Often portrayed as a 'loveable, cheeky-chappy', Ally McCoist’s comments in the week of the Glasgow Derby have reignited discussions about one of Scotland's most entrenched societal issues: anti-Irish/Catholic sectarianism, also known as 'Scotland’s Shame'.
His declaration, along with thousands of others, of potential guilt for hate crimes at Sunday’s Glasgow Derby, underscores the deep-rooted nature of bigotry in Scottish society.
The mere fact that McCoist felt comfortable publicly announcing his intention to potentially breach anti-discrimination laws speaks volumes about the state of sectarianism in Scotland. His remarks were made on a public platform without fear of repercussion, indicating a troubling acceptance of such attitudes.
Moreover, the lack of condemnation from mainstream media in Scotland regarding McCoist’s comments is alarming. This indifference could be interpreted as tacit acceptance of his views, contributing to the perpetuation of sectarian hate. This turning of a blind eye allows bigotry to thrive, undermining the ideals of a fair and inclusive society.
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A worrying contrast can be drawn with the swift and severe backlash faced by Brendan Rodgers for a seemingly innocuous comment towards Jane Lewis that was labelled as misogynistic. The disparate treatment highlights a concerning double standard in societal attitudes towards different forms of discrimination.
McCoist's remarks are a stark reminder of the insidious nature of bigotry, which often lies dormant until provoked. Attempting to dismiss such behaviour as mere 'heat-of-the-moment' reactions during football matches trivialises the broader implications. Bigotry is not confined to the duration of a game but is representative of individuals' true world views and interactions.
In respect of Ally McCoist, this incident is not an isolated one; the former Rangers forward has a history of controversial remarks on the topic of sectarianism, including his plea to close all Catholic schools in Scotland. Such rhetoric fuels division and intolerance, perpetuating a toxic culture that threatens the harmony of society.
The potential repercussions of McCoist’s comments could well extend beyond the boundaries of Ibrox Park, a venue already deemed unsafe for the likes of Chris Sutton to attend in a media capacity. A venue where Celtic players and staff have been attacked on the pitch, had glass bottles, lighters, batteries, and a whole manner of other projectiles thrown at them in recent years.
They serve as a reminder of the prejudice that continues to plague our society. By normalising hate speech and discriminatory behaviour, individuals like McCoist perpetuate a toxic culture of intolerance and division. They send a dangerous message that it is acceptable to dehumanize others based on their religious beliefs or affiliations. McCoist’s comments could very easily be viewed as incitement to violence in a certain section of Scottish society.
Furthermore, the incident with McCoist raises questions about the true nature of individuals who espouse such views. It is easy to compartmentalise someone as a '90-minute bigot', capable of setting aside their prejudices once the final whistle blows. However, the reality is far more unsettling. Bigotry is not a temporary state of mind but a deeply ingrained aspect of one's character.
Scottish society must confront and challenge bigotry in all its forms and work towards positively educating society to build inclusive communities. And that goes both ways with anti-Protestant discrimination and the calling of people ‘Orange ba****ds’ equally as vile and unacceptable in decent society.
Along with hoping for a Celtic win, I truly hoped that Sunday would pass without incident and that we could all remember at the end of the day that it’s just a game of football; a bloody important one, but just a game all the same.
We got that game - and what a match it was - but we also experienced the missiles being thrown on to the pitch, soundtracked by a sectarian choir of hatred.
Wake up Ally McCoist. You should condemn such actions on your platform, not incite them.
Kevin McCluskie // @KevinMcCluskie1