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03/01/2002
Secretary of State kicks off football row
Northern Ireland Secretary of State John Reid has been criticised for insisting that it was "a requirement" that Glasgow’s Old Firm football clubs leave Scottish football behind in favour of a bigger stage such as the English Premier League.
Dr Reid was roundly accused of fuelling the sectarian divide between Old Firm clubs Celtic and Rangers.
In an interview in Belfast the Secretary of State stressed that there were many Catholics and Protestants around the world that would more keenly follow the Old Firm should they not be playing against "largely unknown Scottish teams" every week.
He added: "When you think of all those in America, in Australia and throughout Europe who would be interested in tuning in to Celtic and Rangers games because of their background: the number of Ulster protestants who have gone abroad and the number of Irish Catholics who have gone abroad."
He thought that, if the Old Firm could more readily tap into such a latent, worldwide support, they could compete with the best clubs in Europe.
However many people have criticised Dr Reid’s comments, with one Scottish minister branding them “arrogant, offensive and puerile”. (MB)
Dr Reid was roundly accused of fuelling the sectarian divide between Old Firm clubs Celtic and Rangers.
In an interview in Belfast the Secretary of State stressed that there were many Catholics and Protestants around the world that would more keenly follow the Old Firm should they not be playing against "largely unknown Scottish teams" every week.
He added: "When you think of all those in America, in Australia and throughout Europe who would be interested in tuning in to Celtic and Rangers games because of their background: the number of Ulster protestants who have gone abroad and the number of Irish Catholics who have gone abroad."
He thought that, if the Old Firm could more readily tap into such a latent, worldwide support, they could compete with the best clubs in Europe.
However many people have criticised Dr Reid’s comments, with one Scottish minister branding them “arrogant, offensive and puerile”. (MB)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Another cloudy and mild night with the odd spot of light drizzle. More widespread outbreaks of rain will spread southeast into western parts of Tyrone, Fermanagh and Derry late in the night. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
