The Daily Record won credit for scooping the off-field story of the week, multiple investigations into singing by Celtic fans, but others are beginning to ask who gave the newspaper details of a police investigation.
The stories broke in an unusual manner, with SFA referee and policeman, Eddie Smith, named as the person who reported Celtic fans to Uefa and the SPL. The officer made what looks like an inexplicable decision after some confrontations inside Celtic Park, without mentioning a word of his concerns to the Celtic security people during the game – the normal procedure for such incidents.
Smith, who has Celtic supporting credentials, was named, providing the perfect foil to deflect accusations that this was some sort of Masonic conspiracy, which it was not. The entire episode is a classic internecine dispute among Celtic supporters, but with the comments made to Uefa, the story was parcelled up for the Record by a Strathclyde Police spokesman.
The Daily Record reported, “A spokesman for Strathclyde Police said: “For Eddie [Smith] to speak to the delegate after the match is nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, it is standard practice””. This is completely irrelevant.
Celtic’s retort in the same article got to the heart of the issue – why the police are speaking to Uefa and the media but not speaking to the club: “This is quite unprecedented as no issues were raised to the club during the match and the police didn’t inform us directly about their concerns.”
Control over media communications from Strathclyde Police falls to Director of Communications, Rob Shorthouse, (pictured on the left). Shorthouse, whose own favourite team have taken a reputational battering from Uefa in recent seasons, despite silence from the police, should be concerned that the force have given newspapers material for three days of screaming headlines instead of addressing the key concern about departure from established procedure. This has only inflamed a volatile situation between Celtic fans and officers on the ground. Shorthouse, who held a similar position at the SFA until two years ago, will be familiar with the sensitivities of football issues.
Perhaps a Freedom of Information request will reveal who leaked a story that laid out details which reflected so badly on Celtic. All we want is equal treatment, as a former chairman once commented.
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Effin’s all over the blog. Yuk. HH.
Coorslad ,sorry to hear you were unwell, disnae seem that long
ago that you where top of the podium chaser league.
Get yourself fit and give Philvis a run for his money…..pleeeeeze.
I think it’s a good thing Celtic Fans have found this exposé, through freedom of information, we were hardly likely to be told from within.
It also shows the brazen audacity and arrogance of our enemies, to hold high office and be be literally linked in, with The Sun.
Sterling work, in new media.
Football related…… scroll on past if not interested.
Local NW engerlund news, Mancinis son just signed on loan for Oldham, he was in the City under 19’s v Celts recently in Manchester, not a bad player but wouldn’t get in our 19’s :¬)
ps the press should be all over our under 19’s, you’d think they’d be proud of the future of one of Glasgows teams doing so well in a prestigious Euro tourney.
Why not I wonder?
V
HH
Who ties Ally’s ties in the morning?
Evening all.
It was only a matter of time that they upped the focus on the club and it’s fans as a means of deflecting away from other issues in the game.
There has been on heck of a lot of hysterical reaction from all parties and some crazy statements from public figures who should know better.
Let the People Sing their stories and their songs. Who gives a few narrow minded bigots and fools the right to determine what is wrong or right?
The deafening silence and complete lack of action is further admission of the guilt of the very organisations now pursuing Celtic who have failed over the last 20 years to deal with the real bigots and fools whose songs attack and besmirch those not of their church.
It’s too easy to descend into the usual what about them argument but this time every honest man must stand and face down these fools who would look to criminilise you and I and the club we hold so dear.
Where were they when children were dying in the streets,
Where were they when starvation and torment were banter
They were sucking at the teet that has fed off that same bile and bigotry for over one hundred years without shame or fear
Of how I will sing when those walls come tumbling down around their ears. Never have I wanted it to happen so badly!
LuboJinky with the amount of chin-age that needs to be circumnavigated, I’d say quite a few people.
Good evening friends.
Jobo
Voguepunter,just hit recently with Pheumonia and a callasped lung,witch A+E failed to detect..how do you miss a callasped lung,twice..will have to regain my place at the top of the blog..
How incredibly needless was the death of young Stephen Lawrence. Just hope justice is done this time around.
Corrigan on Snyde now.
The director of communications at Strathclyde Police (and formerly of the SFA) and his partner, a Daily Record employee, both Rangers supporters? Now we’re getting to the heart of the matter…..
