By Steve Bargeton, political editor

FIRST MINISTER Jack McConnell yesterday tried to defuse the row over a football player being cautioned by police after crossing himself and making other gestures during an Old Firm match.

Celtic’s Polish goalkeeper Artur Boruc was cautioned for a breach of the peace due to his actions during a match against Rangers in February.

The case has made headlines around the world with accusations of religious intolerance being levelled against the Scottish authorities.

The decision to caution the player has been condemned by the Catholic Church and yesterday SNP leader Alex Salmond said the Crown Office had “bungled” the affair.

At the weekend UK Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly said she was surprised that such an action had been taken in a country “which has valued religious diversity and there has been freedom of expression.”

Independent MSP Dennis Canavan said the incident threatens to “bring Scots law into international disrepute and Scotland is in danger of being regarded as some kind of backwater.”

But Mr McConnell and the Crown Office yesterday insisted that Boruc had not been cautioned for blessing himself.

Launching a scheme to encourage more youngsters to take up football, the First Minister said, “I think politicians should be very careful with commenting on cautions and the work of the procurator fiscal.

“But my understanding, and I think it was clarified again this morning by the Crown Office, is that the Celtic goalkeeper was not cautioned for a religious act, he was cautioned for other acts.

“I do think it is important that, while these stories can be sensational and can be interesting for everybody, that we try this week of all weeks, when we start a new European Championship campaign, to concentrate on the positives about Scottish football.”

A spokesman for the Crown Office and Prosecution Service said the player was not cautioned for making the sign of the cross.

“He wasn’t cautioned for blessing himself—it was the other things,” she said.

“The Prosecution Service in Scotland fully respects religious beliefs and practices, and would not countenance formal action against individuals for actions of religious observance.

“But we would equally make it clear that the police and prosecutors cannot ignore conduct which appears to be inciting disorder.

“There was an alleged gesticulation and incensing of the crowd. It was this, rather than the act of blessing himself, which led to the action being taken.”

Following the clarification from the Crown Office, Bishop Joseph Devine, president of the National Communications Commission of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, said, “I welcome the Crown Office clarification on this matter, particularly the explanation that the fiscal in considering the behaviour of the player ‘did not in any way refer to the act of blessing himself.’

“Equally, the Crown Office statement that they fully respect religious belief and practices and ‘would not countenance formal action against individuals for acts of religious observance’ is both welcome and reassuring.”

Mr Salmond, who has accused prosecutors of “taking leave of their senses,” has written to Lord Advocate Lord Boyd.

“The impression has been given that blessing yourself has become a potential breach of the peace,” said Mr Salmond.

“I understand from some media coverage that, in this case, the individual may have undertaken other alleged behaviour, but want clarifi-cation that the act of blessing your-self is not in itself a breach of the peace.

“Otherwise we are left in the totally unacceptable position that identifying with a religion in this way could be construed as committing an inflammatory act.”

Mr Canavan has lodged a question in the Scottish Parliament asking the Lord Advocate to publish guidelines to prosecutors outlining “the circumstances, if any, whereby making the sign of the cross may constitute a criminal offence.”

“Whatever people’s views are of the Artur Boruc incident, we are all entitled to a fuller explanation of the circumstances, if any, whereby making the sign of the cross may constitute a criminal offence under Scots law,” he said.

“If the Crown Office fails to give a satisfactory explanation, then it is in danger of bringing Scots law into international disrepute and Scotland is in danger of being regarded as some kind of backwater.

“This now requires urgent clarity otherwise we will be left with the unacceptable and unsatisfactory impression that in Scotland expressions of faith become a matter for the criminal justice system.”