This is a welcome statement; it is about time that the club took steps to prevent this type of behaviour at Celtic Park. I just wish that the Club would have acted on this prior to the recent events in the press surrounding this song and not in the reactive manner that it is now.
Reid said: "We should condemn racism and sectarianism without fear or favour wherever they arise, That is an essential part of Celtic Football Club's ethos."
If this is an essential part of Celtic's ethos Mr Reid, then why have we allowed this sung to be sung prior to the press melee in relation to a letter sent by a Celtic fan highlighting this racism to the authorities? This song should have been criticised by the Club long before now!
Dr Reid continued: "As both Rangers Football Club and Strathclyde Police have stated, the content of the song - which is directed against the community of Irish descent in Scotland - is in breach of Race Relations legislation and exposes its perpetrators to the risk of prosecution.
"The Irish Famine was a human tragedy of immense proportions. It is one of the few such events for which the British Government has expressed specific regret for its share of responsibility.
"Few of those who sing this song will have stopped to think that famine is non-sectarian and the millions of people who died or were forced into mass emigration - some of them to Scotland - were from all faiths and traditions within Ireland."
Reid was also quick to point out that we have our own crosses to bear in this situation, and whilst we are far from being "two sides of the same coin" we still have a little work to do in relation to our own behaviour.
"Celtic supporters have received well-earned international plaudits in recent years for the way in which they conduct themselves at home and abroad," he said.
"But we are not complacent. I would again condemn, without equivocation, the use of any chants or songs which can be interpreted as support for religious or ethnic hatred, or for acts of violence
"The assistance of true Celtic supporters in weeding out the minority who persist in that behaviour, usually at away games, is greatly appreciated and results in stringent action."
Many Celtic fans may be angered that the Club would appear to be turning the spotlight back onto our own support in this manner. Whether or not this is the Club using this situation to make one final push at self-cleansing or whether the Club seeks to put itself above reproach before taking punitive action against others I cannot bring myself to criticise the Club for this stance.
My only criticism of the Club is that it never took proactive steps prior to the press backlash in relation to one Celtic fans letter to the Irish Embassy in London.
At least it would appear that the defence of "banter" has truly been blown out of the water!
Yours in Celtic
Clydebuilt