I’m a bit disappointed RIFC were not in a position to advise their shareholders the results of the votes this morning. Doing so would not have added 10 minutes to proceedings. My expectation is that the board would win both votes, giving them a resounding platform this weekend to sell tickets for lower league football. Perhaps there’s more going on than I thought.
You have to wonder what that expensive legal business in London and Edinburgh yesterday was all about? Many details of Sports Direct’s deal with Newco are public knowledge, and the void of missing details is filled with pretty stark speculation. It struck me that counsel for Sports Direct noted the chronology of the new board being appointed, the subsequent leaks and that Newco had not denied they were the source of the leak. All now on record, in court. Confidentiality is, of course, a condition of the agreement, which could now be argued is in breach. That would be a source of regret. For some.
More on Dave King over the weekend. He can’t help himself.
You have to admire those who work to expose the absurdity of the Offensive Behaviour Act, designed by the SNP government to “equalise” non criminal offenses with criminal offenses. Unfortunately, the campaigners are wasting their time, the Act is here to stay, anyone in doubt should read the news this morning that 80% of people surveyed support it. Ask the average person in the street if they support a law against Offensive Behaviour and they’re hardly likely to say ‘no’. This type of survey is manipulative nonsense. Police with guns on the streets and politically motivated laws are a by-product of blind populism. This is an offensive law and I am horrified.
Robert King is one of the Angola 3, who were incarcerated in solitary confinement in the Louisiana town of that name, and who have become causes célèbres for miscarriage of justice campaigners and prison reformers alike. King spent 30 years in solitary before having his conviction overturned. If you don’t know about the Angola 3, go find out.
He pitched up on CNN yesterday dressed in distinctive attire (below).
My relationship with Celtic is different to King’s. I’m a Celtic fan because that’s the way I was brought up, but I’m pretty sure King’s roots don’t reach back to the Emerald Isle. Chances are, I’d be a Celtic fan whether we were a club with a social mission or not. For others, for King, the reasons they wear a shirt on TV, buy a season ticket, or simply share in our joy on occasion, are different.
We are the club of the underdog, a beacon for the downtrodden, a place where they will find a welcome. No one can plan for this, it either survives over the decades or it doesn’t, so it’s worthwhile telling this part of our story now and again, to set ourselves a core target: Remain the most ethical football club in the world.
To deliver on this you and I need to step forward, this is not a job that can be outsourced to the club, it takes all of us. You can start here by signing up for the Great Scottish Run for the Foundation. I know at least 30 runners who read this, sign up before I see you in person!
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Sandman
**************************
Born on the south side, so a White Sox fan. If you’re familiar with the rivalry, it’s fairly friendly.
ExSlamuirBhoy
**************************
On our trip three years ago, we visited the Reebok to see Bolton and Everton.
On the same trip during our stay in Masham (Yorkshire), we met a gentleman who claimed to be Jackie McNamara’s godfather. Not making this up. He said he played professionally in America during the dark days of indoor soccer. He played in Pittsburgh. I remember our conversation clearly, The Bay Horse.
Does anyone know if Celtic were represented at today’s commemoration for Willie Angus?
Jason Denayer starts for Belgium against Wales tonight…
Young raw lad + a year at Celtic = starter for world ranked no 2 national team
Formula for success …
By the way not having read back I was puzzled at the references to King appearing on TV in the hoops. Momentarily I thought it explained his no show at the Gazebo this morning.
chicagobhoy1967
17:53 on 12 June, 2015
Fantastic post mate , remember to visit CQN corner when you get over for a game .
Hail Hail
good evening i’m just back from a viewing at smellies auction house in hamilton the auctions on monday (further viewings 9am to 9;30am, there’s a lot of celtic signed tops going for charity, ceasar, bertie,guidetti commons and many more tops balls and photos, these are all authenticated…….fill yer boots lhads
Paul67:
Only read the leader:
…I’m pretty sure King’s roots don’t reach back to the Emerald Isle…
I am not pretty sure, I am sure…from what I hear he couldn’t/wasn’t allowed to attend today.
Emerald Isle he couldn’t spell it…he got a pot to you know what in…
I smell liquid…again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
…
I watched as near as you can get to a full strength England team last week in the Aviva against ROI and I must say they are a very ordinary, ordinary team and I can remember our keeper Kieran Westwood having possibly one tricky shot to deal with. We had two teams here composed of mostly EPL players from top to bottom of the League table and my honest opinion is that England are light years away from winning a major tournament, these guys have not beaten the ROI in thirty years.
