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Education not punishment will deter bigotry - Kilmarnock striker Boyd

Boyd claims he has now become accustomed to abuse directed his way.

Kilmarnock striker Kris Boyd claims education of wider society is the only way to tackle Scottish football's sectarian problem as he dismissed the concept of strict liability as "ludicrous".

The former Rangers striker appeared alongside Killie boss Steve Clarke at a media conference to speak out against religious bigotry after the pair were targeted by fans from the opposite side of Glasgow's divide in the past week.

Boyd was also struck by a coin from a Celtic supporter but he dismissed calls for clubs to be held responsible for the actions of fans.

"For me, there is a wider range that needs educating, there's no getting away from it. I mean, it's not just people who go to football games, there's a wider range of society that needs educating," the 35-year-old said.

"When you're brought up in Scotland, nine times out of 10 it's either Rangers or Celtic. You're either following the Catholic way or the Protestant way, that's life. But can something be done about it? Yes. You're not born a bigot, you're not born a racist, it's taught."

However, Boyd does not believe introducing UEFA-style strict liability into the domestic game is the answer.

"If we're talking about maybe deducting points and things like that as well, what a load of rubbish," he said.

"I mean it's not possible to do it. If you say, for example, right now Celtic are top of the league and some idiot can go pay a Rangers fan to go sit in the Celtic end and throw a bottle and they are going to take points taken off them.

"It is ludicrous to suggest we'll take points off somebody. I mean it's a wider aspect that needs addressing, it's not just football clubs, it's society that needs educating right from the very bottom."

While Clarke was shaken by his abuse at the hands of Rangers fans, Boyd labelled the words coming from Celtic supporters as irrelevant, although he had called for action over the missile.

"It's not everybody in the west of Scotland," he said. "The big thing here is there is a small group of people, still willing to chant and do whatever they want.

"My issue, maybe it's wrong, but I'm used to the chants, I can take it, it doesn't bother me. It's water off a duck's back to me. I grew up in it."

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic220085275884
2RangersRangers220078255381
3Hearts20114637963
4Kilmarnock20114438652
5St Mirren21014246-446
6Dundee20024659-1341
Relegation Group
1Hibernian21014854-642
2Aberdeen22003749-1241
3Motherwell21015053-340
4Ross County21013459-2533
5St Johnstone20022550-2531
RLivingston21012563-3821
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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