CLARKE RIGHT TO CONFRONT SECTARIANISM

STEVE CLARKE deserves credit for continuing to remind us of the problem with sectarianism somehow being ‘accepted’ in Scottish football.

Bringing this tired old subject up leaves you open to grief. There are other issues on the agenda right now. When the game’s authorities won’t do anything meaningful about it, you do lose the urge to confront it.

Clarke is not sure much has changed in the 16 months since he railed against being abused at Ibrox as Kilmarnock manager. He is pessimistic over it being eradicated in his lifetime.

Yet, the Scotland boss still has hope things will change. Some day.

This does seem more of a football issue now than one affecting wider society. Clarke also talks of receiving many supportive letters from Rangers fans, in particular.

These are positives to hold on to. And, if they keep him going, that’s great.

So many of us become inured to the bigotry that exists at many clubs that we start to write it off as part of the furniture.

It’s why a figure of Clarke’s importance carrying the torch is such a good thing. It reminds us that we needn’t and shouldn’t.