Tom English has accused Ally McCoist of wanting to sing sectarian songs when Rangers take on Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday.

McCoist hit out at Scotland’s new hate crime law while on talkSPORT on Tuesday, saying: “I along with 48,000 will be committing a breach of that hate Bill in the particular Rangers v Celtic game we are all going to. It is madness.”

BBC Scotland’s chief sports writer English reacted to McCoist’s comments while on BBC Radio Scotland on Saturday, accusing the Ibrox legend of wanting to sing sectarian songs – something which Michael Stewart disagreed with instantly live on air.

English said: “He was criticising the hate crime bill, which many have been and that’s his prerogative. But to back up that point, he said – paraphrasing – ‘myself and 50,000 other Rangers fans will be singing songs that will be in breach of the hate crime bill on Sunday’. Meaning, he will be singing the Billy Boys and he will be singing about [expletive] Blood.”

Stewart interjected to say: “I’m not sure that he was saying that.”

English doubled down, saying: “No, that’s what he was saying.”

Stewart disagreed again: “I’m not sure he was,” he said.

Why won’t Ally McCoist attend Rangers v Celtic?

After those somewhat controversial comments by McCoist ahead of the Old Firm in relation to Scotland’s new hate crime law, the former striker won’t be attending the game.

He’s said that he won’t be there due to a family commitment that was already planned and that it’s not to do with what he said on talkSPORT.

English’s comments about the Ibrox legend are a disgrace.

It was a flippant comment at best used in jest to hit out at the controversial new bill that’s been passed by Scotland’s government.

At best, McCoist could have been suggesting that the law is flawed and too open to interpretation, meaning that people could unknowingly be in breach of it.

It’s incredible that English has taken the leap of suggesting one of Britain’s most-loved football pundits is openly suggesting on national radio that he will be taking part in singing sectarian songs on Sunday afternoon.

We very much doubt this will be the last we’ll hear about this.

In other Rangers news, police concerns have been sparked ahead of the Celtic clash amid a recent development in Scotland.

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