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.
1,077 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- »
timbhoy05 says:
17 November, 2011 at 12:06
No chance – Philvis has a time machine honed to the task.
Lurgan53 / HamiltonTim
Michael Kelly has said exactly the same as Peter Lawell in effect, but with different words.
Let’s wait and see.
If Michael was asked a direct question about the Ra add ons he would have to say the same as the official Celtic line.
Sometimes the best answer is to say nothing.
bigjoe, thomtheleedstim
i noticed it was around 12 o’clock so just getting everyone ready. i think it’s stupid but each to their own
CultsBhoy hates being 2nd says:
17 November, 2011 at 12:02
Big Joe
JF can go for £11m… So long as he takes a few others with him!
Not sure if the 11 million thing is right………………………………..
But he is a player……………….. We need to get him on a new deal
Then see hwat panns oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot.
Remember Real Madrid sniffing aboot Viduka, a few years back.
BigJoethinks11MillionIsnaenough
timbhoy05 says:
17 November, 2011 at 12:13
bigjoe, thomtheleedstim
i noticed it was around 12 o’clock so just getting everyone ready. i think it’s stupid but each to their own
Don’t take the bait M8.…………………..
I sold one of my sons for a podium …………………….
And god was it worth it………………………….
BigJoestillcantfindthatBOY
Anyone seen this:
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/lennon-tells-celtic-fans-stop-racist-chants-2937864.html
The lazyist journalism i’ve ever seen. Referring to us as racist???
Lennon n Mc….Mjallby says:
17 November, 2011 at 10:07
“Do they know the details of everybody in a stadium now?”
Interesting question and, sad to say, I cannot answer with certainty.
It reminds me of the end of USSR.
The KGB staff who were made redundant by Yeltsin. In the spirit of free enterprise, started a taxi company.
You did not need to tell the driver where you were going because he already knew.
10………………………………………….
9……………………………………………………………..
8…………………………………………………………………………………..
drat……………………………………… what comes after 8………………………….
oh………………………………………………..7
ok, its not funny now………………………… I will stop.
.
.
6…………………………………………….
Anybody else – apart from me – feel that wee wobble on the blog just then?
Methinks philvis may be meddling with the space-time continuum.
Don’t do it, philvis! We’re this close to seeing the Foe Malign reaping its hard-earned reward.
FF
.
TimBhoy05..
;O)
Need to Run..Keeping Up with the Kardashians is Coming on..
Summa
1) Michael Kelly, like almost all of us on here, is Celtic to the core. That he was fundamentally in error during the 90’s issues is without doubt. He won’t admit it but, with the benefit of hindsight, I suspect he regrets not taking the initiative for radical change in Celtic’s structure & ownership and bringing in new investment/investors when he had a chance. He knew it was an option, I understand there were feelers put out but he just couldn’t (stupidly & to his shame) divorce himself from the belief that the ‘families’ were more than guardians, rather that they had the right to be owners in perpetuity. His reservations about Fergus were & are shared by others as we know. The riducule & scorn he received was absolutely deserved. However that was then & this is now. He knows EXACTLY what Celtic is and what Celtic represents and as far as that goes, I for one, welcome his contributions over the last 10 months when he has been a stalwart in our defence.
2) The targetting of the GB is disturbing & sinister in it’s methods. It seems it is a deliberate provocation to engender a loud/violent response. I hope & trust the GB are wise to this and do not respond in kind. The police ‘invitation’ (so contrived as to be laughable) to talks is rightly to be treated with caution. I believe the GB should though turn the tables and invite the police to come and see representatives of the GB on the basis of a PUBLISHED agenda and see what Strathclyde’s finiest do then.
Having said that I have to own up and state that at the earliest days of the GB I published on this site my concerns about some aspects of the GB which I likened to the absolutest position of Militant Tendency and the Labour Party in Kinnock’s time. Things have moved on and my fears have lessened in that regard and the introduction of end to end response chanting has been wonderful. Nevertheless the GB is not necessarily the voicepiece of the entire Celtic support & family and not agreeing with them is not a crime against Celtic. I hope (& believe) the GB can contribute to the well being of Celtic but they need to be clever about it.
Philvis
If you’re still toying with time, any chance you could give us a heads-up on the outcome of the 12:45 at Market Rasen … ?
clanmalirtim @12 17 —-
Google something like Celtic illicit songs ——
You’ll find pages and pages of lazy journalism from all over the world
Celtic have been stitched up .
are we there yet?
