Sectarian chanting is often heard during Old Firm games

Taylor, who is to become Uefa's new general secretary, praised the Old Firm clubs' efforts to tackle the problem.

"Uefa are very pleased at what the clubs are doing," said Taylor.

Uefa has warned clubs they will be fined if their fans indulge in sectarian, racist or offensive chanting during games.

The outgoing SFA chief said the efforts of Celtic and Rangers were recognised by Uefa.

"Uefa are very pleased, in fact suggesting that they are almost an example to some other clubs in other parts of Europe who have got racist problems," he said.

Rangers were fined �13,000 last year for offensive chanting in their Champions League games against Villarreal - and both Old Firm clubs have appealed to their fans not to sing offensive or sectarian songs.

This is a multi-faceted problem in Scottish society and it's not just a football problem SFA chief executive David Taylor

"It's going to take a number of years to address the issue in a concerted way, but we have started now and that's what I'm pleased about," Taylor added.

"I myself chaired a sectarianism working group with the Scottish Executive to make sure football is going to take action in Scotland. We are not going to sit on our hands.

"Equally, in Europe, if this happens in away matches, Uefa have already shown what they are prepared to do."

Taylor said a number of sanctions are in place to combat sectarianism and he added that he believed they would play dividends.

"We helped encourage government to introduce new laws, such as football banning orders, which came into force in September last year," he said.

"There is a whole range of new of disciplinary measures that will be introduced by the SFA and the SPL.

"This is a multi-faceted problem in Scottish society and it's not just a football problem.

"We have to be realistic, but we also have to be active."