Ally McCoist, a Rangers legend and football pundit, has claimed that he and 48,000 other Rangers fans will breach Scotland's new hate bill when Celtic and Rangers meet on Sunday morning.
The Old Firm fixture is one of the fiercest rivalries in the world and is often met with sectarian chanting from both sides because of its long and detailed history. This weekend is expected to be no different.
This month, Scotland introduced a new hate crime law to tackle offensive and hateful words and actions against different communities.
The Scottish government states that the "Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act aims to enhance protection for victims and communities by consolidating existing hate crime laws."
It introduces a new offence targeting "threatening or abusive behaviour intended to stir up hatred" based on age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity, and variations in sex characteristics. These additions complement longstanding offences related to stirring up racial hatred, which have been established across the UK since 1986.
Some have welcomed the new law, while others have rejected the new law introduced in Scotland. The new bill has been met with sharp criticism from some of Scotland's most famous people.
Harry Potter author JK Rowling has slammed the new bill and sarcastically tweeted that she couldn't wait to be arrested for breaking hate crime laws in Scotland.
McCoist, a former Rangers player, manager, and diehard believer, also believes that Scotland's new law is madness and sensationally claimed that he and the other Rangers fans will be breaching the law when Celtic visit Ibrox on Saturday.
Ryan Kent of Rangers vies with Celtic’s Liel Abada at Celtic Park in September 2022 (Image: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)On TalkSPORT, McCoist said: "We've got a hate bill, by the way. A hate bill was passed in the country yesterday.
"And I can guarantee you, next Sunday at Ibrox, I, along with 48,000 others, will be committing a breach of that hate bill in the particular Rangers vs. Celtic game we are all going to.
"It is madness."
McCoist also believes that the police in Scotland share the belief that the new law is farcical, and enforcing it is an extremely tough task for them to do.
He said: "That's exactly what the police think about it. The police spokesperson has come out and more and less said that.
"He obviously can't because he'll get himself in trouble. He has implied it; everybody with two brain cells in their head knows it's madness, crazy.
"There is nobody in our country who thinks that is a good idea, who I have spoken to."
Celtic and Rangers kicks-off at 12pm on Sunday afternoon.
