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.
1,282 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- »
Top of the morning to you all from a grey but dry Fife. Slow travelling bands of dark clouds moving in from the North Sea.
I think I should go back to bed but no on with the business of life.
I think that all that needs to be said on our latest troubles has been said.
The one message that keeps coming back to me is the one so well put by Maggie …….AWAY BOYCOTT
One other thing though………HOME SELL OUT CROWDS
Having not been a regular attender for years I would gladly take up some of the slack and pay to attend every home game to make the point that we have had enough of the double standards, cheating, and yes, persecution of the Celtic support.
The only thing this lot we are up against understand is money. The lack of same will bring them the trappings of decency, their consciences won’t.
Morning all. Bright here at the minute.
Yesterday, for me, was the hardest ever on CQN. I stopped reading eventually, thoroughly sickened. Personally, I thought those who see Celtic as some political totem used this wonderful blog to abuse those who feel different from them. Imo, certainly not the purpose Br Walfrid had in mind when he founded the Club. I guess Media House has more than achieved its aim.
Apparently the DR have Campbell Corrigan, the police chief who praised the atmosphere at the CIS Cup Final saying this:
“Celtic are as keen as I am to stress the activity around tackling offensive behaviour and sectarianism is absolutely balanced. I have DVD recordings to show we are dealing with this in an almost identical manner with Rangers and Celtic.”
You simply could not make this up.
You couldn’t find a better example of doublespeak if you tried.
Parkheadcumsalford says:
16 November, 2011 at 08:09
I feel exactly the same way as yourself, in fact i feel the blog has been like this for a year or so now, i don’t enjoy it as much as i used to, much like the football i regret to say, i really feel now that we just can’t win on or off the pitch, totally sickened by it all.
EBM @ 05.27
“You have to wonder what the writers and editors are on”
They’re on the square mate.
Incredible!…………………………………….
Celtic ‘IRA chant’ probe: Eddie Smith is not to blame.. it’s the fans who sing bigoted songs, say police chiefs
Nov 16 2011 By Keith Jackson
Eddie Smith
STRATHCLYDE POLICE last night demanded showdown talks with the Green Brigade.
And they insisted rogue fans are to blame for dropping Celtic in hot water – not Eddie Smith.
Assistant Chief Constable, Campbell Corrigan, held face-to-face talks with Parkhead chief executive Peter Lawwell yesterday after Record Sport revealed former top ref Smith’s complaints about pro-IRA chanting had sparked joint disciplinary probes by UEFA and the SPL.
And Corrigan has asked Lawwell to fix up an urgent meeting between the cops and organisers of the supporters’ group whose song sheet is being blamed for dragging the club into the dock.
The move came after match commander Smith came under fire on message boards and talk shows for reporting their chants to match delegates after recent games with Hibs and Rennes.
Corrigan has been appalled at what he sees is an attempt by some to blacken Smith’s name while ignoring the root cause of the problem.
Speaking exclusively to Record Sport he said: “There is a lot of controversy surrounding Eddie Smith just because he was the match commander.
“This is absurd, Eddie was simply doing his job. Far from being unprecedented, Eddie’s actions were in accordance with our normal procedure.
“It is his duty to conduct a debrief with the match delegate after every match, whether it’s an SPL or European game.
“I’m really concerned, primarily for my officer. I can understand emotions are running high among the Celtic support but let’s be clear – this is not Eddie’s fault.
“It is the fault of supporters who are engaged in sectarian or hate-filled singing – or in this case pro-IRA chanting.
“This is a priority for the country to sort out. It’s a priority for the Scottish government, the police and the courts. It’s not Eddie who sets the agenda.
“It shouldn’t be pinned on one individual who is merely carrying out his orders.”
Celtic will be up on a charge of “‘illicit chanting” at UEFA’s Nyon HQ on December 8. SPL bosses are also conducting a probe into the unrest that saw two fans arrested during the 0-0 draw with Hibs on October 29.
Now Corrigan wants to meet with the Green Brigade to spell out in person the consequences of their actions – for themselves and for their club – should they fail to clean up their act.
He added: “We need dialogue with the supporters to put down a marker that we are not going to accept this any more.
“But we would prefer to find a solution which does not result in football fans ending up in jail or the club they hold so dear being penalised.
“As a result of my talks with Celtic I understand a meeting will take place with various fans’ groups. The Green Brigade have yet to agree to the meeting but Peter Lawwell is working hard with us to try to bring a sense of perspective to this.
“Peter and Neil Lennon have both publicly asked the supporters to stop singing these songs. Paul McBride QC has said exactly the same. So the message could not be any more clear.