Methinks that Scotland will face a different Republic in tomorrow’s game, they are back to full strength with four of the players who were out injured for the game at Celtic Park. I fancy the Republic.
chicagobhoy1967
17:53 on 12 June, 2015
Like many others have commented, I actually enjoyed the post because quite a lot on here have always just known Celtic because we are Celtic fans, the majority through their father, I know for a fact Celtic is probably the most important link I ever had with my father, not the only link but probably the strongest, it’s not as important as family so we could always at least fall out about whether we played well or we were rubbish, as the father he always found faults as the youngster I was always the happy clapper (still am) welcome to the blog and a massive Hail Hail from Coatbrig to Chicago
Paul67
I’ve been busy today so have only had time to read your article but none of the following posts.
I feared the worst when I saw the Morrow Report when it was published. I thought, you clever bastards. Put the onus on the clubs to tackle ‘offensive’ behaviour whilst maintaining the Act as a fallback.
Below is the ‘review’ published today by the research team at Stirling Uni. This was an academic piece of research and the fact that is appears to have formed the basis of the review is lamentable. Despite this even they don’t come out in support of the Act.
I don’t think we’re wasting our time Paul. Yes the Act may remain in place after August and new tactics and targets will be required. But as someone once said, “We haven’t gone away ye know!”
————
Stirling study considers football behaviour legislation
12 June 2015
Football pitch
An evaluation by the University of Stirling and ScotCen Social Research has been published today, on the impact of legislation covering disorder and offensive behaviour at football matches.
They conducted a two-year assessment of Section 1 of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Evidence gathered included: two national surveys of football fans in 2013 and 2014; interviews with representatives from Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service; supporters and supporters’ group representatives.
The evaluation is intended to be one contribution, sitting alongside other possible evidence, perspectives or material in the Scottish Government’s consideration of the Act.
Key findings included:
Successful prosecutions have dropped from 73 percent to 52 percent in the last year, which is consistent with other football-related charges.
Charges fell by 24 percent between the first and second year of the Act’s introduction though it is not possible to determine whether this is directly attributable to the Act.
The average time to progress and conclude football-related charges appears to be particularly lengthy; a source of frustration and unfairness felt by some fans.
The legislation, along with the complementary initiatives set up prior to the legislation such as the establishment of the Football Coordination Unit Scotland, was well-regarded by Procurator Fiscals, who felt that it enabled the fiscal service to work more effectively.
Policing methods in the early stages were seen as adversarial and disproportionate by some fans whilst enforcement of the Act by policing and stewarding was inconsistent between different grounds.
In the qualitative research, both fans and stakeholders expressed some disquiet over the extent to which the Act is perceived to be targeted at younger fans.
Eighty-five percent of surveyed fans agreed it was offensive to sing songs or make remarks about people’s religious beliefs or backgrounds and 90 percent agreed it was offensive to celebrate the loss of life.
Reaction from Sheriffs ranged from strongly supportive to emphatically critical, with most in between, whilst Police Scotland felt the act gave them greater clarity on how to act.
Dr Niall Hamilton-Smith, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Stirling said: “Our evaluation neither endorses nor rejects the Act, but presents robust evidence on patterns of implementation, perceptions of impact and emerging issues and questions relating to section one of the legislation.”
chicagobhoy1967
19:09 on
12 June, 2015
There is no where on earth remotely resembles Celtic Park especially on a European night, been going to the games almost all my days sure there is at least 1 poster on here will confirm. Time your visit to coincide with a Euro tie or 1 of our bigger league matches e.g playing Aberdeen , Dundee Utd or the derby v Thistle. It is a special place on Gods Green earth
I’m a bit disappointed RIFC were not in a position to advise their shareholders the results of the votes this morning. Doing so would not have added 10 minutes to proceedings. My expectation is that the board would win both votes, giving them a resounding platform this weekend to sell tickets for lower league football. Perhaps there’s more going on than I thought.
Don’t know or care much about it.
BBC claiming that THEY are legally obliged to withold result of vote until Monday.
Great CNN footage Paul. What a dignified, articulate man Mr King is and in a Celtic shirt. Would love to hear the story behind his attire.
H.T.
Hope you are well my friend and are going to have a restful weekend, watch out for burn out, you are crazily busy.
If you can, read Chicagobhoy 67 posts 17.53 I think. Beautiful post.
Paul67 et
If it was the battle of the anthems Wales would win every time!
