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
- ...
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- »
KevJungle says – “We don’t care what the animals say…” s
I agree not necessarily me but I think life long fans should be more involved rather than those who have no wish to attend or think that Wim Jansen won the double in our centenary season.
Hail Hail
Where was Eddie Smith @ LCF v’s huns in march 2011 ?
Where was Salmond ?
Where was ‘coco corrigan’ -(Neil canamaler Lennon hunskelper extraordinaire)
Where was the media – (apart from, Keevins & Spiers) ?
“We Shall Overcome….” CSC
Che
To be honest I would boycott away games because of the general treatment of our club and fans not because of the singing.
My dad told me when I was young “I like a wee Rebel song but not at the games”.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo says:
16 November, 2011 at 10:34
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Whatever……
Hail! Hail!
Is Eddie Smith related to Pat Nevin?
O Paddy dear, and did ye hear the news that’s goin’ round?
The shamrock is by law forbid to grow on Irish ground!
No more Saint Patrick’s Day we’ll keep, his color can’t be seen
For there’s a cruel law ag’in the Wearin’ o’ the Green.”
I met with Napper Tandy, and he took me by the hand
And he said, “How’s poor old Ireland, and how does she stand?”
“She’s the most distressful country that ever yet was seen
For they’re hanging men and women there for the Wearin’ o’ the Green.”
“So if the color we must wear be England’s cruel red
Let it remind us of the blood that Irishmen have shed
And pull the shamrock from your hat, and throw it on the sod
But never fear, ’twill take root there, though underfoot ’tis trod.
When laws can stop the blades of grass from growin’ as they grow
And when the leaves in summer-time their color dare not show
Then I will change the color too I wear in my caubeen
But till that day, please God, I’ll stick to the Wearin’ o’ the Green.
KevJungle says – “We don’t care what the animals say…” @10:35
In the Rangers end?
Would it be too much to hope for England to get Spain, Portugal and France in the summer?
BlantyreKev says:
16 November, 2011 at 10:03
The Green Brigade is a relatively new phenomenon. The songs and songs debate are not.
Why are they linked as cause and effect?
—————————————-
The Green Brigade lead the Celtic support in the stadium and are accordingly the lightning rod for fan issues.
Lennon n Mc….Mjallby says:
16 November, 2011 at 10:12
‘I am absolutely disgusted to hear two of them are going through court cases for having the word ‘huns’ on a banner.’
The scientic definition of hun is of course:
‘a hun – a Rangers fan’
Robin McKie, The Observer’s science editor, who has supported Rangers since 1961
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2003/may/18/sport.uefa
Why are the police and the fiscal sevice wasting taxpayers’ money on this?
Paddy Gallacher Why do you want to deny the provincial clubs the income from the Celtic away support ? The writing on CQN can be very emotive at times and very strong statements are made I think many posters feel they are speaking for the majority of our support well I think they are mistaken.I think the majority of our support dont give a care that they will not be allowed to sing pro IRA songs they will happily support the new law.Also the police in this country are doing a very difficult job and calling them pigs as some on here do is disrespectfull.As an older poster I have seen the law change for many issues and none have in my opiniom a detremental affect on the majority of the population because they are law abideing.I will continue togo to games home and away and not sing pro IRA songs and cheer on my beloved Celtic.H.H.
ernie lynch says:
16 November, 2011 at 10:34
Paddy Gallagher says:
16 November, 2011 at 10:21
You think Peter Lawwell doesn’t despise the GB?
********************
I would say he doesn’t understand them rather than he despises them. The obvious lack of dialect between club and support is causing as much bitterness and division within – when we should be fighting as a united force.
Barrach Obampot says:
16 November, 2011 at 10:38
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Yeah!
To be honest….I think the establishment’s blue-nose has been nocked out of joint since, the Queen paid tribute/respects to TBOTOB at the garden of rmembrance in Dublin ?
The establishment’s campaign against us was blown out of the water that very day! IMO!
Hail! Hail!
Anyone heard from Thegreenmanalishi?
Had “a couple of pints” with him last week and he’s disappeared.
