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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I’m surprised ‘Declan’ hasn’t been on yet.
http://www.strathclyde.police.uk/index.asp?locID=251&docID=-1
Freedom of information act INFO
apply here
Hail Hail
Joe Filippis Haircut: 16 November, 2011 at 14:56
What would the Evening Times know about football…
Why we may withhold information
Information may be withheld, for example, where its disclosure would breach the law of confidentiality, harm an organisation’s commercial interests, upset the huns, or endanger the protection of the environment.
Think they’re odious of you like, I personally have no idea. I know neither of them well enough to say. Call them Rangers fans if you like, again, I have far from enough evidence to state with certainty either way.
I would personally want to be certain of things like that before I decided to impugn someone’s professional professional performance with it. Again, I emphasise I am not saying these individuals are above impugnity-indeed it seems this actually requires to be substantively investigated.
However, what does posting the photo add to the force of the point Paul is making? Reading between the lines, posting this man’s picture reads to me like “here’s somebody who’s a Rangers fan, who’s against us and has abused his position” then “here’s what the guy looks like”. I accept that the guy’s picture may be on other websites in his capacity as DofComms for SP. However Paul67 has taken the conscious decision to show it to a great many more people than may otherwise have been motivated to look for it, furthermore he has done so in connection with the man’s impugned capacity as a Rangers supporting cheat. I think that’s a bit irresponsilbe. It’s not the same thing as having your picture on your work’s website.
End of the day, if this guy’s abused his position then an investigation and sansctions should follow. It does nobody any good for people on CQN to know what he looks like.
Ghuys, we’re getting a bad press.
But I have tried to take a step back and get some perspective. Here it is:
The Polis are utterly wasting their time. Thye need to be brought to book for that. They have created a mountain from the beginnings of a mole hill.
We will probably get fined by UEFA and a written warning from the SPL. Maximum. This will probably lead to less rebel songs being sung (and I am not saying whether that is good or bad but it will take us out of the line of fire)
The ill informed majority will still think we are as bad as ‘them’ and wish a plague on both our houses. Our arguments against that cntinue to be valid but also irrelevant to those who don’t really care enough to get informed anyway. Real football people across Europe who know us from experience will still know us for what we are.
This genuinely only matters in this little back water.
think about this: grown men in responsible positions are contorting reality to fit their own narrative and agenda to get back at Celtic because their own beloved cesspit of a club is going down the drain, has been found guilty of sectarian and racist behaviour and are generally unliked by everyone everywhere (and it seems like they actually do care)
So, the headlines keep coming, the punishments will too (for what they will be worth) but the dangerous legacy which we cannot ignore is the ongoing one of ‘criminalisation’ – there is no perspective to be found there. It just needs to be stopped.
Right, I am now getting out of this perspective and going back to being outraged!
Meeting to go to.
Laters.
End of the day, if this guy’s abused his position then an investigation and sansctions should follow. It does nobody any good for people on CQN to know what he looks like.
……………………
Justify that statement please.
Are you trying to imply we are violent thugs who will stand outside Pitt St to attack him?
Joe Filippi
Excuse my laziness who is Andre Blackman
gerryguk7 says:
16 November, 2011 at 15:03
“Call them Rangers fans if you like, again, I have far from enough evidence to state with certainty either way.”
Does the picture not help?
“does nobody any good” is not the same thing as saying “definitely does him bad”.
To clarify as regards the words you are putting in my mouth, I have called nobody a violent thug.
gerryguk7: 16 November, 2011 at 15:03
“It does nobody any good for people on CQN to know what he looks like.”
Why don’t you elaborate on that? What reaction do you expect from people on CQN to be because we know what he looks like?
You are the only person on here making any big deal out of it. Nobody else is discussing what he looks like other that you.
gerryguk7 (nice number BTW)
See if we don’t look at his picture. Is that OK?
If you scroll past it fast you’ll miss it.
MWD
I wish Paul67 hadn’t shown the picture too.
I’ve no hid ma dinner yet!
More power to your keyboard Paul67!
That headline piece reflects poorly on Paul Brennan.
You pander to the bigots and unintelligent by dwelling on who supports who, they are doing their jobs.
So in future, if I have toothache I’ll go to the Rangers supporting dentist, if I require a surgeon I’ll ask him what school he goes too, if I require a lawyer I’ll check if he has a season ticket for Ibrox. Otherwise they’ll not give of their best.
Pathetic really.
Why don’t you concentrate on putting your house in order, not pointing fingers.
That is exactly what I was reading on this site from you bhoys, no?
Oh, and by the way trying to deflect by pointing out the difference between the IRA and Provisional IRA might be salient points to you but played out in the media to a British public who have been bombed in an orchestrated campaign is hardly going to play well in a public relations drive is it?
We both have a long way to go, eradicating our foolish excesses will be better for both clubs in the long run, if we cannot see that
I despair.
gerryguk7 says:
16 November, 2011 at 15:03
also from his facebook page
Rob Shorthouse.Lives in Glasgow, United KingdomFrom Glasgow, United
.Favorite Teams Rangers FC (Official
gerryguk7 says:
16 November, 2011 at 15:09
If you google Robert Shorthouse and click on Images what do you get ?? Why the fuss about his ugly mug on CQN ?
