Police Scotland 'expect arrests' following footage of Rangers fans chanting 'anti-Irish' lyrics

POLICE in Scotland say they are expecting to make "a number of arrests" after video footage showing Rangers FC fans singing a sectarian song emerged ahead of last Sunday's Old Firm clash in Glasgow.

Footage shared on social media shows a group of fans making their way through Glasgow city centre before the game at Ibrox stadium in which Rangers beat Celtic FC 1-0.

In the footage, fans appear to chant lyrics from a sectarian song urging Irish Catholics in Scotland to "go home" and referring to the famine.

The controversial song, known as `the Famine Song' among loyalists, was branded racist by Scottish appeal court judges in 2009, after a fan was convicted of a breach of the peace, aggravated by religious and racial prejudice, after singing the song at a Rangers match in Kilmarnock.

Its use by fans on Saturday has been slammed as "wholly unacceptable" by the Assistant Chief Constable of Police Scotland.

ACC Bernard Higgins also denied police "facilitated" the group's walk, due to the footage showing officers nearby.

"Officers on patrol came across this group as it was making its way through Glasgow city centre. Due to the numbers and to ensure public and officer safety, additional officers were called to assist and, at this point, individuals' details were noted and the group dispersed," he said.

"A retrospective investigation into this anti-Irish Catholic singing has been launched and we are following up a number of lines of enquiry, including reviewing CCTV footage and footage on social media. I fully expect a number of arrests to be made.

"This type of anti-Irish Catholic behaviour is wholly unacceptable. Our enquiries are ongoing to identify those who were involved and we will take the appropriate action against them. We would ask anyone who has any information that could assist our investigation to contact us."