It’s time to take a stand against the hatred in the stands
The Edinburgh derby gets second billing behind the Old Firm in Scotland.
But it’s as feisty a game as they come.
Every time I sit down to watch one, the action on the pitch is absolutely frantic.
Its always played at 100mph, with tackles flying in from every angle.
It’s blood and thunder.
But increasingly, the antics of the fans in the stands is becoming an issue. Everybody saw the “shame” headlines after the first Edinburgh clash of the season at Tynecastle.
Fans were assured there would be no repeat.
But now we’ve seen an alleged instance of racial abuse of a Hearts player at Easter Road last Saturday.
I’ve always been clear on this – racism should be stamped out.
If the police determine racist abuse was dished out at the Edinburgh derby, it will be for the courts to proceed as they see fit.
But either way, the cops will be thinking about using a firmer hand in future.
It has always been a fixture with an edge to it.
But that edge appears to be getting sharper these days.
That’s not the way the clubs – or the overwhelming majority of decent fans – would want things to go.
I reckon it’s time everybody involved took a stand.