The SNPs parliamentary majority and comfortable lead in opinion polls makes it likely they will pass their Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill this week, once and for all removing government and police responsibility to produce separate reports on sectarian crime. Instead, a range of offenses, some new, some old, will be lumped together, including a myriad of profanities.
Alex Salmond’s government has been reluctant to provide a breakdown on sectarian crime despite being asked to produce them since 2007 and has presided over the destruction of all but last year’s data. Even the release of this data required research and analysis to divine the nature of the crime.
They have also refused to re-collect data from police records, demonstrating shocking arrogance on a subject they have invested enormous amounts of resource elsewhere on. Your last window on sectarian crime under this government, acute though it is, is about to be bricked in.
The Government have also politicised the police in a manner reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher’s government during the miner’s strike. An Anti-Sectarian Crime unit appeared on the ground, without any reference to churches and community groups most affected by sectarian crime. After the Nottinghill Carnival riots of the 1970s the Metropolitan Police learned painful lessons about how necessary it was to involve community groups and leaders in any action which can be perceived to be focused on any specific section of society.
The leadership of Strathclyde Police, which looks likely to benefit from Scottish Government changes to stage a takeover of the entire Scottish police operation, appears to be, quite literally, 35 years behind their London counterparts, who long ago learned that community engagement comes first.
In the light of how they have served each other’s interests with little regard to the public, this cosy relationship of non-consulting and ambitious number of police officers from Glasgow and Holyrood politicians must be prevented from harvesting control of a combined Scottish force – the biggest prize up for grabs in policing in decades.
The proposed Bill has received almost no support from the football community and faith groups. Repealing it and de-politicising ambitious police officers will surely be one of the key promises of Salmond’s political opponents at the next Scottish Parliament elections, who will at least be able to find a popular rallying call.
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In August 2010, UEFA fined FK Rabotnicki €10,000 following the discriminatory conduct of supporters during their UEFA Europa League home game against Liverpool FC. Their fans taunted Liverpool’s players with monkey chants.
Speaking of which, any word of the SPL investigation into racist chants from St Johnstone fans last season aimed at our South Korean players?
Mort
UEFA will have to make public which of the chants have warranted a punishment if they want them not to be repeated.
At which point should we thank the SFA for their support in this matter?
15k will be the bill for the T and sandwiches
new article posted.
Stephen Pollock,
been there – liked it for a week at a time – not sure I could live there.
The 5 star hotels are good – but living in the Leela or Oberoi would not be sustainable for ever.
Seville67
Fined 15,000 Euros by UEFA for the ‘illicit’ chanting. No more news yet.
travel info for the match on Thurs at the town of Udine
• Please note that there may be disruption to public transport because of a predicted strike over the 15th and 16th of December. Information can be obtained at the local transport website http://www.saf.ud.it
http://www.celticfc.net/matchday_udineseinfo
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo says:
12 December, 2011 at 13:57
That is bad. Really bad stuff.
If someone normal came on here for the first time and read that then he/she would be off like a shot.
The 15K EUR fine…. what chanting was taking place, and what made it ‘illicit’?
That is a serious question…. the whole thing seemed very un-transparent, and I would really like to know which chant the police are talking about. (As clearly it will have to be avoided in future).
I suspect the chanting was in no way sectarian 8as this would doubtless have been mentioned) so probably points to support for a terrorist organisation. If the IRA is the ‘terrorist organisation’ in question (and I am speculating here) then we should be aware that this is the benchmark, and anything of this nature is unacceptable.
The Club will be well within their rights however, to contact the SFA, and ask what action will be taken against the ‘illicit’ chanting from the rangers fans on Saturday, in support of the YCV – the youth wing of the UVF. I am sure that despite it not being a UEFA fixture, the police are still bound to act, and clearly there has been a legal precedent set today with Celtic’s fine.
I am wary of banning political chanting, as I feel it impinges on free speech. however, it is FAR easier for Celtic fans to stop it than it is for the Huns, for whom their club was compelled to issue a list of approved songs which was so limited in its scope, it included something called Wolverhampton Town…… a song not heard since the 1950s.
Why stand by and take this? – if the police want to flag ‘illicit’ chanting – (not illegal… not sectarian…) then let’s make sure that this policy is applied consistently.
Celtic have been fined £12,700 by Uefa for “illicit chanting” by some of their fans in their home Europa League game against Rennes on 3 November.
The Strathclyde Police match commander had notified the Uefa delegate about “a number of instances” during the game of some fans “singing offensive songs”.
Uefa’s control and disciplinary body heard the case on Friday and announced its decision on Monday afternoon.
