All it took was one man, Eddie Smith, who joined the referees strike a year ago as their body became embroiled in allegations of lying, bullying and sectarianism, to make it his business to report Celtic fans to Uefa and the SPL, and the support are besieged on two fronts.
After decades of the police turning a deaf ear to illegal and offensive chanting elsewhere this might appear opportunistic, but Smith’s motivations are irrelevant. We have endured ‘the songs debate’ here for years, the only thing universally agreed upon is that as long as a single Celtic fan sings political songs at a game, this day would come.
I sincerely doubt that Celtic fans sing anything illegal, which perhaps explains why the police encourage observers to ‘police’ the stands, but no one denies many people, including a number of Celtic fans, find such singing offensive. There is, therefore, scope to mount an attempt to discipline the club, and an easy route to inflict reputational damage on each and every Celtic supporter.
The Debating societies will be exercised on the freedom of some to sing racially-hostile God Save the Queen, or the militaristic, Flower of Scotland, and wait for the reaction to what is euphemistically known as ‘the marching season’. In this vein I would encourage the Celtic delegation who meet Uefa next month read aloud a transcript of La Marseillaise, which becomes a logical target if Uefa prosecute our club.
I predict Uefa and the SPL will reprimand Celtic with a cease and desist-type warning which will include specific instructions to remove and ban ‘offenders’. Efforts will be made to prosecute ‘offenders’, which I expect will fail, but not before a few individuals are brought before the court.
Neil Lennon, Jock Stein and since Fergus McCann, the club, have asked fans not to sing political songs. Many agreed but some will not waver, so it would be an act of vanity for lesser mortals to suggest restraint. The slow train-wreck will happen.
Don’t take the notion that attempts to prosecute are likely to fail as legal advice. In my experience, lawyers become a lot less certain once proceedings are underway.
On a separate note, I was pleased to read Iain Blair of the SPL differentiate pro-IRA chanting from sectarian chanting. Lazy jounos everywhere take note.
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PJBhoynyc
Bloody hell, so Paul McBride supports the legislation that will see me being incriminated and jailed for up to 5 yrs if I call Sammy a big girl’s blouse?!?
Is that what this is about? To put an end to Sammy-abuse??
Not that I would. Sammy’s one of our best players, and deserves a start ahead of Ki.
Paul McBride just said at the end of that clip that Celtic supported the legislation.
But they released an official statement saying the opposite some time ago ?!?
McBride supported this legislation from the start, he didn’t even want this consultation/evidence gathering period.
Remember it was to be introduced in August!!! We need to keep fighting this legislation, irrespective of the songs debate – this legislation is badly thought out and will simply lead to many more instances similar to the wee 17 year old being remanded.
hh
bjmac
Fortunes Favour Mibbes
;0))
That interview took place in June I believe.
Good piece by Michael Dolan on Celtic Underground puts a little perspective on the Evening Times Spin.
Interesting Times indeed…
http://celticunderground.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=802%3Agreen-brigade-pawns-in-the-game&catid=47%3Aseason-2011-2012&Itemid=83
ßjmac ® °¿° @ 01:30
But the Club didn’t. They released an official statement that they were against it. That’s odd to me.
It was to our benefit last season when he was the only one to speak out in defence of Lenny, and we assumed that (and it was asked if it was the case by the meeja) that he was unofficially representing Celtic.
Now, not too far down the line, he appears to be at odds with the offical Celtic PLC position.
Very strange.
PJBhoynyc
Cheers for the link.
It didn’t take much for the ‘Bill’ to look silly, did it !
PMcB body-swerving the central issues throughout.
I listened to him on the Celtic Underground pod-cast,
where the standard format is to prove your Celtic credentials,
by first game, fav’ player, etc.
He turned from a normally articulate and assured man,
into a complete stumble-bum in trying to come up with something,
mixing up major events and time-frames etc,
which any ‘Celtic fan’ just wouldn’t do.
This guy is no ‘Celtic fan’
its becoming a popular tactic for the controversial to be touted as such.
He is self-serving and dangerous, i hope that he falls along with this bill.
The new Paul McBride whose gone from hero to zero, is a self preservationist, and self publicist, making his living from the legal aid fund, a man now telling us the new bill is smart, and everything will be fine.
There were astute Celtic fans on CQN who saw something else in him, and posted such, even during his robust defence of NL last year.
Would like to ask him how his bill will tackle 25,000 – 30,000 strong TFS singers, instead of the wee bhoy that got dragged out of his bed, before the attempt at legislation is even passed.
Huns want whataboutery….