“The only people who can end all this are the people who are singing the songs. We’re not asking for very much – just for people to take responsibility for their actions. We are talking about a very small proportion of the Celtic support who are causing a disproportionate impact on their club.
“Celtic are as keen as I am to stress the activity around tackling offensive behaviour and sectarianism is absolutely balanced. I have DVD recordings to show we are dealing with this in an almost identical manner with Rangers and Celtic. It’s only the words of songs that change.
“We are keen to make sure our relationships with both clubs are as strong as they possibly can be because we must all work together if we are to eradicate this kind of behaviour.”
“Hearing delay is a relief at Ibrox”
The above is a headline from one of the rags this morning
I bet Craig Whyte doesn’t think so
Jusat where are you going to find that extra £6m to see you through to the end of the season Whytey?
Big Nan says:
16 November, 2011 at 08:23
Incredible!…………………………………….
Absolutely
Did Peter ask to be shown the evidence of the interaction in the last 10 years of match commanders with EUFA observers?
Pick any match at ibroke
UEFA observer to match commander at ibrox
Good evening match commander, the crowd were singing loudly and to me aggressively, anything in theur repotoire that i should include in my report
Match commander to EUFA observer
Nothing at all just some local cultural ditties, and good natured banter, good tunes though don’t you agree
Assistant Chief Constable, Campbell Corrigan yer having a laugh, importunately its at our expense
the media in all its forms will take this singing issue to the hilt, already there have been instances of various media outlets stating the “problem” of sectarian singing from sections of the Celtic support, was the use of the word “sectarian” accidental? was it a typo? or was it just plain old journalistic licence to tag us along with others who do have a sectarian singing problem?
to me there are two issues here, the singing of what some may deem political songs either home or away, are they offensive?
Clearly to some they are.
Celtic FC have consistently requested to sections of the support to refrain from singing political songs, im not entirely sure what more the Club can do stopping short of removing season books, which in itself may cause a further political rammy!
The other more sinister point is the intentional targetting by some within the media to once again tag sections of the Celtic support as sectarian, this targetting irrespective of a two line hidden apology within the scotsman has been seen and read world wide, that is reprehensible, as a support we cannot and will not accept that, as a Club we must do the same,
lets not lose sight of the fact there is a political agenda here, which is quite ironic given the great push to keep politics out of football,
the cynical in us would believe its maybe about evening things up…
eh Mrs Grahame?
Good morning from MK where it’s overcast but dry at the minute.
Did you know the current Lord Mayor of Belfast is a young Sinn Finn councillor? No, neither did I.
http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/lordmayor/index.asp
The following is a paragraph from Wikipedia:
For most of the City’s modern history, the position has been held by Unionists, with members of the Ulster Unionist Party holding the post for a total of 61 of the 67 years between 1921 and 1997. The first non-Unionist Lord Mayor since the partition of Ireland in 1921 was David Cook from the Alliance Party who was elected in 1978. The first nationalist Lord Mayor was not appointed until the election of Alban Maginness from the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in 1997, while a Sinn Féin Lord Mayor was first elected in 2002. The loss of the Unionist majority on the Council in 1997 has resulted in a greater rotation of the position amongst the parties, which, like other elected positions within the Council such as Committee chairs, is now filled using the D’Hondt system. This system awards positions to parties based on their number of Councillors and means that the Council that sits from 2011 to 2015 will see the Lord Mayor post filled twice by Sinn Féin (2011-12 & 2014-15), once by the Democratic Unionist Party (2012-13) and once by the SDLP (2013-14).
When I left Belfast in 1973 I never imagined we’d win, be patient my friends, things will get better.
Parkheadcumsalford says:
16 November, 2011 at 08:09
Same here
In yesterdays statement from the GB they said they had requested meetings with Eddie the Plod -polis . This offer to talk was not taken up by Eddie or Strathclyde Polis.
In other leagues it is normal procedure that the ultra fans groups meet the police and club officials.
In this case there is another sinister agenda at play.
And the case of the 17year old fan being held in jail and being refused bail for singing is very worrying.
absolutely shocked to the core hearing about the 17 yeard old Celtic fan being held in custody and would have been until well into December if the Lord Advocate hadnt stepped in due to the potential PR.. What on earth is going on in this country? I am very much for an independant Scotland but the SNP have unfportunately proven their MSPs are incompetent and incapable of running a country. A sad sad day for me absolutely scunnered.
Real criminals like rapists and murderers dont even get treated like the 17 year old, and for singing a LEGAL song? I honestly cannot get my head round this. Only thing I can think of is infiltration of dark forces both in the Police and the SNP government. Oh well, thanks SNP you have blown it, we will all continue to cow tail to westminster now, you have succeeded in alienating a very substantial part of of your vote.
