A Co Armagh soccer club which was recently honoured with a civic reception has apologised after a video emerged of anti-Catholic chants being sung by some supporters during celebrations of a league win.
Hanover FC, based in Portadown, said the matter has been dealt with internally and that it "wholeheartedly condemns all forms of sectarianism".
The video, which was shared on social media but has since been removed, was taken at an event to mark the presentation of the Mid Ulster Intermediate League trophy to the club last Saturday.
On the clip, players, officials and supporters can be seen celebrating while the Tina Turner hit 'Simply the Best' plays in the background.
During the song's chorus, some of those in the room can be clearly heard chanting 'F**k the Pope and the IRA'.
Sinn Féin's Paul Duffy, deputy mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, said it was "unbefitting" of any sports club to behave in such a way.
"The council held a civic reception for them just a few weeks ago, so it was very disappointing to watch this video, although they have since apologised," he said.
"Politics should be left out of sport. There are an awful lot of teams playing each other across both communities all over the north and we need to create more equality and respect."
He added: "As a party we condemned it when a bonfire in Lurgan burned a flag belonging to Hanover FC."
In a statement Hanover FC said that as soon as it was made aware of the footage of "derogatory singing by some supporters in attendance", officials had the video removed "and furthermore opened direct contact with Mid-Ulster Football League in order to apologise and work to resolve the issue".
"We would hope not to be judged by the mindless actions of the few but by the hard work that we have put in as a club to build strong community ties and relationships with other clubs and organisations from all sides of the community," it added.
Last month football fans wearing Northern Ireland replica shirts were captured on video singing "We hate Catholics, we hate Roman Catholics" to the tune of Tiffany's 'I Think We're Alone Now'.
The video clip widely circulated on social media was recorded after Northern Ireland's win against Belarus in a European Championship qualifier.
The Irish Football Association (IFA) said it would ban any fans participating in such behaviour.
