Celtic and Rangers clubs have undertaken initiatives to stamp out sectarianism

Michael McGimpsey, who was sports minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly, came under attack from the cross community Alliance Party at the weekend over sectarianism on the province's football pitches.

However, Mr McGimpsey criticised Alliance sports spokesman Michael Long over his call for sectarianism at Irish League clubs to be stamped out.

Mr Long had chosen the wrong target, he said.

"Football on its own cannot solve society's problems," Mr McGimpsey said.

"Football is the biggest game in Northern Ireland. It is truly the people's game. It has so much to offer society and is the one sport in Northern Ireland that is played and watched by all classes."

He said Mr Long's comments were "insulting" to those who run Irish League Clubs and attend matches.

But Mr Long accused the former minister of failing to introduce legislation to tackle sectarianism.

'Strengthen legislation'

"I have attended hundreds of local and international football games over the years. If Mr McGimpsey thinks there is no sectarian chanting, one wonders if he visits the same grounds," he said.

A delegation from the Alliance Party travelled to Edinburgh and Glasgow last week to discuss anti-sectarian measures introduced in Scotland.

"When I met with the Irish Football Association, they wanted better legislative back-up to deal with the problems they face, yet the former minister still wasn't able to introduce the Football Offences Act in Northern Ireland," Mr Long said.

He said Mr McGimpsey's criticism of Alliance for asking advice from the Old Firm teams was "laughable in light of his own inaction".