CELTIC’S Player of the Year Scott Sinclair yesterday spoke about his shock at being targeted by the racist in the 5-1 win over Rangers on Saturday.
Sinclair had just opened the scoring from the penalty spot in front of the Rangers support and television images caught the sickening image of a Rangers supporter making racist gestures towards the Celtic striker, who joined the club from Aston Villa in August 2016.
Yesterday Sinclair spoke of the sickening incident and revealed that this was the first time he has ever been subjected to racist abuse while playing professional football in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Swansea.
Scotland’s shame indeed.
“It was one of those things,” Sinclair said. “It seems it will always be around with a minority of people – it’s always going to be there.
“For me there will always be people like that. I’ve got to carry on with my football and keep enjoying that.
“In football we want to kick it out because there’s no need for it. If any player goes through it you have to keep your head down and keep going on but you want it kicked out.
“My team-mates have got right behind me. They didn’t realise until after the game that it had happened – just like I did.
A 28-year-old man appeared in court yesterday and lodged a plea of guilty. He will be back for sentencing in a few weeks.
You would expect that Rangers FC would today issue a statement condemning racism in football and stating that they are appalled that their club has been disgraced on national television during their highest profile match of the season.
A lifetime ban for the racist should also follow and this is a view shared by a great number of Ibrox fans, who are embarrassed that this has happened to their club.
The incident at the weekend has also encouraged other racists to come out of the closet. This particularly stupid woman has actually used a child to deliver a racist slur via social media. Police Scotland have been informed by many users on social media.
Amy Halcrow. Name and shame. Using her own child in Racist slurs against Scott Sinclair. Disgusting @policescotland pic.twitter.com/6Y3tpklY8R
— Burnsy88 (@Burnsy88) May 2, 2017
