Piara Powar, executive director of the FARE network, which campaigns against discrimination in 41 European countries, said UEFA had taken the lead on the issue.

Celtic have been charged by UEFA over "illicit chanting" in the Europa League win over Rennes at Parkhead after pro-IRA songs were sung and are likely to be fined if the charge is proved.

Rangers received an away day ban for fans earlier this year from European football's ruling body after a second offence of sectarian chanting.

Powar told Press Association Sport: "The extent of the problem we have seen in Glasgow has been around for years and years but it's only in the last 12 months that the authorities have really begun to get their heads around it.

"I think Scottish football had fallen into a place where there was a sense of 'we don't like what happens but the whole city is caught up with it'.

"There was not enough done to take the bull by the horns and it has taken an outside organisation like UEFA to shine an external light on the problem.

"That added to the embarrassment and built up pressure on Scottish football to get their own house in order, and after the last year with Neil Lennon being targeted and then the Rangers ban there has been a sense of awakening."