How moronic Rangers fans shamed club with sick Burns song

By Brian McNally

Published 13:59 26/02/11

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On that emotional day in 2008 when Rangers manager Walter Smith helped carry the coffin of Celtic legend Tommy Burns there seemed at least a fleeting hope that Glasgow's divided footballing tribes might be moving closer together.

The dignity and respect shown by Smith and his successor as Rangers boss Ally McCoist for cancer victim Burns, one of Scotland's finest footballing ambassadors, a true gentleman off the park and a devout Christian, sent out a poignant reminder of how very close these old rivals were off the pitch and the sense of esteem they held each other in.

The generosity of spirit shown that day between old football foes was impressive and will live with me for a long time.

But any hope that one day there may be a better and lasting understanding between the followers of the two clubs received a massive reality check this week when Rangers were in Lisbon for their successful Europa League trip to Sporting Lisbon.

As I watched disturbing images from Portuguese television on Friday of a group of Rangers fans besmirching the memory of Burns with a sick song in a Lisbon square I despaired as I thought of the moving role Smith and McCoist had played at Burns' funeral.

And my first thought was what the straight-talking Smith would have said to this group of his own fans if he had witnessed those obscenely celebrating the death of his old friend.

Words fail me in my attempt to describe these morons. But I think Smith would have had plenty at the ready to deliver a stinging rebuke to those attacking the memory of a great football man.

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