First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
Dundee United FC and Dundee FC today issued the following joint statement in response to allegations attributed to Rangers Chairman David Murray. Mr. Murray is reported as saying that Rangers fans are being made a scapegoat for Scotland's sectarian problem, claiming that Dundee and Dundee United were examples of clubs whose fans trade sectarian abuse on websites which was just as bad as Rangers and Celtic.
Bob Brannan, Chairman, Dundee FC and Derek Robertson, Director, Dundee United FC agreed the following joint statement: -
"While Mr. Murray was referring to independent supporters' messageboard websites rather than the official websites of Dundee and Dundee United, we are nevertheless appalled at the attempt to deflect criticism by manufacturing a situation which simply does not exist between the two clubs. Sectarianism is not an issue in Dundee, is not an issue between the two clubs in the city and is not the subject of any abuse between the two sets of fans. This attempt to tarnish the good name of the city and its two senior football clubs is outrageous.
The position of both clubs in Dundee is backed up by solid evidence from Strathclyde University. In a report published on behalf of Nil By Mouth in 2005, "The Extent of Sectarianism Online (2005) Strathclyde University", it states,
"The peculiarity of the OF boards was demonstrated by the contrasting absence of sectarianism on the control boards, Dundee United and Dundee and Everton and Liverpool"
We now intend to raise this matter with the relevant authorities to bring an end to it and trust the good name of both Dundee clubs and their supporters remains unblemished in the eyes of not only Scotland's football fraternity, but throughout the whole of Scottish society."
Bob Brannan, Chairman, Dundee FC and Derek Robertson, Director, Dundee United FC agreed the following joint statement: -
"While Mr. Murray was referring to independent supporters' messageboard websites rather than the official websites of Dundee and Dundee United, we are nevertheless appalled at the attempt to deflect criticism by manufacturing a situation which simply does not exist between the two clubs. Sectarianism is not an issue in Dundee, is not an issue between the two clubs in the city and is not the subject of any abuse between the two sets of fans. This attempt to tarnish the good name of the city and its two senior football clubs is outrageous.
The position of both clubs in Dundee is backed up by solid evidence from Strathclyde University. In a report published on behalf of Nil By Mouth in 2005, "The Extent of Sectarianism Online (2005) Strathclyde University", it states,
"The peculiarity of the OF boards was demonstrated by the contrasting absence of sectarianism on the control boards, Dundee United and Dundee and Everton and Liverpool"
We now intend to raise this matter with the relevant authorities to bring an end to it and trust the good name of both Dundee clubs and their supporters remains unblemished in the eyes of not only Scotland's football fraternity, but throughout the whole of Scottish society."
