Ally McCoist has made questionable remarks on Scotland's newly introduced hate crime laws ahead of this weekend's Old Firm between Rangers and Celtic.
We are just days away from a hotly-anticipated Scottish Premiership game at Ibrox on Sunday afternoon. Celtic make the cross-Glasgow journey to Ibrox to face bitter rivals Rangers in an Old Firm game which could decide the destination of the league trophy come the end of the season.
The Hoops sit just one point ahead of Rangers - though, crucially, Rangers still have a game in hand. Victory for Rangers would leave them two points clear with a game in hand still to play, while Celtic could move four points clear and make Rangers' game in hand a moot point if they can win on the road.
As always, an Old Firm derby will be an intense and fiery affair - which is why comments from Rangers legend Ally McCoist on the new hate crime laws have raised more than a few eyebrows this week.
The Hate Crime and Public Order Act was voted through in the Scottish parliament in March 2021 and came into effect earlier this week. The law has formally criminalised "stirring up hatred" based on age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or being intersex. Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling are among its most vocal critics.
In essence, a hate crime law is a positive move in Scotland, even if some of those it may target will be unhappy with its introduction - but McCoist is not a supporter.
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Ally McCoist's remarks on new Scottish hate crime laws were bizarre
Speaking on talkSPORT this week, McCoist addressed the introduction of Scotland's new hate crime laws - and appeared to infer that he and thousands of other Rangers fans would in some way breach the laws in unison at Ibrox on Sunday:
We've got a hate bill, by the way. A hate bill has been passed in the country.
I can guarantee you, next Sunday at Ibrox, along with 48,000 will be committing a breach of that hate bill in the particular Rangers v Celtic game we are all going to.
It is madness.
The remarks from McCoist are utterly bizarre and may have raised concerns of any potential incidents or questionable behaviour, given the notorious reputation that already exists around the Old Firm.
One can only hope that Sunday's mega Glasgow derby passes without incident. Kick-off at Ibrox on Sunday is at 12pm.
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