Vmhan – Interesting aside about Mancini’s son, he refused to come on as a sub in an under-19’s game for Man City, around the same time as the Tevez hallabaloo kicked off.
Coorslad- Good luck mate HH.
Pro-IRA songs guilty of breach of the peace according to the Crown office
VP- you need to read back a couple of pages :0
Celtic play Rennes in a European tie
You commit a breach of the peace by singing IRA songs
Who are you disturbing?
The guy on snyde claimed he had also been to see ragers about the same thing ,were ragers reported to the SFA /UEFA for this .if not why not
hail hail
notthebus says: 16 November, 2011 at 18:43 “Pro-IRA songs guilty of breach of the peace according to the Crown office ”
Where was that stated?
Big Swee walks on with Neil Lennon says:
16 November, 2011 at 18:51
On snyde radio
An example of Mr Shorthouse’s prose: “…. ensuring that they always reflected his policy objectives and that of his government”.
It should of course be “and those of his government”.
How does such a clown get an extremely well paid job in communications?
lionroars67 says:
16 November, 2011 at 18:46
The people who are listening on the radio or watching and listening on tv. It’s not right, it must stop, the offenders are bringing shame, unwanted publicity & ammunition for our enemies.
JD
Dinny
Hope your feeling better and on the road to a full recovery.
All the best :-)
Big Swee walks on with Neil Lennon
Assistant Chief Constable Campbell Corrigan on Radio Clyde a few moments ago
Breach of the peace is and old charge, so why do they need this new bill?
The Legend Johnny Doyle says:
16 November, 2011 at 18:52
lionroars67 says:
16 November, 2011 at 18:46
The people who are listening on the radio or watching and listening on tv. It’s not right, it must stop, the offenders are bringing shame, unwanted publicity & ammunition for our enemies.
Committing a breach of the peace through a radio or Tv? Laughable
I would like to see the end of up the ra also, lets hope it can be agreed with consent of all fans
To put young men in jail on ridiculous charges with no justification in law is not the way to resolve it
Is this new bill needed then, if the law already exists??
notthebus says:
16 November, 2011 at 18:43
‘Pro-IRA songs guilty of breach of the peace according to the Crown office’
I doubt very much that the Crown Office have said anything so unequivocal.
If it was BoP the SNP wouldn’t be introducing legislation to outlaw ‘offensive’ behaviour.
Bob Loblaw – I admire your principles.
Celtic is a broad church and it is genuinely a good thing that the majority are mindful of the minority view.
On a totally unrelated point… does anyone know how much taxpayers money is given as a salary to a public official who deliberately smear Celtic Football Club for their own bitter ends?
For the benefit of any Rangers fan or official – TAXPAYER : A legal entity that pays tax
Hail Hail
Bada Bing,thanks..
Chaplin,Taking it easy,goin to to take time,was bad enough takin bad,but I was in the pub,and left 2 full pints behind me..no wonder I was sick..
Barcabhoy,
C’mon now. Share.
It won’t go any further. You can even e-mail me!
tomtheleedstim says 16 November, 2011 at 18:57 Breach of the peace is and old charge, so why do they need this
Because Salmond had an election to win?
tomtheleedstim
to even up the count on arrests, according to Christine Grahame.
Coorslad, I never realised that…… two pints jeezo that would have nearly killed me innaw!
Keep the tips coming…. well the good uns!
V
HH
I doubt if breach of the peace would hold up in court if it is related to singing an IRA song at a football match. I believe this has been tried and failed hence the establishments requirement to change the law to ensure that can criminalise us. Perhaps those of a legal back ground may wish to educate us as to the facts regarding this matter.
WolfeTones statement.
http://www.wolfetonesofficialsite.com/statement.htm
Sadly I don’t expect anything to happen to Shorthouse.
It’s no secret in media circles that he is a Grade A Orc. But it is his job to brief the media, on and off the record.
To you and I, it is pretty clear what is going on here; but what can we prove? That he is a Rangers fan? That he might not be very good at his job? Unlikely to change anything IMHO.
In other news, I hear Dunfermline are closing a stand at EEP, to save money. Combined with the news from Gorgie, and the ongoing mess at Ibrox, it is no exaggeration to say that the Scottish game is on life support…
Coorslad
That’s serious man. :-)