Journos want more readers and listeners…
Police Chief Constable wants bigger budget…
Salmond did want an election win and wants anything but a defeat or humiliating U Turn.
Paul McBride wants, oh no wait, Frank Mulholland just got that Great Office…
PLC wants compliant consumers…
Sorry….
Just thinking aloud..
About perfect storms..
“The Green Brigade described Mr McBride as a “publicity-hungry QC close to the Celtic board” in the statement.”
I missed this until now, and just picked it up on a news site. It confirms my worst fears.
Regardless of whatever agenda for the future of Celtic this board had, it can never justify what has happened since last week.
Now I see what Paul67 meant about a trainwreck.
PJBhoynyc @ 01:35
Thanks for that link. When I saw the image of that backpage I felt nauseous, and just switched off.
Thankfully, Michael Dolan had the ability to keep the heid and tell it for what it is.
Have now stepped into the anti-board camp. Feels strange. I feel like Dorothy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11BQQvVy8LI
Big Packie’s Accent
Your welcome. Indeed.
Fortunes Favour Mibbes
I felt the same way about that headline. Scary the power of the media. Michael Dolan, i salute you.
Skullduggery and subterfuge whirling round ALL of Scotland
You could stir it wae a stick…..
McBride is not a Celtic man. McBride is not anything only a McBride man. 00000001% of lawyers have a conscience, or the heart to know what’s right and wrong. Gareth Pierce is one. The rest put themselves forward as champions of the oppressed (Michael Mansfield, anyone?) but it’s just for their public persona/profile. I’m too old for the physical bit, but my brain is at the command of any Celtic website or work that is needed/required.
Nevin McLeod and McBride
Could someone please explain why not in the recent annals of
an equivalent trio of hun have under banner headlines been asked
to begin to explain the nature of and continued flaunting the UEFA
sanctions which to date they are serving a 3 year suspended sentence
having already endured fines and banning orders.
Why in the name of Old F*rm solidarity are the likes of
Goram Hately and Findlay not press ganged into admission
the seriously sectarian Ibrox crowd.
Over to you Eddie Smith.
HH
please move the green brigade on
and lets get focused on the football
I don’t care what they sing
PJBhoynyc
“Skullduggery and subterfuge whirling round ALL of Scotland
You could stir it wae a stick….. ”
So true. Ye cannae flamin trust yer grandmaw here these days :)
Raymac
Been readin your posts the past few days, every one of them much appreciated. Fholk like you should be posting more here.
whitedoghunch says:
16 November, 2011 at 02:14
‘please move the green brigade on’
?
PJBhoynyc
think I mentioned I sent somebody from here to wd50
didn’t have your details or would put him in touch
a very celtic man (Kano etc)
i have not previously commented on the singing issue. I really don’t feel qualified. My concern is that the politicians who are trying to deal with a serious problem don’t seem qualified either.
what i do know , is that any time you “tell ” a group of young people they can’t do something, without listening to why they want to do it, you are setting yourself up for conflict.
The police do not make the law, they merely carry it out. In this case however the police have opened themselves up to very public scrutiny. They have opened a pandora’s box, which may well be what is needed to move us to a better place with more respect shown on all sides.
I can’t see how the police can avoid reporting Rangers , Hearts and other clubs on an almost weekly basis. The evidence assaults our ears almost every time these teams play. If the songs that Celtic are being reported for, are indeed now a criminal offence, then Celtic run the risk of being regularly reported as well
Paul67 is correct, a train wreck is coming, however before we get there this has all the elements of high farce.
Big Packie’s Accent says:
they bore me
whitedoghunch says:
16 November, 2011 at 02:26
Big Packie’s Accent says:
they bore me
– – – – – – – – – –
You’ve bored me, already bud.
Big Packie’s Accent
bore myself
so simple in it’s style was sung without a problem during my time
Packie is still the same
Barcabhoy @ 02:25
Aye, everyone’s giving it a push then trying to jump on the back of it.
Regardless of how it plays out, we all know that the real issue will never be addressed, and innocent young boys will continue to be assuaulted and attacked for wearing Celtic Tops because hatred is being promoted by certain clubs.
These recent events seem to demonstrate to me that the Celtic Board find their own agendae more important than that. If a 17yr old boy is locked up without bail on a BOP charge, and the GB point the finger at the Celtic Board via Paul McBride, that’s enough for me.
Like I said earlier, let them drown each other in their own pools of political pish. Leave our supporters alone.
Whatever happened to sticks and stones and free speech?
I’m sorry but Celtic supporters should not have made the famine song an issue.
It just encouraged them. Its what one does that’s the problem here.