Celtic PLC, I have a feeling you are pushing this behind the scenes (uin favour of the Polis and govt), you will not have a company if you continue this behaviour towards the people who pay your wages.. ie US, would you like to try explaining this to the likes of Nick Train when we boycott our season books? Time for transparency board of Celtic, where exactly DO you stand on this?
Mountain_bhoy
You ask where Celtic Plc are on this?
If they corroborate Ass Chief Con Corrigans assertion that: “Celtic are as keen as I am to stress the activity around tackling offensive behaviour and sectarianism is absolutely balanced.”
They will be in deep trouble with their fans who know that this is an absolute lie.
Corrigan must either be an imbecile or think he is dealing with imbeciles. It could be both?
Been away and just catching up. CQN has obviously not been a nice place to be these past couple of days. Some excellent points made and a few interesting debates have ensued. However, some people need to take a good look at themselves and grow a pair. Threatening people on an online forum is the last preserve of the real-life coward and moral degenerate. Calling good Celtic people “scum” based on nothing more than idle speculation brings two words to my mind – anger management.
Bring back the football.
I’ll be back on Saturday. Life’s too short and far too precious to spend any more time on this internal warfare.
gooooooooooooooooooooooooooood morning
C………………………………………………
Q………………………………………………..
N…………………………………………….
bigJoefaatherigswholibesinspain
Cracker O a day hear in the Costa, sunny 21 deg with 10 knts O wind form the NE.
Good dayfortheBOAT
There’s something not right about the level of police resources and media attention being given to singing songs at football matches when things like this are happening.
http://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/Resources/PDF/I/IndependentSignificantCaseReview.pdf
Assistant Chief Constable, Campbell Corrigan
“I’m really concerned, primarily for my officer. I can understand emotions are running high among the Celtic support but let’s be clear – this is not Eddie’s fault.
Inference of safety concerns, any evidence to back that up Assistant chief constable?
Understandable frustration at freedom of speech violations being done through bad legislation, anger at Strathclyde police ignoring Sectarian and racist bile pouring down from stands down Govan way which has never been reported to a EUFA observer from a Strathcylde police match commander.
Safety for Police officers? maybe if Strathclyde police had tackled Europe’s most violent and sectarian fans then the Police officers who got attacked in Manchester may have been spared the worst excesses that happened in Manchester, oh i forgot the intelligence provided to the EUFA delegate! it was chelsea fans
Morning CQNer’s.
Just finished a sketchy look back at some of the posts re: the current debacle.
I still come to the conclusion that, one of the main driving force’s behind the Scottish gov’s siege of our support is the fact that, the establishment/Scottish Govt realise that…..we as Celtic fans are on our own!
I mean, who from the vastly over-paid hierarchy from the club has made a stand in terms of….turning the tables on the establishment/Scottish Govt and, demanding to know which songs are offensive ?
Why the songs are offensive ?
Then telling the police that they will no longer be needed at CP as from here on in, we will ‘police’ our own games!
May God Bless Margaret McGill.
Big Nan says:
16 November, 2011 at 08:23
“It is the fault of supporters who are engaged in sectarian or hate-filled singing – or in this case pro-IRA chanting.’
So do we deduce from those words that plod accepts that ‘pro IRA chanting’ is neither sectarian nor hate-filled’?
That’s what it reads like to me.
Mountain_Bhoy is Neil Lennon says:
16 November, 2011 at 08:58
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
I’m sorry for bursting your bubble M8 but, the minute you give the PLC your SB-money…….you don’t matter any more!
The Celtic PLC don’t give a flying feck about us!
This will be seen in the coming days and weeks!
Eddie went on ‘strike’ because he and his refereeing brethren had a grievance with Celtic.
Eddie then reports Celtic to UEFA and the SPL.
Join the dots and make a picture.
Mountain_Bhoy is Neil Lennon
I apologise unreservedly for post @09:24
Typo M8!
Hail! Hail!
“Sack The Board!” CSC
What we really need in this country is just one police force, so that individual police officers can follow supporters all over the country, calling them by their first name, letting them know they know personal details, and asking them to strip so they can photograph tattoos and identifying marks.
If the Board do not come out very publicly to put the Police back in their box – and I’m sure they won’t – we’ll see one of two scenarios….and perhaps both.
CP will be a ghost town such is the disgust of most of us at how we are being treated and not supported by the Board.
Those who ARE there will sing louder and more often purely as an act of defiance. This is the Scottish DNA when someone is wrongly attempting to put us down.
