Rangers FC have handed an indefinite ban to an unnamed number of fans for their appearance in a racist video circulated on social media on Sunday.
The video in question showed a group of fans on a supporter's bus, singing a song which racially abused Celtic's new signing, Japanese star Kyogo Furuhashi.
In a statement released today, Rangers said that they had banned the fans 'indefinitely' from attending their games and that the supporter's club would not receive an allocation of tickets going forward.
The statement read:
"RANGERS can confirm that an investigation is now complete in regard to a video circulating on social media yesterday.
The individuals involved have been identified and will be banned indefinitely from all Rangers games.
Furthermore, the RSC of which they were members and travelled with to the game, have been banned from receiving tickets for future fixtures."
The decision comes after Celtic condemned the abuse of their striker, with a statement on twitter last night.
#CelticFC statement:
If reports are accurate then such sickening and pathetic racist behaviour directed towards Kyogo Furuhashi deserves absolute condemnation. pic.twitter.com/21QOcZuyK9— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 22, 2021
"If reports are accurate then such sickening and pathetic racist behaviour directed towards Kyogo Furuhashi deserves absolute condemnation", the statement read.
"Unfortunately, a number of Celtic players in recent years have suffered similar racist abuse. As a club open to all, we stand firmly against racism in all its forms and we will give Kyogo our full support. All stakeholders must work together in tackling all forms of bigotry", it concluded.
Speaking in the aftermath of the incident, Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou said that protecting Furuhashi is the club's number one priority. He also said that education is not the issue.
I'll never walk alone 🙏🏼💚 #NoToRacism pic.twitter.com/GHUFO7weiZ
— Kyogo Furuhashi 古橋 亨梧 (@Kyogo_Furuhashi) August 23, 2021
"It’s not about education and people are more than well aware of what’s right and wrong – just be a decent human being and treat people with respect", Postecoglou told Celtic TV.
“Even for myself, I’ve been lucky enough to walk around Glasgow with my family and you see all the different nationalities and different establishments – whether that’s restaurants, businesses – and it’s obvious that people have come from all over the world to make this city a great city."
Celtic face Rangers in the first Glasgow derby of the year this Sunday, in Ibrox.
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