Ally McCoist sparks row after insisting he'll break new hate crime law ...

Ally McCoist has sparked controversy after claiming that he will break the law along with 48,000 football fans during this Sunday’s Old Firm clash.

The Rangers legend was speaking in relation to the divisive new Hate Crime and Public Order Act which came into force in Scotland on Easter Monday.

It extends the previous law against expressing racial hatred to create a new offence of “threatening or abusive behaviour that is intended to stir up hatred” on the grounds of age, disability, religion, sexual orientation and transgender identity.

And speaking in his role as a talkSPORT pundit, said: “We’ve got a hate bill, by the way. A hate bill has been passed in the country.

“And I can guarantee you, next Sunday at Ibrox, I, along with 48,000 will be committing a breach of that hate bill in the particular Rangers vs Celtic game we are all going to. It is madness.”

McCoist went on to claim that the new law is “unenforceable” and suggested, without any evidence, that even police officers are against the rules which were approved by politicians in 2021.

The pundit added: “That’s exactly what the police think. Everybody with two brain cells in their head knows it’s madness, crazy. There is nobody in our country who thinks that is a good idea, who I have spoken to.”

Do you agree with Scotland's new hate speech law? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.

JK Rowling and Elon Musk are among the high-profile figures to have expressed disapproval for the law but Scotland’s first minister Hamza Yusuf said yesterday: “I’m very proud of the Hate Crime Act. We have seen I’m afraid, not just in the UK and of course Scotland, but right across many parts of the world is a kind of rising tide of hatred against people because of their protected characteristics.”

Celtic go into Sunday's game with a one-point lead over their cross-town rivals but with an extra game played. Brendan Rodgers ' team have won their two previous meetings this season by a single goal.

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