Even though huns Murder, kill, shit in the street, cheat both on and off the park, threaten, intimidate, mug, pass bigoted legislation. ruin cities, attack cops, give Scotland a bad name but now Celtic supporters are not allowed free speech. !!!!
Sarajevo here we come….ahhermm…away boycott anyone?
We all have learned the importance of money and corruption regarding huns and mini huns.
Just think if the rest were starved of fenian cash. I’m telling ye. Box clever. Away boycott.
Pay fines. Shut the f… up and let them go under.
Fortunes Favour Mibbes
that was one of my first thoughts.
The last time I wore a Celtic strip in public was in barcelona.
Yet from where I am typing I can see the park ?
Remember it was the SPL that seconded the complaint. In the current climate I would say that any Celtic supporter who seriously thinks that an away boycott is a bad idea for any reason and thus starve these bastards of their life blood by simply NOT SHOWING UP at a venue that they are despised anyway is too stupid to be a Celtic supporter.
In my opinion.
whitedoghunch @ 02:48
Where I am myself, it takes a brave lhad to wear the Hoops. But more and more are doing so. On the other hand, July is becoming more and more a kerb-painting, flag flying excercise for many here.
Maybe it’s just a pro-rata thing – the more Tims are born, the more fearless ones there are on the streets, and in return, the more they have to express their hatred at Catholicism and Ireland.
But the hatred from the huns is without a doubt on the increase everywhere in Scotland. Maybe there’s no need to go into this, it’s been covered often enough before. But it’s becoming dangerous in Edinburgh to reveal any hint of an Irish accent while out in the city centre. After being out there 3 times this summer, I can give you 2 stories that would disgust you and would sit comfortably in one of Martin Dillon’s introductions.
Saw this wee video clip today – can’t put my finger on why exactly it’s relevant to the SNP bill, but it very much seems to be:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhg9v2WYFxA
Margaret McGill @ 02:59
I’ve always favoured that idea….but what does P67 mean when he says they would like that?
Maggie
Away bhoycott.
Yes,yes and yes again.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/283916/Caley-confident-they-can-wreck-Celtic-s-season
Just read the quotes.
Nothing said in interview to deserve a headline like that.
You must really ask yourself what the writer ans the editor are on?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2062035/SPL-forced-UEFA-Celtic-fan-probe.html
Lazy lazy lazy.
The SPL have rejected claims they have been forced into addressing offensive and sectarian chants by the intervention of UEFA.
Celtic face a UEFA hearing on December 8 into ‘illicit chanting’ at the Europa League clash with Rennes.
How can you investigate offensive and sectarian chants when there was only illicit chanting?
Like the police investigating a a murder when there was only an assault?
Good morning friends from a dry but pretty cold East Kilbride. Leave an extra few minutes to scrape the ice of the windscreen. Do this before the start of your journey.
Jobo (offering advice since 2009)
Jobo
Your advice arrived just a bit are for me and I’m in a rush. Do you think I should bang on and do the scrapin once I get there ?
MORT 2212
Thanks for the reply,bud.
And the cotroversial comparison,which is certainly worth thinking about…..
Morning all from gay Paree, foggy this morning hopefully brightening up later (11C max).
Posted this yesterday and still feel the same way.
Perspective:
We are being “hauled up” in front of UEFA for alledged “illicit chanting”.
Likely outcome: slap on the wrist or small fine.
We accept our punishment, clean-up our act and move on.
Our neighbours are being hounded by HMRC and others through all the courts in the land.
Likely outcome: administation or liquidation.
We can only guess at the pain they will suffer.
Believe me, I’m going to savour THEIR slow train crash.
————–
Noticed this in a wee corner of the Hootsman this morning:
In Monday’s edition of The Scotsman, a headline stated that ‘Celtic must satisfy Uefa on sectarian songs charge’. This was published in error, with the Uefa charge referring to “illicit chanting” and making no reference to songs of a sectarian nature. We apologise for the misleading headline.
No-one will see this “apology”, plenty saw the original headline.
Mission accomplished, eh?
Watched the Ireland game last night
Could you hear all that singing about the IRA
No neither could I
Anyone on hear that thinks its “OK” to sing songs glorifying the IRA needs to go back to their roots
Things have moved on – we need to move on
67ECW
big choice ahead for lennie, keep sammi on , hooper off ? start with commons or Paddy ? how does he keep the momentum going after a 2 week break ?
Good-morning from the battered but unbowed Rebel County……….wild and windy here.
Sixtae Seven – correct on the Hootsmon. They have form, and the case against them is definately proven.
Guilty!
HH