A football club accused a daily newspaper of trying to “stoke up sectarian tension” in an interview with a former footballer.

Linfield Football Club, in Belfast, complained to the press watchdog over a story in Glasgow’s Daily Record in which former Scottish footballer Joe Miller made claims about a training session and friendly match during the 1990s.

Mr Miller played most notably for Scottish clubs Celtic and Aberdeen, and made comments about a match against Linfield while playing for the latter.

He revealed at a press conference he had feared being “target practice” during a training session at Linfield’s Winsdor Park stadium, adding “there were red dots on us for the whole 90 minutes” during a friendly match between the two clubs at the same venue.

Joe Miller, in the foreground, during his playing days with Aberdeen

In its complaint to the Independent Press Standards Organisation under Clause 1 (Accuracy) and Clause 12 (Discrimination) of the Editors’ Code of Practice, Linfield FC described Mr Miller’s claims as “damaging allegations” and said that the article was inaccurate becauseno football match had taken place between Aberdeen and Linfield at any point in the 1990s.

The club, which is traditionally associated with having a mainly Protestant fanbase, also said that the article was an attempt to stoke up sectarian tension and was discriminatory because it suggested that the grounds were not safe for members of the Catholic faith.

The Record responded that its reporter had twice challenged Mr Miller on the veracity of his comments after being unable to find a record of the match, but was assured that events had taken place although there would not necessarily be any record of a friendly match taking place.

After publication, the Record became aware that the details about the game were significantly inaccurate and, because he inaccurate information had come from the Mr Miller’s recollection, it was appropriate that the ensuing correction and apology came through his words.

The paper also wrote a letter to Linfield’s chairman apologising for any upset caused by the original article, while the story under complaint was removed from the newspaper’s website.

Linfield said that the published apology was exceptionally qualified, suggesting that events may have taken place somewhere else in Northern Ireland, and added that the Record should publish a full apology for its failures in this instance.

IPSO found the events in question were alleged to have taken place many years ago, and in publishing the claims, the Record took care to present them as Mr Miller’s recollection of events as he had witnessed them.

It added the apology had been appropriately worded and placed, and was prompt.

The complaint was not upheld, and the full adjudication can be read here.