Rangers ban fans for racial abuse of Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi

Scottish football club Glasgow Rangers have acted swiftly to punish their supporters who were filmed racially abusing Celtic’s Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi.

The Scottish Premiership champions announced on Monday that the fans have been banned from matches after an investigation into the footage, which was shared on social media on Sunday.

“Rangers can confirm that an investigation is now complete in regard to a video circulating on social media yesterday.

“The individuals involved have been identified and will be banned indefinitely from all Rangers games.

Rangers also announced that the Rangers Supporters Club (RSC), which the fans were travelling to the club’s game against Ross County as part of on Sunday, will not receive match tickets in future.

“Furthermore, the RSC of which they were members and travelled with to the game, have been banned from receiving tickets for future fixtures.”

Celtic blast ‘sickening’ racist abuse of Japan striker Furuhashi

Rangers’ next game is against Celtic in the first Old Firm Derby match of the season, where the champions welcome the Bhoys to Ibrox on Sunday.

In the video, which was originally shared on Snapchat, a number of men sang vile songs about the 26-year-old Japan striker with at least one Rangers supporter filmed making a “slant-eyed” gesture.

One song the men sang included the lyrics “Furuhashi ate my dog, ate my dog” which Rangers fans also used to sing towards former Celtic player Shunsuke Nakamura, who is also Japanese.

The men then sang “Let’s all do Kyogo” with at least one performing the eye gesture often used to abuse East Asians.

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou spoke to the club’s official website about the abuse that his star signing received.

“Our number one priority is to protect and support the player,” the Australian said. “He’s a cracking guy. If anyone ever comes across him, he’s such a nice young man and he doesn’t deserve any of that type of behaviour – no one does, to be honest. No one does.”

Celtic’s Japan star Furuhashi hits hat-trick on home debut

Postecoglou signed Furuhashi from J. League side Vissel Kobe after seeing him up close while managing Yokohama F Marinos, telling Celtic TV he felt some responsibility.

“To be honest, it saddens me a lot because I’m the one who’s brought him over. I spent three-and-a-half years in Japan, and I was a foreigner, and I was welcomed with open arms over there.

“I know how polite and respectful the Japanese people were, and I’m the one who brought Kyogo here. I’m sure his experience is the extreme opposite of what’s been portrayed in the last 48 hours.”

Furuhashi has six goals in seven games since joining Celtic and he could go someway to securing cult status if he scores in Sunday’s Old Firm.