Last week I was in Belfast for the first time in 20 years. The city centre was flooded with tourists, adding a cosmopolitan flavour. It’s clean and without litter or graffiti. I also didn’t see a single football top on the street in two days, which has to be exceptional for any European city. It was a proper tourist destination.
The whole city is small and just a few minutes’ walk from the centre are demarcation zones where normal rules of law and order, or even planning permission, do not apply. There are places where inappropriate bravado would be punished without appropriate limit.
Many people live in besieged areas. Bombay St is pretty and well-kept, but the residents, are not even protected by a roof-high peace line (below). Their gardens are now completely caged in, a necessary step to protect life and property.
One phrase you will have heard all your life about Belfast in July is “tensions run high”. Communities spend months preparing enormous bonfires, while ancient observances are carried out.
It is not possible for Celtic to play against Linfield under normal conditions without jeopardising the welfare of our travelling support. Too many people would be vulnerable in too many places. We should decline tickets for the away game and politely inform Linfield they should do likewise – don’t think for a second it would be only Linfield fans who would pitch up at Celtic Park for the return game. Their presence would be a beacon for all that we don’t want to see or listen to for 90 minutes.
Belfast has so much to teach Glasgow, from tourism, to reconciliation, but conflict remains part of its infrastructure. This is a tie to get out of the way without cost to life or limb.
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ONEMALLOY…
Condolences on the loss of your Aunt Mary,may she RIP.
ANGELGABRIEL & GENE…
Thoughts and condolences to you both and to your loved ones for your loss.
MIKE IN TORONTO on 19TH JUNE 2017 4:32 PM
just got an invite to the FF gawf tournament at ROYAL Musselburgh …. dont I feel special? anyone else going?
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I’m sure ACGR will be up for that.
Rogic scores v Germany 1-1
Switch the ties. Celtic can play at home first.
No away support allocation for either. That’s the best you can do.
OneMalloy
God keep auntie Mary.
RIP
Tom Rogic equalises for Aussies v Germany – 1-1
timaloy29 on 19th June 2017 4:41 pm
Switch the ties. Celtic can play at home first.
No away support allocation for either. That’s the best you can do.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Linfield will not agree to a switch – financially it suits them to be at home first.
Sure i heard the muppet commentating on the Germany/ Australia game state that Rogic scored a late equaliser in the Cup Final and then netted a stunning winner………obviously did his homework. :-)
And as if by Magic, Big Tam pops up with an equaliser against the jerries.
Watched @10 mins of Australia v a second string.Germany.Germany 1 up.If it was a boxing match,The Ref would stop it.
1-2 Germany , stupid tackle gives a penalty
Pogmathon
He better no be wearin’ his onesie :-)
Goaaaaal!
Tom Rogic has just made Germany angry by equalising.
They then immediately win a penalty
Germans don’t miss.
Germans get a penalty, and – unbelievable – they score to equalise, according to The muppet with the mine.
Famous last words -just about to switch it off and head out to the Beach and Hey presto 1-1
Bliddy autocorrect……”the muppet with the MIKE “
Don’t see the Linfield game causing too many problems either on or off the pitch.There’ll be increased security for the match and any opportunity for incidents to occur will be unlikely.The reality is most,if not all,confrontations will take place on social media with all the virtual hardmen shooting off literal,and illiteral,bullets from the safety of their homes.Noise and vapid rhetoric.
We’ll easily dispose of them on the pitch then wonder what the fuss was about.
Bateenbhoy
What’s that, MIT is a muppet? :-)
Celtic humiliating the Orangies on the 12th July? Bring it on.
I’d expect the game to be moved from the 12th. I reckon the Police in Belfast will feel they have enough on that day & will refuse to sanction the game going ahead.
Whenever it’s played I don’t think there will be much danger during the game or in getting to & coming from the game.
The problems will arise if Bhoys stray into the wrong areas, there are still some very dangerous people hanging about up there & extreme caution advised for all coming from Glasgow.
SIONNACH ABU
They will surely shift the date, as the morons wont want to be humiliated on their big day.
Id prefer it to be on the 12th, be funnier:)
HH
PSNI have said they now want the game switched. Absolute farce.
TAL …. ha! he said ‘the muppet WITH the Mike’… but no worries, I’ve been called worse (a few times today, in fact ! :)
I am hearing stories (legends, really) of your exploits in Lisbon …. I am hearing you did us Canucks proud!
As for FF, I should point out that a dozen or so years after I started lurking on there, every year I still get a happy birthday email from them…. they are so sweet!
:)
Kev. No surprise there. That was always on the cards,
KEVING
Spoilsports:)
HH
Corkcelt.
Both clubs have already said, in the event of Linfield qualifying to meet Celtic, that the game is moved to the 11th and with agreement of PSNI a 5 o’clock kick off.
Hail Hail.
That might make it easier for fans traveling, as if we are returning on the 12th surely the ferries will be empty.
Free The Green Man Seven…
Correction.
Both clubs did say move the game to 11th, they didn’t specifically state 5o’clock k.o. but the article I read severely hinted that both clubs were keen to have an early kick off and 5.o’clock was suggested. The Huns don’t want it any earlier as they are hoping game will be shown live and any earlier kick off than 5 could jeopardise that.
Big Packy
Lol thats the way to do it:)
HH
Teuchter,
even with the bravery of being out of range, I’m glad you said that, not me :-))))
These PSNI coppers are taking the fun right out of this game:)
No need for it:)
HH
Looks like the drama queens just couldn’t wait to get started once Celtic and Linfield were mentioned in the same. Jeezus couldn’t you wait and see if Linfield can negotiate their way past Fiorita before you get your knickers in a twist. Or maybe that’s the draw you were secretly hoping for, in order to express your pseudo shock horror
the green man .I feckin loved it orange scum.
Big Packy
Same attitude as myself:)
They can all feck right off.
We go where we want.
CC
Would be concerned about our travelling support wandering into the wrong areas.
Having said that this could be difficult as they tend to be decorated in aesthetically pleasing shades of red,white blue with rather large bonfire topped with religious artefacts and SF election posters piled high on top of sofas to celebrate their “kulture”.
Furthermore securing a place on boats, planes et al will be well high impossible as the “blood of our blood” bandsmen will occupy all the available space in an effort to outdo their Northern Irish bretheren in this annual bigotfest.
Having said that delighted to get the opportunity to put these Neanderthals back in their cave. But we have to be careful out there as their dander is up at this time of the year.
NYPDblueCsc
MIT
Had a great time in Lisbon.
I’m stuck on the Allan right now en route to picking up the world renowned Randy’s Jamaican chicken patty’s on Eglinton Ave.
HH mate
Bateenbhoy
HH :-)
Jnp
Anytime on the 11th is crazy.
Does anyone know the release date for the new away top please