Humza Yousaf has refused to apologise for a controversial tweet he made after a video went viral allegedly showed Rangers players taking part in sectarian singing.
The SNP Cabinet Secretary came out fighting against calls for him to apologise and the threat of possible legal action from the football club over his online comments that players should be forced out of the club if they were found guilty of “anti-Catholic hatred”.
At the time Yousaf was Justice Secretary, in charge of the prosecution service, called on the Ibrox club to sack any one involved in “anti-catholic hatred” if the video proved to be genuine.
But after police confirmed “no criminality” was involved in the online video of Rangers players, which allegedly showed players taking part in sectarian singing, opponents called for Yousaf to apologise.
Without naming Yousaf Rangers football club also condemned “those in senior positions within society who should be cognisant of their influence, responsibility and the consequences of their actions on others.”
In a statement the club said: “We can confirm that we have initiated legal proceedings against certain individuals for comments made this week.”
Yousaf, who has been appointed Health Secretary in the cabinet reshuffle, did not back down and inch yesterday and said he had no awareness of any legal action.
He told BBC Scotland: “I have not seen any information of that sort. “
“What we saw last weekend on the streets of Glasgow was the most disgraceful and shameful display of anti-Catholic bigotry and anti-Irish racism I’ve ever seen.
“If it had been anti-Muslim or anti-semitic if it had been against black people there will have been universal condemnation.”
He added: “I don’t make an apology for calling it out and calling it what it is.”
Yousaf said: “I don’t think anybody can accuse me of taking a side. I was pretty clear to say ‘if’, and I stress if, that video was real action should be taken.”
Yousaf said he tweeted after having been approached by media to comment on the matter and said other politicians should have joined in the condemnation of the alleged bigotry.
He said: As Justice Secretary I don’t make an apology for calling it out.”
“I don’t blame Rangers football club, I actually have a very constructive relationship with Rangers football club people. I’m not here to defend fans, or so-called fans, who take part in that kind of behaviour. Let’s not deflect from what we saw on the 15th and would have been called out if it was any other community.”
Furious football fans are calling for the resignation of Yousaf over the comments made about Rangers FC players and staff.
An online petition has gathered more than 11,000 signatures 24 hours after being launched.
Scottish Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Jamie Greene MSP, said: “Bigotry of any sort from any quarters is wrong, no one argues that whatsoever.
“The problem here is Humza Yousaf should not have used his position of power to pass judgement on unsubstantiated claims while a police investigation was likely. He now won’t do the right thing and admit he was in the wrong.
“He has shown a complete disregard towards the police and those who were allegedly accused and since exonerated."
Greene added: “The decent thing would be to accept that trial by social media on his part is not how to run a justice system - a simple apology would be a good start.”
