Editing Rangers F.C. (section)

===Sectarianism===
{{main|Sectarianism in Glasgow}}
[[John Ure Primrose]], chairman of Rangers from 1912 to 1923, has been described as sharpening Rangers' Protestant Unionist identity and anti-Catholic identity, contributing to the absence of openly Catholic players from the team.<ref name="Protestant">{{cite book|title=Fear and loathing in world football|publisher=Berg Publishers|author1=Armstrong, Gary|author2=Giulianotti, Richard|year=2001|pages=25, 26|isbn=1-85973-463-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CJxIbXQfE1IC|access-date=15 August 2012|quote=Primrose was associated with the most virulent anti-Catholic and anti-Irish sentiment, and was openly allied with the orange order.}}</ref> From the early 20th century onwards, [[Rangers F.C. signing policy|Rangers had a policy of not signing Catholic players]], or employing Catholics in other prominent roles.<ref name="Non catholic signing policy">{{cite book|title=The Old Firm: Sectarianism, Sport and Society in Scotland|publisher=John Donald Publishers|author=Murray, William J.|year=2000|pages=60,64,65,189|isbn=9780859765428}}</ref><ref name="Non catholic signing policy 2">{{cite book|title=Football: A Sociology of the Global Game|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|author=Giulianotti, Richard|year=1999|page=18|isbn=9780745617695|quote=Historically Rangers have maintained a staunch Protestant and anti-Catholic tradition which includes a ban on signing Catholic players.}}</ref><ref name="Non catholic signing policy 3">{{cite book|title=Glasgow, the Uneasy Peace: Religious Tension in Modern Scotland, 1819–1914|publisher=Manchester University Press ND|author=Gallagher, Tom|year=1987|page=[https://archive.org/details/glasgowuneasypea00gall/page/300 300]|isbn=9780719023965|url=https://archive.org/details/glasgowuneasypea00gall|url-access=registration|access-date=18 August 2012|quote=The conflict in Ireland failed to be the catalyst which swept the religious cobwebs from the Ibrox-based club's terraces and boardroom. One of its managers even had no qualms in the 1970s about urging his players to roar out the loyalist battle-cry 'No Surrender' as they ran up the tunnel at Ibrox.}}</ref><ref name="Non catholic signing policy 4">{{cite book|title=Graeme Souness: A Manager's Diary|publisher=Mainstream Publishing|author1=Souness, Graeme|author2=Gallacher, Ken|author-link1=Graeme Souness|year=1989|page=17|isbn=9781851582242|quote=For years Rangers have been pilloried for what the majority of people saw as discrimination against one section of the population. Now we have shown that this unwritten policy at Ibrox is over. It's finished. Done with.}}</ref>

In 1989, Rangers signed [[Mo Johnston]], "their first major Roman Catholic signing".<ref name="First roman catholic">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19890711&id=Qw01AAAAIBAJ&pg=5286,2680408|title=Ibrox lands double coup with Johnston|work=The Herald|location=Glasgow|date=11 July 1989|access-date=18 August 2012|author=Laing, Allan|page=1|quote=Rangers yesterday paraded their latest, and most controversial signing, Maurice Johnston, in the process demolishing any remaining they were sectarian, and upstaging their arch-rivals Celtic.}}</ref> Johnston was the first high-profile Catholic to sign for the club since the [[World War I]] era, though other Catholics had signed for Rangers before.<ref name="Non catholic signing policy" /><ref name="Other catholics had signed before">{{cite book|title=Football Against the Enemy|publisher=Orion|author=Kuper, Simon|author-link=Simon Kuper|year=2006|isbn=0-7528-4877-1}}</ref> Since Johnston's signing, an influx of overseas footballers has contributed to Catholic players becoming commonplace at Rangers.<ref name="Influx of foreign unwritten rule abolished">{{cite web|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/books/2012/03/celtic-firm-rangers-football|title=Decline and fall of the Old Firm|work=New Statesman|date=18 March 2012|access-date=18 August 2012|author=Kuper, Simon|quote=In the past 15 years, both clubs have tried to stamp out bigotry, largely for pragmatic reasons. The IRA guff puts off sponsors and when the market in foreign footballers opened up in the 1990s, the old prohibition on signing Catholics became irksome for Rangers. Many of the foreign players who have since come to Glasgow must have struggled to remember whether they were playing for the Protestant team or the Catholic one.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111063511/http://www.newstatesman.com/books/2012/03/celtic-firm-rangers-football|archive-date=11 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1999, [[Lorenzo Amoruso]] became the first Catholic captain of the club.<ref name="First catholic captain">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/former-old-firm-italians-give-1038540|title=Former Old Firm Italians give their take on derby clash|date=7 October 2009|access-date=18 August 2012|work=Daily Record|quote=I've been Rangers' first Catholic captain|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731181321/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/former-old-firm-italians-give-1038540|archive-date=31 July 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rangers partnered with Celtic to form the Old Firm Alliance, an initiative aimed at educating children from across Glasgow about issues like healthy eating and fitness, as well as awareness of anti-social behaviour, sectarianism and racism. The club's Follow With Pride campaign was launched in 2007 to improve the club's image and build on previous anti-sectarian and anti-racist campaigns.