Herald & Times group has defended publication of an advert in the Sunday Herald from a group calling themselves ‘Celtic Supporters’, which claimed footballing rivals Rangers were now a new entity after being placed into liquidation in 2012.

The controversial ad is estimated to have cost around £1,600 to take out and was only accepted after the publisher received the all clear from both Police Scotland and the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP).

“As with all commercial customer advertising, Herald & Times group adhere to all legal requirements and guidelines with regard to the suitability & accuracy of the actual adverts we carry in our titles. With regard to the advert placed by a group representing themselves as ‘Celtic Supporters’, we reviewed the initial copy supplied and passed this to the Advertising Standards Authority and our own group lawyers and, as a result rejected the supplied copy on various legal grounds and requested substantial changes and substantive evidence before we would consider for approval for publication," a spokesperson told The Drum.

“On completion of this process, we then submitted final provided artwork and accompanying evidence and received clearance from the Advertising Standards Authority and our own group legal team to ensure compliance on all legal grounds. We then supplied this same copy and took advice from Police Scotland who confirmed they had no concerns as to its publication.’’

The ad comes just one week before the two sides face-off against each other at Hampden in the Scottish League Cup semi-final.

Clarification: Herald & Evening Times has confirmed that it spoke to the Committee of Advertising, which works with the ASA on advises advertsers prior to going live.