Rangers supporter convicted of performing Nazi salute during game against German team

A supporter of Rangers Football Club has been convicted of performing a Nazi salute during a game against German team RB Leipzig.

Josh Smith, 29, was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner which was racially aggravated for performing the Nazi gesture on 5th May at Rangers’ Ibrox Stadium.

Mr Smith of Inverclyde initially denied performing the gesture when questioned by police and instead claimed that the gesture was for the “hand and the Crown.”

PC Mark Boyd, who was on call during the game that day and who witnessed Mr Smith perform the Nazi salute, said that he felt “disgusted that someone would do these gestures in this day and age.”

The defendant insisted to the court that the gesture was in reference to the “red hand of Ulster and the Crown” due to the affiliation between Northern Ireland and Rangers, adding: “For me the red hand was a symbol of not surrendering…the tie went to two-two and it was on a knife edge. I was merely signalling we would not surrender and continue to fight.”

Mr Smith was fined £790 and has been banned from attending all football matches in the United Kingdom for six months.

Earlier this year, a Rangers fan was banned by the Club from attending future matches after he appeared to have also performed a Nazi salute during a friendly match against West Ham United.

Campaign Against Antisemitism continues to act against instances of anti-Jewish racism in all sports.