Bigotry rife in Scotland - Lennon

Neil Lennon (left) knows about Old Firm rivalry

Celtic captain Neil Lennon claims religious bigotry is prevalent in many parts of Scottish society.

The 34-year-old Irish Catholic grew up during the troubles in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, but spent 14 years living in England before signing for Celtic.

"I don't know about the whole of Scotland but there are areas where I've witnessed bigotry even more severe than it is in Glasgow," he told BBC Sport.

"The bigotry thing is not going to go away, it'll be here a long time."

Lennon joined Celtic in 2000 and, two years later, retired from international football with Northern Ireland after receiving death threats, apparently made by Loyalists, before a friendly match against Cyprus.

But the midfielder pointed to an incident in Glasgow in May 2003 as evidence that bigotry is widespread in his adopted homeland.

Lennon was verbally abused by two students, one of whom was later convicted of assault.

It's running right through society, through the middle-classes to the upper-classes Neil Lennon

In an interview with BBC Radio Scotland, Lennon added: "To me, that was the most shocking thing about Scotland because I had 14 years in England where I got away from it all and never really experienced it.

"But there is no doubt about it that it is alive and kicking to the detriment of the majority of the people here.

"You can't pull any punches when it comes to Rangers and Celtic.

"It is an intense hatred, but I would like to see it just for the 90 minutes.

"I don't mind people calling me this, that or the other as long as it doesn't spill into my private life, but that's the problem, it has.

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"I've kept a level head and I haven't got carried away. There have been plenty of times when I've just wanted to throw the jacket off and get involved.

"In the incident with the two students, I had the guy lying on the ground after he headbutted me and there was blood pouring out of my nose.

"The only thing that was holding me back was the press reaction, they would have had a field day with it. So I walked away.

"The ironic thing was, one of the guys was from Aberdeen and it was two students, who you would assume to be intellectually very clever.

"So if that is the effect bigotry has then it's not just in the working-class, it's running right through society, through the middle-classes to the upper-classes as it were."