<ref name="Rangers and celtic team together to tackle sectarianism">{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/spl-remains-tight-lipped-over-report-on-parkhead-chanting-1-830134|title=SPL Remains tight-lipped over report on Parkhead chanting|work=The Scotsman|author=Rumsby, Ben|date=18 February 2009|access-date=18 August 2012|quote=THE Scottish Premier League has confirmed it has received the match delegate's report from the Old Firm derby but refused to divulge if alleged sectarian chanting from Rangers fans was mentioned within it.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021134034/http://www.scotsman.com/sport/spl-remains-tight-lipped-over-report-on-parkhead-chanting-1-830134|archive-date=21 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Racism has been directed at players on the pitch at Rangers games, including at former Celtic player Bobo Balde.<ref name="Root out racism">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/mar/10/newsstory.sport6|title=Rangers to root out racists|work=The Guardian|date=10 March 2003|access-date=19 August 2012|quote=Rangers chairman John McClelland has vowed to root out the racist fans who booed whenever Celtic's Bobo Balde and Momo Sylla had possession during his club's Old Firm derby defeat on Saturday.|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130114025212/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2003/mar/10/newsstory.sport6|archive-date=14 January 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>|group="n"}} [[William Gaillard]], UEFA's Director of Communications, commended the SFA and Scottish clubs, including Rangers, for their actions in fighting discrimination.<ref name="UEFA applaud rangers for fighting sectarianism">{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/top-football-stories/sfa-praised-for-stance-on-bigotry-1-725107|title=SFA praised for stance on bigotry|work=The Scotsman|access-date=24 August 2012|date=13 November 2006|author=Wright, Angus|quote="Education and prevention is what we are really looking at and Scotland is a great example of somewhere where that has done a tremendous amount in practically eradicating the worst features of discrimination."|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019032211/http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/top-football-stories/sfa-praised-for-stance-on-bigotry-1-725107|archive-date=19 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2007, UEFA praised Rangers for the measures the club has taken against sectarianism.<ref name="UEFA praise rangers for there work">{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article2501036.ece|title=Uefa praises Rangers for action on bigotry|work=The Times|date= 21 September 2007|access-date=22 March 2009|author=Spiers, Graham|author-link=Graham Spiers}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref name="Uefa praise rangers work 2">{{cite web|url=http://empower-sport.com/focus/scottish-premier-league/43-no-surrender-to-bigotry-.html|title=No Surrender to Bigotry|work=Empower-Sport British Supplement|publisher=Empower-Sport|date=20 February 2009|access-date=18 August 2012|author=Sekar, Satish|author-link=Satish Sekar|quote=Both UEFA and FIFA hold Rangers up as a positive example of a club determined to tackle the problem that threatens its future. And the SFA joins in that praise. "On the sectarianism front Rangers have tried to develop a policy across the Protestant/Catholic divide," says Mr Mitchell. "They have imposed a large number of life bans on supporters who have been identified and found guilty of sectarian behaviour." And Rangers is not alone in taking such action. "Generally speaking it is by the clubs," he says. "If there is a criminal prosecution that has an effect as well, but the clubs themselves have taken that action off their own back, because they have the right to decide who can come into the stadium or not."|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815161655/http://empower-sport.com/focus/scottish-premier-league/43-no-surrender-to-bigotry-.html|archive-date=15 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

However, sectarian chanting by supporters has continued to incur criticism and sanctions upon the club as well as convictions against individuals identified.<ref>[http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/14172111.SPFL_may_take_action_against_Rangers_over_sectarian_singing/ SPFL may take action against Rangers over sectarian singing] ''The Herald'' (Glasgow), 29 December 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/rangers-fan-jailed-for-three-months-1399629 Rangers fan jailed for three months for sectarian chanting at football ground] ''Daily Record'' (Scotland), 26 October 2012.</ref> In 1999, the vice-chairman of The Rangers Football Club Ltd, [[Donald Findlay]], resigned after being filmed singing sectarian songs during a supporters club event.<ref name="Findley songs inquiry">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/scottish_premier/357392.stm|title=Findlay songs inquiry launched|date=9 June 1999|work=BBC News|access-date=18 August 2012|quote=The Faculty of Advocates is to investigate complaints against the leading Scottish lawyer Donald Findlay QC after he was captured on camera singing sectarian songs.