HUMZA Yousaf has said he is "disgusted" after footage emerged of large crowds apparently hurling "anti-Irish racism" in Glasgow city centre yesterday.
A mob appeared to mock the Irish Famine as it made its way along Argyle Street and Jamaica Street before Sunday's Old Firm derby clash at Ibrox.
Referring to the 19th-century catastrophe which left more than one million people dead, the song tells Irish people to “go home” and claims they have brought “trouble and shame” to Scotland.
Health Secretary Yousaf last night condemned the images and called on police to take action.
Mr Yousaf said: “For those hurling racist abuse at our Irish community telling them to 'go home' – Scotland is their home.
“Disgusted to once again see anti-Irish racism rear its ugly head. Solidarity with our Irish community.
“I am sure Police Scot will hold those responsible to account.”
Patrick Harvie, a Glasgow MSP, also hit out at the footage, writing: "The images of a mob singing anti-Irish racist songs, as they marched through Glasgow escorted by police, ought to be shocking but are shamefully all too familiar.
"At the very least, we need an assurance that every identifiable person in that crowd will face charges."
Rangers won the derby 1-0 yesterday after defender Filip Helander headed home Borna Barasic's corner.
But questions have been asked about why police appeared to allow a crowd to march through the city chanting "bigoted hatred".
Lawyer Aamer Anwar said: "Why is Police Scotland facilitating (again) a racist anti-Irish march, no kettling or arrests? If they replaced Irish with Pakistani/Muslim police would act, so why not now?"
The fans were also rebuked by anti-sectarianism charity Nil by Mouth.
Charity director David Scott told the Scottish Sun: “There is no celebration of football or identity here just ugly, bigoted hatred.
“This sort of garbage should be no more welcome in the 21st century as another prayer racially abusing Glen Kamara or morons on a supporters bus doing the same to Kyogo Furuhashi.
“It’s the language of the sewer.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of sectarian singing by a group of people in the Jamaica Street area of Glasgow on Sunday, August 29. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.”
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article