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Rangers F.C. indefinitely ban fans following racist abuse toward Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi
Rangers Football Club confirmed Monday that they've banned supporters found guilty of directing racist abuse at Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi.
"Rangers can confirm that an investigation is now complete in regard to a video circulating on social media yesterday," the club announced. "The individuals involved have been identified and will be banned indefinitely from all Rangers games.
"Furthermore, the RSC of which they were members and traveled with to the game, have been banned from receiving tickets for future fixtures."
According to Reuters (h/t ESPN), a video posted on Sunday showed individuals wearing Rangers shirts singing racist songs and making offensive eye gestures regarding Furuhashi while they were traveling for Sunday's game at Ross County that Rangers won 4-2. Rangers host Celtic this coming Sunday.
Both Celtic and Furuhashi responded to the video via social media:
#CelticFC statement:
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 22, 2021
If reports are accurate then such sickening and pathetic racist behaviour directed towards Kyogo Furuhashi deserves absolute condemnation. pic.twitter.com/21QOcZuyK9
Unfortunately, a number of Celtic players in recent years have suffered similar racist abuse.
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 22, 2021
As a club open to all, we stand firmly against racism in all its forms and we will give Kyogo our full support.
All stakeholders must work together in tackling all forms of bigotry.
I'll never walk alone #NoToRacism pic.twitter.com/GHUFO7weiZ
— Kyogo Furuhashi 古橋 亨梧 (@Kyogo_Furuhashi) August 23, 2021
"To be honest, it saddens me a lot because I'm the one who's brought him over here," Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou said to Celtic TV about Furuhashi. "I spent three-and-a-half years in Japan, and I was a foreigner, and I was welcomed with open arms over there. I know how polite and respectful the Japanese people were, and I'm the one that brought Kyogo here.
"It's not about education, people are more than well aware of what's right and wrong -- just be a decent human being and treat people with respect."
The English Premier League has vowed to permanently ban individuals who direct racist abuse toward others either in person or online.
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