Anti-Celtic story parcelled up by Police spokesman

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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.”

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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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  1. celtic40me…

     

     

    cheers.. I’ll have a look at that later..

     

     

    the painkillers are still numbing the pain but the stretching exercises will help in the long term I hope..

  2. Gordan J

     

     

     Songs/lyrics which glorifies or celebrates events involving the loss of life or serious injury.

     

     

    that would apply to thousands singing ‘what’s it like to live in fear’ to lennie, should be easy to police:stewards, sfa reps and police record the singing at Ibrox. Season tickets are ripped up, fans get lifetime bans.

  3. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    St John Doyle

     

     

    I know.

     

     

    I recall tryin to get into Hampden for a cup replay I think it was V Airdrie. You’de have thought it was sell out the way they crushed us with their horses. 3 gates open and they made sure the hoofs stood on our feet.

  4. Alright bhoys n ghirls, myself and DBBIA are doing Movember

     

     

    Looking for sponsors for our Movember campaign, any donation is greatly accepted

     

     

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    Thank you in advance for supporting our efforts to change the face of men’s health.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  5. Lennon n Mc….Mjallby

     

     

    There are so many to keep track of, the old hundar ain’t what it used to be these days.

     

     

    No having to be around them is the best thing that has happened in my life, apart form the wife and kids and grandweans obviously, but in daily life, no huns here, sheer bliss mi amigo, sheer bliss.

  6. I don’t know if this is a ny help : I went to the Federation of Irish Societies on one occasion when me being irish was referred to inappropriately in work. They were very helpful and were knew the territory. Their customer before me was a unionist who was getting hassle for being irish !!! They have lawyers available.

     

     

    Thanks! Where will I find them?

  7. lostinbonnybridge says:

     

    16 November, 2011 at 21:31

     

    You’d worry for the future of Scotland especially when policing is skewed.

  8. Lennon n Mc....Mjallby on

    Paul67

     

     

    Bone to pick.

     

     

    Everytime I refresh the page I keep seeing a picture of what looks like two brothers in an old wooden lodge who’ve had too much whiskey.

     

     

    This is a Celtic site not an advertising space for the film ‘Deliverance’.

  9. jackie mac says:

     

    16 November, 2011 at 21:42

     

    bigdanistheman says:

     

    16 November, 2011 at 20:15

     

     

    I don’t know if this is a ny help : I went to the Federation of Irish Societies on one occasion when me being irish was referred to inappropriately in work. They were very helpful and were knew the territory. Their customer before me was a unionist who was getting hassle for being irish !!! They have lawyers available.

     

     

    share

     

     

     

    Sorry not very good at the copy & paste thingy.

     

     

    Where will I find them?

  10. Lennon n Mc....Mjallby on

    TET

     

     

    Like yourself pal I very rarely come into contact with hunnery,for that I’m thankful,still jealous of your pool though;)

     

     

    HH

  11. Bundoran

     

     

    Not bad big fella. The wee one made her Confirmation last night a really lovely occasion.

     

     

    How you doing?

  12. hamiltontim says:

     

    16 November, 2011 at 22:13

     

     

    Im good mate, need to arrange a catchup.

     

     

    Glad things are a lil better, sounds like a lovely night

     

     

    HH

  13. Bundoran

     

     

    It really was and I know he was there with us.

     

     

    Def get a meet up at some point!

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