Article from the Lost Bhoys
Well dominating my newsfeed and my timeline all day has been the debate raging over the singing of songs that promote the I.R.A. We have prominent members of the upper management of CFC, as well as members of society that are speaking out against the songs, declaring them offensive and derogatory.
There is an official statement on the clubs website today declaring the receipt of UEFA’s intent to investigate the validity of claims made of fans alleged involvement in illicit singing.
I was not in the grounds, nor even in the country, but I was watching the game and typically have great audio from inside the park. Not to say that the entire grounds is or should ever be wired for sound to monitor the fans. I find this breach of personal privacy and freedom a gross injustice.
I may as well be out with it. I support The Green Brigade fully. I love the atmosphere they contribute to the stands and support. A look at their half of silent protest, will tell you volumes in what they actually contribute to Parkhead.
I also don’t care if someone finds our songs ‘offensive’. They are not songs of bile and bigotry; they are songs of a nation’s past, present and hopeful future, in regards to the pro IRA tunes.
Personally I am offended every year in December when people roll out the Christmas albums. It is a holiday I dread dearly for many reasons and the songs of ‘joy’ make me want to hang myself with barbed wire, but despite my many claims of them being offensive and hurtful, people just keep on playing them. That makes it my problem, and not anyone else’s in the room or crowd or wherever I happen to be.
If I go on the road to a rivalry game I fully expect to hear the opposition’s loudest proudest voices at full volume and rage. It’s part and parcel with the supporters. However when the singing turns to sectarianism, bigotry, and laughter at the departed, it crosses the boundaries of all decency and taste.
The attack of the Irish in their voices, community, and culture is far from a new concept, and part of this clubs history is deeply rooted in those inherent qualities. While I’m sorry that the English have done the things that they have to Ireland, I will not apologize for them nor will I be made to feel ashamed for the suffering the Irish people have endured. If you take away the songs we sing, you help exonerate the perpetrators of evil deeds. You also lose much of the history and stories of events during the nation’s past.
I feel that the new imposed legislation is simply another attack on that community in hopes that it will give them another foothold in what is turning into the unraveling of the club this season.
I tuned in to the H*ns game a week and a half ago to see what the vile side of town was up to, and what I heard in full voice live from Mordor, was the famine song, followed some minutes later by F^*k the Pope, and it went on from there.
I find it interesting that I should hear nothing in regards to these songs being sung in voice around the grounds, but if I want to sing songs of my father’s country and its history I am meant to be ashamed of the land, my ancestry, and now the club that I love.
Personally I find it a difficult pill to swallow. I live five thousand thirty six miles away from the stadium, so it may seem an easy stance for me to take. I think though, based on my personality and the fact that I can write these words in voice of my opinion, that if I lived there today I would have the same opinion of the criminalization of the fans.
I hope that this inquisition reveals nothing, and make no mistake this is what it is, an attempt to again make us feel guilty and punish us for deeds perpetrated against us, in an attempt at lessening our ‘global community standing’. And I fear that the powers that be will again be able to point to the very slimmest of details and sit back and say “see, they are just like us.” It is truly not just the criminalization of fans, but of people, people that have lives, jobs, contributions to the community, and a voice that differs from what the unfortunate would like us to be.
My apologies for not being a pond dwelling, backwards thinking, knuckle dragging, pile of malformed abuse in a bottle, passed down from generations back. I can feel sorry for the other lot, but I will not be made to feel ashamed of my history.
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our mind. Have no fear for atomic energy, ‘because none of them can stop the time. How long shall they kill our prophets, while we stand aside and look? Yes, some say it’s just part of it; we’ve got to fulfill the book. Won’t you have to sing, these songs of freedom, cause all I ever had…
Tiocfaidh ár lá
The Irish Independent piece came from the Press Association. I will look now to see if the headline did too and if the by-line is Rangers stalwart Ronnie Esplin’s.
that is a shocking headline by the independent.ie
My comments have been sent, awaiting moderation!!!
I trust you will all follow suit
I attempted to post a comment and they wouldn’t have itl, all i asked for was that they did some proper research into their stories.
Knoxy
Mine too. I don’t think they will publish the comments as it confirms they are eejits and bad at their jobs, but if the net result is that they amend the headline, it will be something.