Allgreen says:
16 November, 2011 at 10:36
No offence intended mate I was trying to make light of it,
I cant afford to travel to the away games now so its not really my place to advocate a boycott or not,
in my opinion thats really down to the supporters like yourself who can manage to travel, its a tough call though?
I notice the media house and board lackies becoming more vociferous the closer the hun get to the abyss.
get the masons off the board
KevJungle says – “We don’t care what the animals say…”
If the SNP are serious about “Offensive Behaviour” I suggest they start with the conduct of participants on Orange Walks.
All available statistics inform that religious aggravated offences occur around Orange Walks and not football matches…
…which is why they’ve deleted the COPFS data.
Nice one Kim Jung Alex.
Reading some posts from during the night and the issue of a boycott is raised again
I have made the assumption that posters advocating same live in far off and distant lands and rarely travel to these shores for the said away games
The way the system works just now for away games is that at the start of every season season ticket holders register for the away registration scheme and supply credit card/debit card details for the purchase of tickets for the away match of their choice. Once you have made your choice that is it and if successful in a ballot you are allocated a ticket and your credit card/debit charge is charged accordingly even if you choose not to uplift the ticket and attend the away game. So you don’t uplift your ticket but you money goes to the other club anyway. The only way to successfully organise any boycott is at the start of a season a for no one to register for the away ticket registration scheme that way Celtic inform other clubs in the league that they do not require any tickets for their stadiums that season
I know that some will counter with the argument that some clubs sell away tickets directly to Celtic supporters but the numbers involved are minuscule compared to the tickets that are sent to Celtic Park for distribution
I imagine that a blanket boycott over a season would not work as the usual nod and a wink brigade (you know who you are) would be willing to boycott Kilmarnock Motherwell St Johnstone etc while licking arses and delivering chocolates to the ticket office to make sure they had secured their Ibrox Tynecastle and cup final tickets
As it stands just now Celtic supporters attending away games is in decline and at every away game this season bar Ibrox you have been able to purchase numerous spare tickets outside the grounds
I do not think our opposing clubs rely on our money as much as they used to and are now more reliant on the TV money that is generated by the Celtic and the Hun visiting their stadiums
I for one as long as I am fit enough will not be boycotting any away games and wil still be there to support the jersey and not any individual or supporters group
Is it standard procedure for the polis to notify the press, of complaints made about non criminal behaviour ??
Canamalar
Who are these ‘masons’ you keep going on about?
Name them.
As the songs debate and the recent attempts to shame our beloved Celtic roll on and on, I find myself more and more concerned for our fans and particularly the Green Brigade.
As a proud Irish Nationalist living in the north I look forward to the day when Westminster no longer has any say in my country and a 32 county republic becomes reality. I had thought that one catalyst could be Scotland’s secession from the UK, thus weakening not only the Union itself but the unionist community in the north’s place within it.
In the last few months and weeks I have come to the conclusion that if Scotland were to gain freedom it would mean a situation akin to the days of Stormont in the 70s here, where Catholic/Irish were 2nd class citizens and vilified at every opportunity, where mistrust was preached from pulpits and in schools, where Irishness could not be tolerated in any shape or form. I am in no way pro union but I am very concerned for my fellow Celtic supporters in Scotland should the SNP be allowed to create what would become an anti-Irish state.
I believe we need to shine a light on the anti-Irish bias that exists in Scotland today, we need to show what our club has had to overcome to get to where we are, how at each step along the way the establishment has attempted to knock us down. We need to open the debate up to the wider Irish community and celebrate that our club has and always will be all inclusive, that despite the poor treatment of our fans and players that we have continually risen above the racist and sectarian abuse directed towards us and created something which is completely the opposite of these negatives. As a club and as a support we have a lot to be proud of, we need to shout more loudly, celebrate the positives and leave the negatives to the politicians. We need to be united as a support as this could be the turning point of our season…
Paddy Gallacher
Me personally I know more of the so called pigs who hold season tickets for Celtic Park than I know of anonymous Internet bloggers who hold tickets
I have never been made to feel welcome at any away stadium in Scotland whilst supporting Celtic.
I have been treated as a second class citizen and a necessary evil because they needed my money to survive.
I have been subjected to hate filled chants and snarled at by putrid drunken morons who despise me for my religion and choice of club.
