UEFA punishes Rangers over anti-woke banner

AP:

RANGERS WERE sanctioned by UEFA yesterday after fans held up a giant anti-woke banner during a Europa League game against Fenerbahce.

The Scottish club were told they would have to close their famed Copland Stand for one match if there were any repeat acts of racist and/or discriminatory behaviour within two years.

“This punishment must serve as a severe and significant reminder to the small minority of supporters who bring the name of Rangers into disrepute,” the 55-time Scottish champions said in a statement.

Rangers, last week condemned their fans after a banner which read: “Keep woke foreign ideologies out – defend Europe” was raised during the game against Fenerbahce earlier this month.

As well as the suspended partial stadium closure, Rangers were fined 30,000 euros (US$32,400). The club said yesterday they were in the process of issuing lifetime bans to individuals involved.

They added that “illicit songs” would also be considered racist and/or discriminatory in terms of further UEFA action.

The Copland Stand is known as the ‘Rangers end’ and is an iconic section of its Ibrox stadium.

“Not only will the reputation and finances of the club be harmed by such a punishment, but the chances of the team in a potentially key European match will also suffer enormously, while thousands of innocent fans will be unable to attend a massive fixture,” Rangers said.

Rangers advanced to the quarterfinals of European club football’s second-tier Europa League by defeating Fenerbahce on penalties.

But the banner incident has cast a cloud over that achievement, with the Scottish giants saying they were “deeply saddening and frankly embarrassed that the club is now set to face significant sanctions for the actions of a very small minority”.

Rangers were also fined 4,500 euros (US$4,900) for the throwing of objects and a further 8,000 euros (US$8,650) for improper conduct of their players.