I think it’s their headline. I can’t see anyone else running it.
If I was in the GB I’d agree to talks with Strathclyde’s finest, as soon as they ask for talks with every R*ngers fan who attended the League Cup Final
HH
The word racist is not used at all in the article… shocking
bunburybhoy says:
17 November, 2011 at 11:24
prefer this one TBH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h73hA13nbPk
Apropos depressingly headlined piece in Independent.ie
Seems like there’s a trickle of comments now coming through, post moderation …
from the Celtic website:
Neil Lennon’s call to supporters
By: Newsroom Staff on 17 Nov, 2011 12:22
AS Celtic prepare for a busy schedule of domestic and European games, starting with a tough away fixture at Inverness this Saturday, Neil Lennon has spoken of the importance the fans’ backing has for the team.
On the back of two good victories, against Rennes and Motherwell, the Celtic boss wants to maintain that winning run in the Highlands, and he believes the supporters can play their part.
The Irishman wants the fans to back the team in the best traditions of the club without any of the chants which have no connection to Celtic and which the overwhelming majority of Celtic fans don’t want to hear.
Neil Lennon said: “Obviously we can’t pre-judge any investigation but I think its important that we put a general message out that these chants have no place around our Club. I know Peter said it at the AGM that I was at last month and it is important that we re-enforce that.
“The real tragedy is that we know that it is just a tiny minority of people who would choose to make these chants, but however small, this tiny minority need to stop. I know it’s what the overwhelming majority of our fans want. To be honest, we are better than that as a Club and we always have been, we just don’t need it.
“The irony is that the section of fans we are talking about have added a new dimension and vibrancy to Celtic Park, and we know even within that section that it’s only a tiny group of fans that are involved in this. 95 per cent of what these fans bring to the game is positive and adds real atmosphere, but we need to make sure that all of the negative stuff is removed.
“We are, and always have been, a Club open to all and we do not have issues around sectarianism. We have our own values and traditions but they do not include these chants – we don’t want them at matches and they must stop.
“All we can do is keep our own house in order and do the right thing. That´s what I, the Club and our supporters want and that’s what we have to do.
“Our support has one of the best reputations in world football and this has been recognised over the years. It is really important that we maintain this great reputation and do not allow it to be tarnished by this tiny minority.”
i notice that none of the other websites have published the part where Lennon says that the club doesn’t have a problem with sectarianism.
The article in the Irish Independent is a disgrace, not surprised though. A rag of a newspaper. Same anti Irish organisation as RTE.
neveralone says:
17 November, 2011 at 12:25
Excellent, balanced post.
The GB must issue a statement on where they stand on the “RA” question, and be unequivocal.
If, they do, and it reflects the view of the majority of the support,( it is a small minority who indulge in this), then I believe that Celtic will be in a position to be more proactive against the vile campaign in force at the moment.
knoxy2000 says:
17 November, 2011 at 12:34
What was the headline m8?????
Hail hail
A great message from Neil, in my opinion.
Have written to both the Irish Independent and the Press Ombudsman in Ireland asking them to change the headline and to issue an apology for the offence they have caused us.
Mort
Oglach@ 12:31
Well said and hear hear…and liked to Boab Marley tie in..pass the duchie
ibleed
Headline was: “Lennon tells Celtic fans: stop racist chants”
Mort
test
Mort says:
17 November, 2011 at 12:45
Good man, at least they are now posting the comments
bournesouprecipe says:
17 November, 2011 at 12:13
Lurgan53 / HamiltonTim
Michael Kelly has said exactly the same as Peter Lawell in effect, but with different words.
Let’s wait and see.
If Michael was asked a direct question about the Ra add ons he would have to say the same as the official Celtic line.
Sometimes the best answer is to say nothing.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
To be honest I’m struggling with that response. I think you are too.
And as for saying nothing- is that not what the board are getting criticism for?
With respect.
HH
Mort says:
17 November, 2011 at 12:48
ibleed
Headline was: “Lennon tells Celtic fans: stop racist chants”
Mort
Racist chants???? WTF!!
This week we have been accused of Sectarian song’s,illicit chant’s and now Racist chant’s,,,,enough is enough,,,the club must speak out here the silence is deafening!!!
We must stand up for ourselves here,,,we are getting a right kicking and we are not fighting back,,,,Feckin raging right now!!!!!!
Hail hail