Rangers ultras sparked outrage by painting anti-Pope graffiti in Glasgow just hours after Pope Francis's death on Easter Monday.
Members of the Union Bears group defaced a building visible from the M8 and M77 motorways with messages reading "No Pope of Rome" and "Papa Francesco is Dead".
The controversial display was painted in Rangers' red, white and blue colours on the wall of a building on MacLellan Street.
Pope Francis passed away peacefully at 7:35am after suffering a cerebral stroke and subsequent heart failure, according to his doctors. He was 88 years old.
Rangers fans posted anti-Pope graffiti after his death on Monday
Reuters/X
Celtic ultras retaliated by making their own display on the same wall, using green, white and orange colours.
Their message read "No Flags or Drums" - reportedly referencing claims that they had stolen equipment from their Rangers rivals.
The building on MacLellan Street is regularly used by fans of both Rangers and Celtic for graffiti messages due to its prominent location.
The incident has heightened tensions between the two clubs, which have historically been divided along sectarian lines, with Rangers traditionally seen as Protestant and Celtic as Catholic.
Rangers supporters took to social media platform X to condemn the graffiti display by their own ultras group.
"As a Rangers fan this disgusts me. How many of our own players are we offending here? I have no religious beliefs but I respect those who do. Keep it out of football," wrote one supporter.
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Another fan called the act "disgraceful, disgusting, and disrespectful."
"Only thing they can celebrate this season is an 88 year old Argentinian man living in Rome dying. Bit depressing," commented a third.
Others questioned the club's inclusive values, with one simply asking: "A club for everyone?"
The incident follows a pattern of sectarian tensions being expressed through public displays, with similar incidents reported elsewhere in the country.
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Rangers fans caused fury with their graffiti messages after the Pope's death
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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and a delegation from Celtic had previously met Pope Francis in 2023, when they were granted a private audience at the Vatican.
Before that meeting, Rodgers had expressed his excitement, saying: "That will be absolutely amazing. We would be blessed to do that, it would be a real privilege."
The two Glasgow rivals are set to meet for their final clash of the season on May 4.
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