Rangers Fans’ Sectarian Singing Complaints: OFCOM Clears TV Channel
Sky Sports has been given a clean bill of health by Ofcom following complaints about sectarian chanting from Rangers fans during a live broadcast of a match. The television watchdog was called upon to review the coverage of the Ibrox club’s visit to Ross County in the Scottish Premiership at the beginning of last month.
The match saw Philippe Clement’s Rangers secure a comfortable 3-0 victory over Ross County in the Highlands, courtesy of goals from Hamza Igamane, Danilo, and captain James Tavernier. However, post-match, Ofcom received four separate complaints regarding sectarian singing from certain sections of the travelling Rangers support.
Despite the complaints, Ofcom has ruled that the footage did not warrant an official investigation under the Broadcasting Code. According to the watchdog, the specific chants were not ‘particularly discernible’ to viewers, leading them to conclude that no further action was necessary.
Expert Commentary: OFCOM’s Ruling
The decision by Ofcom to clear Sky Sports of any wrongdoing in their coverage of the match has sparked a debate among fans and experts. While some believe that the watchdog made the right call given the lack of clear evidence, others argue that sectarian chanting should not be tolerated in any form, regardless of its visibility on screen.
Impact on Rangers and Scottish Premiership
The news of Ofcom’s ruling comes as Rangers gear up to face Aberdeen at Ibrox in a crucial Scottish Premiership clash, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. With a victory, Clement’s men could potentially close the gap at the top of the table to 13 points, following Celtic’s draw against Dundee.
Rangers’ Imperious Home Form
Clement will be eager to maintain his team’s impressive home record as they welcome Aberdeen to Ibrox. Rangers have yet to suffer a defeat in their own backyard domestically this season, making them a formidable force to reckon with in the Scottish Premiership.
As fans eagerly anticipate the outcome of the match and the ongoing debate surrounding sectarian chanting, one thing remains clear – the passion and intensity of football can sometimes spill over into controversial territory, testing the boundaries of what is deemed acceptable in the beautiful game.
