ENI – The moderator of the Church of Scotland, Rev. Sheilagh Kesting, has warned that anti-English bigotry in Scotland is akin to sectarianism and should not be tolerated. She stirred a recent heated debate in the Scottish press when she said that anti-English banter during sporting events between the two countries could be harmful and might lead to more sinister behaviour.
Kesting made her remarks in an address for Lent after visiting London. Referring to the often turbulent history of football games between the largely Protestant- supported soccer club Glasgow Rangers and the largely Catholic-supported team Celtic, she said, “In Scotland, we have got used to football as a context for perpetuating sectarianism so I don't think we can pass off lightly anti-English remarks which are made during matches. It is too easy to dismiss this as healthy rivalry. It is not.”