I prefer to spend my cash where I will be made to feel welcome and shown the respect that would be befitting a valued customer.
hamiltontim,
how many people make their fortune at the top of the british banking indiustry without being a mason ? its that simple.
Mickybhoy1888
Clearly you don’t attend any Celtic away games.
With all due respect that’s absolute pish.
Canamalar.
Brian Quinn.
Che
No offence taken. I don’t go to as many away games now myself as my kids are getting selfish with my time!
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. mmhhhhhhh East Fife pre season friendly .. any hun game this season ?????
“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. an interesting breakdown from Campbell … does nobody have first names around here anymore”
“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. The hypocrisy is quite breathtaking isn´t it
“It shouldn’t be pinned on one individual who is merely carrying out his orders.” Aye Oraage 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. Why just Celtic fans ?
“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. Actions speak louder than words Campbell not DVD recordings – who are you trying to kid ?
“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.” Why does Campbell feel the need to Old Firm this when there is no even handedness here
TIME FOR PETER LAWWELL TO SPEAK OUT HIS NAME IS BEING HIJACKED HERE BIG TIME
HAIL HAIL
Canamalar
So the short answer is that you don’t actually know if there are masons on the Celtic board. Is that correct?
Paddy G..,
“I prefer to spend my cash where I will be made to feel welcome and shown the respect that would be befitting a valued customer.”
So that will be Celtic park out of the equation as well then
Well it seems the boycott is doomed again
You can contact the bank and cancel those standing orders
So its bare our backsides to our enemies
Jaw jaw on CQN
Oh i forgot Michael Kelly on STV is our saviour……………………………..
mickbhoy
I live abroad mate, so yes you are right it is easy for me to say.
I stopped going to away matches but kept attending home games a very longtime ago whilst still living in Scotland, through personal choice.
Don’t understand your reference to pigs?
UEFA and ” illicit singing ” ——- ?
UEFA has done nothing about these —–[ a few examples from many ]
‘ Your Father is Muslim – Your Mother is a Jew
Your brother is a Junkie– Your sister is a Mongol.”
Regularly chanted by a section of the Catania support —-directed at supporters of deadly rivals -Palermo ——
Political ? Offensive ?/ Sectarian? / Discriminatory ?
” Africans -Africans —— Welcome to Europe ”
Chanted by sections of the support at Juve/ Milano / Inter / Udinese whenever Napoli , Catania or Palermo are playing –
Political ? Racist ?
” Oh God —– Please give us a present —Another Pompeii ”
A big favorite for sections of the Milano / Inter support whenever Napoli are the opposition
Offensive ?.
And the ubiquitous across Italy chant ——
” BASTA CON LA VIOLENZA ——VIA LA POLIZIA DAGLI STADI ” –
-Let’s Stop the Violence ——-Get The Police Out of the Stadiums .
What could be more “political” than that ?
Celtic appearing before UEFA for alleged ” illicit singing ” ?
A Pantomime. A very sinister Pantomime.
Get up stand up etc
Afternoon bhoys, warm and still hun free, sheer bliss.
Round about Christmass time last year while on the golf course, I heard something that didn’t make any scence at the time, but with the events of the last week or so is perfectly clear to me now.
I can only base my suspicions on their behaviour, their preference to hear sectarian songs sung by the hun than political songs sung by the Celtic support.
Advise me of any action taken by the board against the bianual sectarian onslaught at Celtic park, just one ?
get the masons of the board
Good morning CQN
Great news for insomniacs – only two more sleeps to Christmas.
I want to get to the point quickly, so I won’t mess around.
The establishment can sugar coat any way they want or any appointment, but we all know that in the majority of cases, it is the “hand-shake” that usually wins the day.
Bottom line is that what they are doing to CELTIC and us is nothing other than ethnic cleansing, simple.
What they are doing is wrong and are we just going to sit back and let them screw us or not? Human rights, lets get them to court and in so doing let the world see what a sick little place Scotland is and shame them. We must highlight to the world what is going on here if we are to stand a chance of winning this battle which has been ongoing for centuries. It has to stop, NOW.
If we do nothing then, what exctley will become of us????
A pissed off KINGLuBO
Shopping time says Mrs G so have a nice day bhoys.