NEWS ROUND-UP: RANGERS SUPPORTERS have attracted scrutiny from the Scottish government, after complaints about chanting at last month's Old Firm derby were made by the Irish Consul General.
The issue has been raised with regard to a song about the potato famine of 1847, which contains the line: "The famine is over, why don't you go home?"
A section of the Rangers support have indulged in this chant since last season and did so at Parkhead on August 31st, which prompted one Celtic fan to write to the Irish embassy in London.
The Consul General in Edinburgh has since raised the matter at her regular meeting with the Scottish government.
The government has released a statement: "The Scottish government is totally committed to combating sectarianism and bigotry, which is why we have expanded on the work of the previous administration and are doing more.
"We are working with the clubs themselves, as they are part of the solution to the problem."
Rangers, in acknowledging they have a problem with the song, say they are awaiting police guidance on the matter. A club spokesperson said: "Following the recent Old Firm match, the club were made aware that a substantial number of complaints had been made regarding the singing of the chorus of a song known as The Famine Songby our supporters at this match.
"Rangers approached Strathclyde police for guidance on this matter, with a view to issuing a joint statement indicating that persons singing this song in future may face the possibility of arrest. Strathclyde police were not able to commit to this until they had carried out further investigation.
"Clearly The Famine Songhas provoked such a response in certain quarters. It is the club's view that the interest of our supporters and the club will be best served by supporters refraining from singing The Famine Song."
Steve Clarke will begin work as Gianfranco Zola's number two at West Ham United this morning having secured his release from Chelsea after protracted and occasionally strained talks between the clubs finally resulted in a compromise over compensation last night.
West Ham will pay about €1.25 million to secure the Scot, who has severed a 20-year association with the Stamford Bridge club to move across London.
Clarke had been Zola's choice and Zola had suggested his former clubmate at his interview last week, only for Chelsea's board to block the 45-year-old's appointment and turn down his resignation request.
Gael Clichy has given Arsenal a boost by declaring himself fit to travel to Kiev for tomorrow's Champions League group-stage match with Dynamo Kiev.
Phil Brown, the Hull City manager, has condemned the tackle from Newcastle United's Danny Guthrie that left his striker Craig Fagan with a broken leg and facing more than three months on the sidelines.
Although Fagan got to his feet after the second of two inexcusable 90th-minute lunges during Hull's 2-1 win at St James' Park on Saturday, X-rays later revealed a fractured right tibia.
Brown hopes the Football Association will explore ways to further sanction Guthrie. He feels there should be a deterrent against similar recklessness.
"I think a red card and a three-game ban is insufficient," he said. "He has put a fellow player into a cast for a minimum of six weeks and possibly three months."
The midfielder was sent off after running several yards to first kick out at and then scythe Fagan down as he shielded the ball.
• Guardian Service