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124044538/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/scottish_premier/357392.stm|archive-date=24 January 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Findley caught singing songs">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/im-catholic-in-a-football-sense-1097932.html|title=I'm Catholic in a football sense|work=The Independent|date=4 June 1999|access-date=18 August 2012|author=O'Sullivan, Jack|quote=Findlay, Scotland's leading criminal lawyer, is a Protestant and proud of it. But he was embarrassed to be caught on video singing sectarian songs. They included "The Billy Boys", a verse of which goes: "We're up to our knees in Fenian blood, Surrender or you die, We are the Billy Boys."|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216081910/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/im-catholic-in-a-football-sense-1097932.html|archive-date=16 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Findley interview">{{cite press release|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/07_july/01/donald_findlay.shtml|title=On the Ropes – Donald Findlay QC|publisher=BBC Press Office|author=Humphrys, John|author-link=John Humphrys|date=2 July 2002|access-date=18 August 2012|quote=Donald Findlay QC tells John Humphrys about the effect singing sectarian, anti-Catholic songs at a party for Glasgow Rangers had on his life, and how he, at one stage, even contemplated suicide.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104062632/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/07_july/01/donald_findlay.shtml|archive-date=4 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body has punished Rangers for incidents during European ties, most notably [[Villarreal CF|Villarreal]] in 2006,<ref name="Fans singing 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01b5-0f84878f639f-ae9d924c5922-1000--rangers-appeal-upheld/|title=Rangers appeal upheld|publisher=UEFA|date=25 May 2006|access-date=18 August 2012|quote=UEFA appealed against the decision on 12 April by the Control and Disciplinary Body to find Rangers not guilty of alleged discriminatory chants by the club's supporters at both legs of the tie, on 22 February at Ibrox and 7 March at El Madrigal. Rangers have been fined €19,500 and severely warned about their responsibility for any future misconduct by their fans in relation to sectarian and discriminatory behaviour.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604131843/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/footballfirst/matchorganisation/disciplinary/news/newsid=424237.html|archive-date=4 June 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> [[CA Osasuna|Osasuna]] in 2007,<ref name="Uefa fine rangers and osasuna">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6564745.stm|title=Uefa fine for Rangers and Osasuna|work=BBC Sport|date=3 May 2007|access-date=18 August 2012|quote=Rangers have been fined £8,280 by Uefa for the behaviour of their fans during their match against Osasuna – but the Spanish club must pay £31,000.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114143525/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6564745.stm|archive-date=14 January 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> [[PSV Eindhoven]] in 2011,<ref name="Fans singing 2">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/12996888.stm|title=Rangers to contest Uefa sectarian singing charge|work=BBC Sport|date=7 April 2011|access-date=18 August 2012|quote=Rangers are to face a Uefa disciplinary hearing over allegations of sectarian singing during last month's Europa League match away to PSV Eindhoven. The club's chief executive Martin Bain says they are "utterly dismayed" by the decision and that they will defend the club's position "vigorously".|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314141118/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/12996888|archive-date=14 March 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Fans singing 3">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13218273.stm|title=Uefa fines Rangers and bans fans for one away game|work=BBC Sport|date=28 April 2011|access-date=28 April 2011|quote=Uefa has fined Rangers 40,000 euros (£35,652) and banned its fans from the next away European game for sectarian singing in a match at PSV Eindhoven.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507084751/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/13218273|archive-date=7 May 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> and at Ibrox in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49449628|title=Rangers: Uefa orders Ibrox section to close after 'sectarian singing'|publisher=BBC|date=23 August 2019|access-date=23 August 2019}}</ref> In February 2015, following sectarian singing from Rangers fans at a match at Raith Rovers, the [[Scottish Professional Football League|SPFL]] came in for criticism for their failure or inability to deal with the issue.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31629957 Sectarian chants provoke SPFL review of spectator misconduct] BBC, 28 February 2015.</ref> However, there have been cases of the police and courts taking action, with Rangers fans having been charged, convicted and jailed for sectarian behaviour.<ref>[http://www.scotsman.com/news/three-rangers-fans-guilty-of-sectarian-behaviour-1-3751234 Three Rangers fans guilty of sectarian behaviour] ''The Scotsman'', 22 April 2015.</ref>

Rangers' use of orange and blue change strips, first worn in 1993–94,<ref name="Rangers away historical kits" /> once in 2002–03<ref name = "2018–19 kits"/> and reintroduced in 2018–19<ref name="2018–19 kits" /> and 2022–23,<ref name="Rangers 22-23 Third Kit Released"/> has caused controversy because the colours are seen as referencing the [[Orange Order]].<ref name="2018–19 kits" />