This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Anti-sectarianism on Bute House agenda
07/01/2005
First Minister Jack McConnell today hailed his meeting with supporters from both Rangers and Celtic as constructive and welcomed their agreement to work to tackle sectarianism in Scotland.
Mr McConnell said:
"I am very grateful to both sides of supporters for meeting Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson and I today. We had a very full and frank discussion and I am very pleased that they have both agreed to join us in further discussions.
"While we have made considerable progress in reducing sectarianism and violence in and around football matches in Scotland over recent years, we have to go further in the years to come. I look forward to working with the official Supporters' Associations to reduce and eventually eliminate those attitudes which damage the reputation of the clubs and cause hatred in our streets."
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson also attended the meeting at Bute House which came in advance of Sunday's Old Firm match and next month's anti-sectarianism summit which is being organised by the Executive.
The supporters' associations represented at the meeting were:
The Rangers Supporters Assembly, the Celtic Supporters Association, the Affiliation of Registered Celtic Supporters Clubs and the association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs and the Scottish Federation of Football Supporters Clubs.