This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Anti-sectarianism on Bute House agenda
07/01/2005
First Minister Jack McConnell today hailed his meeting with
supporters from both Rangers and Celtic as constructive and
welcomed their agreement to work to tackle sectarianism in
Scotland.
Mr McConnell said:
"I am very grateful to both sides of supporters for meeting
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson and I today. We had a very full
and frank discussion and I am very pleased that they have both
agreed to join us in further discussions.
"While we have made considerable progress in reducing
sectarianism and violence in and around football matches in
Scotland over recent years, we have to go further in the years
to come. I look forward to working with the official
Supporters' Associations to reduce and eventually eliminate
those attitudes which damage the reputation of the clubs and
cause hatred in our streets."
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson also attended the meeting at
Bute House which came in advance of Sunday's Old Firm match and
next month's anti-sectarianism summit which is being organised
by the Executive.
The supporters' associations represented at the meeting
were:
The Rangers Supporters Assembly, the Celtic Supporters
Association, the Affiliation of Registered Celtic Supporters
Clubs and the association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs and
the Scottish Federation of Football Supporters
Clubs.