August 7 – A small Belfast club has denounced what it describes as “vile sectarian abuse” towards a former Glasgow Rangers player while he was their guest in the city.
Nacho Novo was taunted by a Celtic fan singing “I hope you die in your sleep” at Belfast International Airport.
The taunting and the confrontation were both filmed and posted on social media.
The Spaniard had travelled to the city to attend East Belfast FC academy’s prize-giving day for players aged 11 and 12.
In a statement to the BBC, a spokesman for the academy said: “We are disgusted and angry that Nacho was subjected to a barrage of vile sectarian abuse. Not only does such behaviour have no place in sport, but it has no place within society.”
“We feel it essential that we highlight the sectarian abuse and threats made to Nacho Novo. While travelling to Belfast from Glasgow to support our kids he found himself on a plane with Celtic supporters returning home from their game yesterday and was threatened, abused and disgusting things were also said about his family. This is not acceptable in this day and age.”
The former Rangers striker, who spent six years with the club and also played for one season with east Belfast’s Glentoran, suffered a suspected heart attack earlier this year after playing at a tournament for Rangers Legends in Berlin.
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