Nevin, now a media pundit, told MSPs he had grown up in the east end of Glasgow, where the club is based, and was part of the area’s Irish catholic Diaspora.
“I supported Celtic for most of my life,” he said.
“But one day, I found myself sitting in the stand with my son, who had started to take an interest in football, hearing the song
Ooh ah, up the RA.
“I could not accept bringing up my son alongside that, so I was driven away from the club that I loved. I was very disappointed about that.”
Nevin was commentating for the BBC at this year’s cup final between Celtic and Dundee United when he provoked the ire of the club when he hit out at a section of their fans over their chants.
He told MSPs: “The song went something like, ‘As a young man, I’m going to join the IRA – provisional wing’.
“It offended me and I do not want to hear it at a football ground.
“I was shocked and surprised that Celtic Football Club and a great number of fans complained to the BBC, because I expect to hear them say that they do not want to hear that sort of song at their ground.”
Former Scotland international Pat Nevin has told MSPs he was “driven away” from the football club he loved after hearing sectarian chants from Celtic fans when he was at Parkhead with his young son.
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