Miller calls for tougher action on racist fans

KENNY MILLER, the former Rangers striker, believes players could have to walk off the pitch in order to combat racist behaviour from fans in Scottish football.

Police Scotland are liaising with Rangers and Hearts after striker Alfredo Morelos was allegedly targeted with racist abuse during the 1-1 Premiership draw at Tynecastle on Sunday.

Hearts have vowed to ban any supporter found guilty of racism from Tynecastle and have launched an investigation into the incident that occurred after Morelos had scored in the first half. And Miller has called for more severe punishments to be handed down to those convicted of such offences.

He said: “There is no place for it. It’s rearing it’s ugly head too often of late, to be honest. But all credit to Hearts, they have acted swiftly.

“They’ve come out and addressed the situation and there is an ongoing investigation and let’s hope it gets dealt with properly.

“For me, harsher punishments do probably need to come in. What they are I don’t know. Is it going to be ground closures?

“Personally, I’ve been someone that, as a player, as fans, as a club you never want to see that kind of thing happen in terms of maybe stadium closures. But there needs to be something now. Again, all credit to Hearts. They’ve acted swiftly and we will see what the outcome of that investigation is.

“I think Alfredo loves his football and loves the football club. You can see that with the passion he has got. But it is a side of the game that definitely needs to be addressed because there is no place for it.

“There is a lot of talk about taking teams off the pitch as well. Again, I don’t think we want to see that, but if that is what it is going to take maybe to put a stop to it then that might be what needs to happen.”