Time to really earn your money. Mr Lawwell.
Given the increasing attendance of plod around the GB section….I hope I’m wrong but, I can sense another type of clash with us and plod much like the Janefield Street riot in 1985.
Group Think
When you’re backed into a corner with nowhere left to go,
Take your time, think about it, and come back out real slow,
Remember how they got you? Doesn’t matter that you’re right,
Because the only thing left to do is come back out and fight!
This will be a tough one as an establishment is hard to beat,
Will take all of our resources, to conquer their deceit,
The trick is stay together, the herd mentality is best,
Don’t let them split us up, singled out from the rest.
Group think is the answer, to fight against this foe,
Put away your differences, plough the same furrow,
They won’t let up believe me, this is just the start,
Will do everything in their power, to pull us all apart.
.
.
“just carrying out his orders”
dirty orange masonic hun scumbags
did i get them all?????
they hate us
they will never stop hating us
BlantyreKev says:
16 November, 2011 at 09:29
Eh ?
Beautiful, bright morning here in North Ayrshire.
Time to start worrying about Inverness, I think.
Big Nan says:
16 November, 2011 at 08:23
“It is the fault of supporters who are engaged in sectarian or hate-filled singing – or in this case pro-IRA chanting.
“This is a priority for the country to sort out. It’s a priority for the Scottish government, the police and the courts. It’s not Eddie who sets the agenda.
—————————————————————–
unbeleivable. in this case pro-ira chanting……..so its not sectarian nor hate filled.hmmmmmmmmmm
if the government/cops want to stamp out sectarianism etc… then the first place you start is with the sectarian marches that take place up and down our streets.
people might take notice then
fannies
Serenity says:
16 November, 2011 at 09:32
Well done. Great stuff!
Rancho Franco…
I don’t know who you are. I get one badly written post directed at me, and it’s about masturbation (keep it to yourself man) and I just don’t know why I should care about whether you’re on an imaginary list of people I like or dislike. Seriously, who are you?
Like doesn’t come into it. This isn’t a playground, its a public forum for Celtic fans. If you want a friend – make a friend. If you want to talk about something, well let’s hear it. There are people I disagree with, occasionally vehemently and that’s as far as that goes. Then there are named individuals that are bad Celtic fans – i’ve named three who bully fellow posters and then defend egregious behaviour, beyond that it’s just debate. I’m no more or less passionate than JF or Ernie who I regularly disagree with but are not among the bullying threesome, and I’ll engage anyone who wants a discussion.
Rancho, you literally had nothing to contribute. 99% of my posts are on topic, the remaining 1% is, unashamedly devoted to dealing with the ‘morons’ who are struggling to understand the 99%. I couldn’t care less which you are.
Ernie/Bobby. I make no apology for moron, or cretin, which I think is less accurate anyway. No-one has to respect crass stupidity, it’s simply not a pre-requisite. Equally, I’ve never sought to change the minds of the genuine idiots on here… I’m not that bold. I simply wanted to challenge the extreme views and allow a little room on the blog for something other than conspiracy, Old Firmisms and general hysteria.
Just a brief note today…
Serenity says:
16 November, 2011 at 09:32
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Good stuff as usual M8 but, for Celtic FC to become one then….the board has to be sacked and, the club restructured! IMO!
The establishment know that Celtic FC is a house of cards.
The BBC showed that @ SCF v’s M/well.
The establishment know that the Celtic support are on their own and, will plan accordingly.
“It is the fault of supporters who are engaged in sectarian or hate-filled singing – or in this case pro-IRA chanting.
“This is a priority for the country to sort out. It’s a priority for the Scottish government, the police and the courts. It’s not Eddie who sets the agenda.
—————————-
Get the bit about sectarian & hate-filled singing…………..but when was legislation passed that made pro-IRA chanting an offence????
OR – Is Eddie actually SETTING the AGENDA??
Paddy T who enjoys singing “The Holy Ground” Fine Ghirl ye are”
This HAS to be the way ahead………
…………………………………………….
Margaret McGill says:
16 November, 2011 at 02:45
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.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Sack The Board!
Sack The Police!
Sack The Media!
God Bless Margaret McGill and, may her light shine on those fellow fans who don’t know were to turn!
Hail! Hail!
Anyone else seeing shades of last years dispute with the sectarian fa in coco corrigans press release ‘fear for personnel safety’, next we’ll be getting accused of death threats and then strike action till those bad Celtic supporters stop it.
This is the same clown that refused to discuss it with the Green Brigade when recently requested, its a pity no one in the meeja is picking up on the Green Brigades side of the story.