RANGERS FANS IN TOTAL DISBELIEF AS ATHLETIC CLUB FANS BREAK INTO CELTIC CHANT
In the wake of Athletic Club’s decisive 2–0 aggregate victory over Rangers, pockets of Bilbao supporters stunned onlookers by launching into a well‑known Celtic chant—complete with green‑and‑white scarves and jerseys—just moments after the final whistle at San Mamés. The unexpected display left many Rangers fans fuming, accusing Athletic followers of taunting them with their fiercest Old Firm rival’s anthem  .
Witnesses at the ground and fans watching on social media reported seeing Athletic fans erupt with the chant traditionally reserved for Celtic matches, while others waved Celtic flags alongside their red-and-white stripes. The scene was all the more jarring given the fierce rivalry between Rangers and Celtic, and the fact that Athletic had just dispatched Rangers from the Europa League quarter‑finals .
Rangers supporters immediately took to Twitter and fan forums to condemn the episode. “I’m a Rangers fan and this shite has no place in football anymore,” wrote one supporter, reflecting the outrage echoed across the Ibrox faithful . Many accused Athletic Club of deliberately stoking sectarian tensions and disrespecting the pride of Rangers by invoking the tune of their arch‑rivals.
Rangers’ club officials have yet to issue a formal statement on the matter, but insiders suggest they are gathering evidence and eyewitness accounts for a potential complaint to UEFA. Should it be proven that Athletic supporters intentionally provoked sectarian animus, UEFA regulations on fan behaviour could see sanctions ranging from fines to stadium closures.
As debate rages on about fan conduct in European competition, one sentiment unites both sets of supporters: football should bring communities together, not fan the flames of historic rivalries. Whether UEFA will intervene remains to be seen, but for many Rangers fans, the echo of a Celtic chant in Bilbao was a bitter reminder that the game’s fiercest divides still run deep.
