" for Riordan to sing it, and that the song has no place in football.

 

He said: "I think this is something silly because probably he's never been in school. He doesn't seem to know where is Czech Republic and where is Prague.

 

"My parents are teachers. To help his education, maybe they can make some lessons for him. They're geography teachers, by the way.

 

"Other people were more upset than me; they thought it was a form of racism. But it's not correct what he did and it should not be involved in football, which is a great game.

 

"Hibs sent me a letter saying sorry, but he never said anything to me afterwards, nor in last derby when you saw what he did. Maybe some people like to think that was Refugees vs Scots, but who won?"

 

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Rangers-urged-to-carry-out.6700713.jp?

[andrew_2010 0]

Of course, it's only big bad Rangers that have anything to do with this. Only "disgusting" when it's the Gers involved, or that's all I see in the media... be interesting if they can quote a footy forum for evidence of people being against it, whether they can do the same when they see "racist comments" (or poorly worded 'banter') on the same website when it's not from a bear...

[maineflyer 0]

..... blah blah Rangers blah racists blah bigots blah blah blah ......

[Zappa 0]

I don't seem to remember any anti-racism investigations into bananas being thrown at our black players at Celtic Park over the years.

 

This doesn't help our situation one bit though. We've got tims all over the world trying to dig a hole to bury us in. We don't need to pick up a spade and help them fcuking dig it.

[Zappa 0]

The song could be changed to "Rudi Skacel wants to bum the referee"

[maineflyer 0]

Who is Ged Grebby? Wouldn't by any chance be the trotskyite pal of Phil McGillivan, the pseudo irish hate monger who's been waging a campaign of hostility towards all things Rangers?

 

The only thing that concerns me about this is the inevitable grovelling guilt trip that Rangers will issue in response to this contrived nonsense.

[craig 5,199]

Political correctness gone mad, again !!

 

It was a joke FFS.

[JMS 0]

The song could be changed to "Rudi Skacel wants to bum the referee"

 

Homo_fobic.

 

Can some of the more educated on here tell me since when has Nationality = Race please.

[maineflyer 0]

Political correctness gone mad, again !!

 

It was a joke FFS.

 

No Craig, this has malicious intent beyond mere political morals. Pure McGillivan mischief handed over to the righteous muppet Grebby with the sole intention of embarrassing Rangers. Plain, simple and totally obvious. That bastard McGillivan needs dealing with but the club as always will do a Murray and pander to this arsehole.

[Zappa 0]

Who is Ged Grebby?

 

I think you mean Gerard Grebby... Yep, that's the one.