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell recently asked fans to stop such songs.
At the club’s annual meeting in October, he urge supporters to refrain from singing pro-IRA chants.
He said the club had been “inundated” with complaints from their own supporters following their 2-0 defeat by Hearts at Tynecastle.
Last Monday, the Scottish Premier League announced it would take no action against Celtic after deciding the club had taken “all reasonably practicable steps” to prevent offensive chanting in their home match against Hibernian on 29 October.
Rangers were fined £13,300 and “severely warned” by Uefa when the conduct of their supporters first drew the attention of Uefa in 2006.
Uefa had originally found Rangers fans not guilty of disciminatory chants at the Champions League tie with Villarreal but that decision was overturned when challenged by disciplinary inspector Gerhard Kapl.
BBC
BeijingBhoysBrigade says:
12 December, 2011 at 15:45
I agree re the republic, but Salmond knows that this would be a step too far for the Scottish people. Scotland is home to the least nationalistic population I have ever encountered. The average scottish person thinks that having ourt own football team, and berating foreign waiters for thinking theay are english (usually in a whining, nasal accent) equates to being a country.
Sadly pathetic – like the 35 year old who regularly speaks of leaving home, but doesn’t want to have to do his own washing and ironing.
Until we all do something about it, the butchers apron will continue to be our flag.
bigdanistheman says:
12 December, 2011 at 15:12
That should say tonners
…………….
Loads of Tonners down our way (Blackpool) some originally from Banknock, Eddie Tonner was the high heid yin at the CSA – Celtic supporters Association.
V
Moonbeams WD. \o/ Kano 1000 Supporting Neil Lennon 100%. says:
12 December, 2011 at 12:34
Celticfc.net News
Celtic to wear Green and pink hopped jersey’s for the remainder of the season after bringing in a lodge of psychologists in an attempt to dampen the aggression and spirit of the players and the support.
It is believed wearing the colour pink will connect the players and the support with their feminine side although it has been stated there could be a monthly period when the pink and green hoops may not act as expected.
In the future the players may also be required to wear pink boots and marigold gloves if the Pink & Green hopped jersey’s do not have the required effect. A further suggestion has been dropped as it was silly and extreme as the carrying of pink feather dusters is outwith the rules of the game.
Supporters will be required to wear green and pink hooped scarves and the GB will be named the PG and its members will be provide with an official club song book detailing allowable songs to be sung at Celtic Park. Any song sung that is not on the list will see the PG members shot from sniper cover to be placed on the roof of the main stand. Songs on the list include ‘She’ll be coming round the mountain’ and ‘You canny through uer Granny aff a bus’.
MWD thinks this is a great idea and should go someway to appeasing those offended by Neil Lennon and Scott Brown.
share
HAIL HAIL MOONBEAMS
that is classic, you’ve made my day!
brilliant! hail hail
I forwarded Scotlaw’s comments to almost all the MSPs. Hope I get a comment from them.
Good TV debate on the Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill that probably will be passed on Wednesday by the Scottish Goverment. To me it still looks a little fuzzy and there seems to be an issue regarding lack of clarity and detail, particularly over what IS offensive. Interesting also to hear Les Gray, head of Strathclyde Police say that he heard “song after song” that was offensive sung by fans at the Hibs v Rangers game yesterday. And yet – nothing was reported by the Match Commander to the SPL delegate!? And nothing mentioned on the radio or in the media today.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b017zq7x/The_Politics_Show_Scotland_11_12_2011/
Bhoys if any of you are on face book take a look at;
“Rid the Old Firm Bigotry once and for all”
Some very deluded people out there!
On that note good night.
Sorry to talk about the huns again for a second
If, as some folks suspect, The Scottish gazillionaire Craig Whyte is actual a pre pack admin asset stripper and is just waiting until it suits him to call in the administrators on RFC I have some questions:
Craig Whyte, Gazillionaire extrordinaire, is allegedly currently not paying creditors and or staff NI and tax contributions, is this because if he plans to go into admin he might as well “get hung for a sheep as a lamb” and doesn’t care if the debt is 45 million or 55 million, cos he is not paying it anyway.
Regarding the on/off Jelavic january transfer, why would rangers want an alleged £10 million to arrive in the clubs coffers if they didn’t plan to pay any bills before the taxman cometh
Is this to fund the players wages etc until the taxman arrives?
And Finally,
I’ve given up on waiting for our old dying, so called Scottish sports journalists commenting on the real issue. So, since he obviously feels he has a moral duty to get involved I wonder what Eddie Smith has to say about the general topic of financial sporting theft or even tax evasion.