POLICE have vowed to crack down on football fans singing the Hokey Cokey - after claims the song is sectarian.
Catholic church leaders believe the old time children's ditty pokes fun at priests. And they fear it could be hijacked by bigots.
The Hokey Cokey became a popular song and dance in the UK and the US during the 1940s.
But some claim it was composed by Puritans during the 18th century.
They say it originates from "hocuspocus" - a reference to the Latin Mass - and the words used by priests to give communion: "Hoc est enim corpus meum", or "This is my body".
It has also been claimed references to "left-hand in, left-hand out" ridicule the priest's movements during theMass.
The issue was raised after comments made on Rangers websites in the wake of a ban on The Famine Song.
Some supporters discussed whether they would now be able to belt out the Hokey Cokey without offending anyone.
Peter Kearney, a spokesman for the Catholic church in Scotland, said: "This song does have quite disturbing origins. It was devised as an attack on, and a parody of, the Mass. If there are moves to restore its more malevolent meaning then consideration should perhaps be given to its wider use."
SNP MSP Michael Matheson urged police to "take the appropriate action" against those using it to taunt Catholics.
But Labour MSP Frank McAveety - himself a Catholic - said: "I remember doing the Hokey Cokey at family parties.
"We must all have been offending each other without realising.
"I have visions of Alex Salmond's barmy army kicking down doors to get into kids' parties and dragging everyone off to jail."
Stephen Smith of the Rangers Supporters Trust said it was "the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life".
But police promised to investigate any complaints made - and could lock up anyone found singing the song in a sectarian context.
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Catholic church leaders believe the old time children's ditty pokes fun at priests. And they fear it could be hijacked by bigots.
The Hokey Cokey became a popular song and dance in the UK and the US during the 1940s.
But some claim it was composed by Puritans during the 18th century.
They say it originates from "hocuspocus" - a reference to the Latin Mass - and the words used by priests to give communion: "Hoc est enim corpus meum", or "This is my body".
It has also been claimed references to "left-hand in, left-hand out" ridicule the priest's movements during theMass.
The issue was raised after comments made on Rangers websites in the wake of a ban on The Famine Song.
Some supporters discussed whether they would now be able to belt out the Hokey Cokey without offending anyone.
Peter Kearney, a spokesman for the Catholic church in Scotland, said: "This song does have quite disturbing origins. It was devised as an attack on, and a parody of, the Mass. If there are moves to restore its more malevolent meaning then consideration should perhaps be given to its wider use."
SNP MSP Michael Matheson urged police to "take the appropriate action" against those using it to taunt Catholics.
But Labour MSP Frank McAveety - himself a Catholic - said: "I remember doing the Hokey Cokey at family parties.
"We must all have been offending each other without realising.
"I have visions of Alex Salmond's barmy army kicking down doors to get into kids' parties and dragging everyone off to jail."
Stephen Smith of the Rangers Supporters Trust said it was "the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life".
But police promised to investigate any complaints made - and could lock up anyone found singing the song in a sectarian context.
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