In the words of the late James Sanderson “what’s your point caller”
Mickbhoy 1888 Andre Blackman 21 years of age ex Arsenal youth but he has been with a number of clubs and been released by them all due to being a trouble maker currently he doesnt have a club my understanding is that he is a left back ?.He has had umpteen second chances but continues to be a bad lad Celtic hopeing to tame him.H.H.
gerryguk7
I disagree. I now finally have a pic to put into my personal archives on him. Now that´s service dont you think ? and free !!
Hail Hail
Joe Filippis Haircut says:
16 November, 2011 at 14:56
“Trying”???
From what I’ve read about Blackman, he should be begging us – or anyone – to give him a contract…
You learn something new on here every day.
I now know you can experience toothache after you have had a lobotomy.
One understands from one’s weans, who have had cyber-safety seminars, that it’s all right to enhance your social media presence with pictures, typically of you and your friends, as long as you don’t specify who is who.
On reflection, and with this in mind, perhaps all will be well if Paul simply amends the lead article by removing “(pictured on the left)”.
gerryuk67
Yer brothers postin’ in a’ noo!
Look, last word on the matter from me. You may be pleased to hear.
I don’t think posting his picture does any good to the story. I don’t think it’s necessary, and I think it actually deflects from the story for anyone not of a Celtic persuasion who might otherwise be attracted to this site as a source of genuine investigative journalism (which it can be and has been).
It provides potential ammunition for those who would seek to undermine the site “ahh, there they go, posting pictures of folk on their sit, what are they doing that for? Remember when they put Novo’s address up on that other site? was it CQN? ach who cares wan of those Celtic sites anyway!” It’s not how I interpret the posting of the picture, and it’s not my intention to impugn the character of anyone on CQN; but others might interpret it that way.
Stick to the point and don’t provide any ammunition for those who would seek to undermine our argument by the way we make it. If something is unnecessary, then you don’t use it in your argument, as it might be turned against you. That’s what I was always taught anyway.
Beyond that, if these guys have a case to answer, then make them answer it and let the cards fall where they may.
They don’t like it up ’em.
They’re not used to it. These things usually get sorted out away from prying “new media” eyes.
Paul, “Lang may yer lum reek”.
Aye!
TheGreenManalishi(WithTheTwoProngedCrown) says:
16 November, 2011 at 15:15
I get this
http://a1.twimg.com/profile_images/108662929/roberto_bigger.jpg
Hail Hail
Can’t believe im about to do this but…….
Gerryuk7,
in what way does calling anyone a hun/rangers supporter (or supporter of any team for that matter) impugn their “professional professional” performance?
It is an aside no more, no less.
Unless you believe that supporting a particular team does in fact impact upon a person’s “professional professional” performance??
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
The Pantaloon Duck Dont believe everything you read. H.H.
Which one is shorthouse anyway ?
Hail Hail
Token Tim
Why do you have a 12 year old pic on your current CV ?
Hail Hail
truth4767 says:
16 November, 2011 at 15:12
if I require a lawyer I’ll check if he has a season ticket for Ibrox. Otherwise they’ll not give of their best.
Better hurry up ole CW is going through these like nobody’s business, soon there won’t be any left.
Token,
I’ve said all I’m going to say. I promised, so I will stick to my promise.
“professional Professional”…I’m just glad I spelt it right both times (I think).
Hail hail
Where have all the growlers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the growlers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the growlers gone?
Girls have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Hail Hail
Robert Tressell nailed it when he had his moment of perspective.
Some well connected Rangers fans are clear that their club is finished and are lashing out.
When the facts dawn on the less well connected, we had all better look out.
gerryguk7 says:
16 November, 2011 at 15:03
The image of Shorthouse with his arm round McCoist seems to be completely relevant to the article. I would go as far as saying it strengthens it.
It is a testament to the power of new media. If there is a greater risk of exposure then you are more likely to be made culpable for any wrong doing or abuse of power. Keep up the fantastic work Paul!
In a broader sense through the web, technology advancement and greater access to information the level of privacy in society has changed. Its a bit of a hot topic in Geographic Information Systems.
Ah blame the Doggone Blamed ..”International Break”
fur.. well..
Every , Doggone Thing!
Ah .. Loathe, Detest,Hate..and Abhor…
So called..”International Breaks” in the Fitba’ Season!!
Kojo
Awe_Naw
my current CV???
Didn’t know I had applied for a job with you……..and more pertinently who is the 12yr old and what are they doing on my CV thats what I want to know!
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Some people Rob Shorthouse follows on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/robshorthouse/following
rfc_lindsay Lindsay Herron
Editor in chief of the Rangers Media operation – RangersTV, http://www.rangers.co.uk, publications
RFC_Rab Rab Boyle
Rab. Social Media Officer for Rangers Football Club. My opinions are just that.
RFC_Official Rangers FC Official
Follow the Official Rangers Football Club Twitter for all the latest news from Ibrox and Murray Park.
GrandmasterSuck Mark Dingwall
DarrylBroadfoot darryl broadfoot
It’s all about opinions
JackIrvine
RangersMedia RangersMedia News
Rangers supporters news website and forum.
rangersfctrust Rangers Supporters
The Rangers Supporters Trust is a supporter’s group with 3 aims: wider share ownership, supporter representation & defending the reputation of the Gers family.
rfc_dickson Andrew Dickson
Rangers FC Publications Editor & RangersTV.tv presenter. All views personal. I won’t comment on speculation & I’m NOT the head of football administration!
(thumbsup)
TTT,
You´ll nee to fill out a FOI form ;-)
Hail Hail