Singing the Hokey Cokey during football match may land you in jail!

London, December 22 (ANI): Singing the Hokey Cokey-an old novelty song that has been part at children's parties and at sherry-fuelled family gatherings for many years-during a football match may land you in trouble, as Scottish politicians consider it to be a criminal act that may incite religious hatred.

Cops in the country have been asked to arrest anyone found using the song to "taunt" Catholics under legislation designed to prevent incitement to religious hatred.

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The move comes after the Catholic Church and some Scottish politicians suggested that singing the popular tune that begins with the words "You put your right hand in, your right hand out" might constitute an act of religious hatred.

According to the leader of the church in Scotland, this song has disturbing origins.

Critics claim that the song was composed in the 18th century by Puritans with a view to mocking the actions and language of priests leading the Latin mass.

Supporters of Rangers Football Club are said to have been banned from singing anti-Catholic songs at Ibrox stadium to taunt their rivals Celtic, a club with Catholic roots.

Meanwhile, football freaks are using Internet forums to discuss the possibility of getting round the ban by singing the Hokey Cokey at next week's Old Firm derby between the clubs.

"This song does have quite disturbing origins. Although apparently innocuous, it was devised as an attack on and a parody of the Catholic mass. If there are moves to restore its more malevolent meaning then consideration should perhaps be given to its wider use," the Telegraph quoted Peter Kearney, a spokesman for Cardinal Keith O'Brien, as saying.

As per the church, the song's title derives from the words "hocus pocus", the phrase which was a Puritan parody of the Latin "hoc est enim corpus meum" or "this is my body" used by Catholic priests to accompany the transubstantiation during mass.

Michael Matheson, the SNP MSP, stressed the need for the police and football clubs to be aware of the sinister background of the song, and to take action against groups who used it in matches.

The suggestion, however, has not gone down well with opposition leaders.

Murdo Fraser, deputy leader of the Scottish Tories, said: "I can't believe Scottish children performing the Hokey Cokey are doing so in pursuit of any sort of anti-Catholic agenda."

Barry McFarland, a 26-year-old football fan from Stirling, said that Scotland fans sang a version of the song praising Diego Maradona's so-called "hand of God" goal against England.

He said: "The Tartan Army sing 'Diego put the English out, out out'. Does that make them sectarian? It is an absurd claim and a lot of utter nonsense that anyone would sing this in a bigoted way." (ANI)