Rangers fans are under scrutiny after unveiling a series of banners – that included the message “Keep woke foreign ideologies out – defend Europe” – at Thursday’s Europa League victory against Fenerbahce.
The banner was unfurled during a match they lost 2-0 against José Mourinho’s team before prevailing in a dramatic penalty shoot-out following a 3-3 aggregate score.
Uefa’s disciplinary rules prohibit “provocative messages that are of a political, ideological, religious or offensive nature”, although the exact meaning of the messages has been debated.
A formal disciplinary investigation, therefore, appears unlikely but Uefa’s disciplinary body will assess all reports from the match before deciding on any possible next steps.
Rangers’ bitter rivals Celtic avoided sanction for singing “Lizzie’s in a box” and “If you hate the Royal family, clap your hands” in front of the Prince of Wales last month in the Champions League.
There were also reports on Thursday night that Fenerbahce fans in the away end at Ibrox had vandalised parts of the stadium by ripping out seats.
Both sets of fans had been united in tribute to Christopher Potter, the Rangers fan who tragically died last week after being struck by two cars in Besiktas ahead of the first leg.
A banner in the Fenerbahce end before the game displayed an image of Potter with a Rangers scarf and the message “Christopher Potter Rest In Peace”.
The Rangers fans also displayed several banners, including one which covered much of one stand and displayed the words “Rest Easy Christopher Potter”.
Rangers had led 3-1 after the first leg but were forced into a penalty shoot-out where two saves by Jack Butland and a miss from Mert Hakan Yandas clinched their progression into the last eight. Rangers will next face Athletic Club Bilbao, with the first leg due to be played at Ibrox on Thursday, April 10.
“They showed character in abundance and we have to do that going forward – overall, I’m just delighted to be into the quarters,” said the interim head coach Barry Ferguson.
