Bankier: Rise in sectarian singing ‘takes us to the gutter every time’

Celtic’s board could not be accused of playing to the gallery at the club’s agm yesterday with chairman Ian Bankier stating a rise in sectarian singing“takesustothegutterevery time” in response to a shareholder expressing dismay that chanting was becoming more widepsread.

Supporter Danny James Brady highlighted the “sad Orange b ***** d” chants that have been directed at Hearts boss Craig Levein and Rangers manager Steven Gerrard this season.

Furthermore, he said that while he recognised the free speech argument, IRA singingcouldbedeemedunacceptable as would be considered of paeans to the English Defence League.

Most of this singing emanated from the Green Brigade section, he said, with drums and loud hailers allowed in that area deployed for these songs.

“No-one on this platform has any time for this sort of thing; it takes us to the gutter every time,” said Bankier. “We will take this and do what we can, if not to stop it then at the very least reduce it.

“But other fans also need to make their disapproval clear. We would like to see this discussed at our next fans’ forum, when the Green Brigade will be represented.”

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said Brady was “brave” to raise a “sensitive subject”, which he conceded highlighted a regression in supporter standards. “We have been consistently sanctioned by Uefa for that behaviour, which has deteriorated recently back to the days which were unacceptable,” said Lawwell.

“It doesn’t represent who we are and it gives our opponents, if you like – our enemies – a reason to categorise Celtic along with everyone else.

“And we’re not like everyone else; we’re better and different.”

takes, it is important that we take responsibility for our actions. Nicklas has his employment relationship with Rosenborg FC and the enforceable verdict from Denmark does not change that.”

Bendtner began his career at Arsenal, scoring 45 goals in 171 games for the Gunners. He also had spells on loan with Birmingham, Sunderland and Juventus before joining Wolfsburg in 2014. He returned to English football with Nottingham Forest in 2016 but did not see out a full season before moving to Rosenborg.

His hopes of making the Danish squad for this summer’s World Cup in Russia were ended by injury.