Managers unite to condemn racist fan

BRENDAN RODGERS and Derek McInnes last night condemned the racist abuse of Scott Sinclair by an Aberdeen fan. The Celtic winger branded the supporter ‘an absolute disgrace’ on his Twitter account after a video had emerged showing him being abused by a Dons fan after he missed a penalty during Sunday’s Betfred Cup final. Sinclair has been the target of racist abuse before but Parkhead boss Rodgers stressed he does not believe the incident at Hampden is representative of general behaviour in Scotland. ‘There is absolutely no place for it,’ he said. ‘It’s a message that needs reinforcing not just in social life but in our football life. It can’t be tolerated. ‘Everyone looks at it but it is not a representation of what happens up here in Scotland. ‘I reinforce it is not something we want to hear or see and certainly for Scott, he deals admirably with it.’ McInnes insisted it was an unacceptable individual incident rather than a widespread problem for the Pittodrie club. He vowed Aberdeen will take action against the culprit if he can be identified. ‘Any racial abuse, in this day and age, is shocking,’ he said. ‘It’s not a club issue, for me. It’s embarrassing for the individual. ‘That type of comment was maybe normal practice in the 60s and 70s, and it was appalling and shocking then — and even more so now.’