Unless they were playing France that is!
James Last was actually called Hans.
He only found out that the record company had decided to call him James when he received a copy of his first album through the post.
He thought that they had made a mistake and called them up only for one of the company executive to explain that “Hans” was too German and that “James” Last would lead to worldwide sales.
An so it proved.
But at home he was still “Hans” or “Hansi”.
Alas, he passed away last week.
I suppose you could say that Hans Last has gone Feet First.
I’ll get my coat and won’t let the door bang on the way out …………
FourGreenFields.
Can you manage to get through next Saturday 20th June.
The conviction rate for Section 1 of the Act over the whole period looks around 22%. The notoriously low conviction rate for rape is 41%…
Yet we’re told that this Act is a success.
JNP
I went back and read it when I saw posters referring to it. A really inspiring and uplifting read.
I’m grand my friend, a Trust meeting on Tuesday and the FAC meeting on Wednesday actually rejuvenate me because you’re surrounded by good people.
I hope all of you and yours are keeping well mate.
Gerryfaethebring
*****************************
Baseball and American football were among the few ways my father and I communicated and shared interest. He’d rather throw a baseball than talk, haha.
I have read CQN for years on a daily basis, often to the detriment of my productivity. It’s a place where I’ve learned much and can rely on the accuracy and objectivity of what I read, rare qualities in traditional media and particularly the internet.
hamiltontim
19:51 on 12 June, 2015
I think it was a poll of 1000 people, the politicians are doing what politicians do, more people have to highlight the “lies” and you will not read about the 22% conviction rate in the rags, hopefully the more people read about the full situation and not he bits and pieces the politicians want published…… Anybody & everybody should contact their MP (even though they might be useless) a MP has to register a complaint from a constituent, whatever party that is in control likes an opinion poll when it suits them, they don’t like real life
Lovely football being played by Belgium. The Sky commentator waxed lyrical about their EPL contingent. No mention, of course, of Jason Denayer.
Jason Denayer comes off best against Bale. Name being chanted.
oldtim67
Should be able to make it mate .
Thanks for the invite .
Is Richie going ?
“They come from Bonnie Scotland,
they come from County Cork,
they come from dear oul’ Donegal
an’ even from New York……
……an Chicago! ”
Welcome “Windy” ya hunned-up charlatan!
;)
HH.
Chicagobhoy 67
Welcome to CQN, an excellent first post.
JD .. Season at Celtic .. Made him a man!
:)
Gerryfaethebrig
19:58 on
12 June, 2015
hamiltontim
19:51 on 12 June, 2015
I think it was a poll of 1000 people, the politicians are doing what politicians do, more people have to highlight the “lies” and you will not read about the 22% conviction rate in the rags, hopefully the more people read about the full situation and not he bits and pieces the politicians want published…… Anybody & everybody should contact their MP (even though they might be useless) a MP has to register a complaint from a constituent, whatever party that is in control likes an opinion poll when it suits them, they don’t like real life
All those fighting against the Act should never lose an opportunity to highlight BBC Scotland role in fomenting the conditions that led to the Act being brought in.
Croatia v Italy being played behind closed doors.
Not much of an atmosphere!
I’m watching Wales v The Belgiums(© Alf Ramsey).
Atmosphere better.
HH!!
Bale 1-0. Shocking headed back pass from Belgian player
H.T.
Good stuff. In a nice way, I worry how you fit everything in.
Paddy away to Vietnam and Cambodia for 3 weeks tomorrow.
I will miss him. He’s the one who keeps me sane.
I’m sure he will have a brilliant time.
Can’t remember who, but someone posted earlier about going to see Cambodia playing Afghanistan in a world cup qualifier in Phnom Penh on Tuesday. Sadly Paddy in Vietnam then or it would have been great for him to team up with a fellow Tim.
We really are everywhere.
hamiltontim
Thought the FAC meeting the other night was a real eye opener , the accounts by those directly affected by this ridiculous legislation were both shocking and an alarm bell for all fair minded people .
Keep up the good work mate and I’ll do what I can to help .
HH
Wales scores from a free kick given against JD, who was fouled. Belgium player plays the ball to Bale, who was free in the penalty box.
Does anyone know if the 5 way agreement can be released under freedom of information? Since it is of interest to many paying customers of scottish football. Or would it be too much of a death knell for the Blazers?
chicagobhoy1967
19:56 on 12 June, 2015
Football, baseball, American football…. Maybe our fathers needed “ball” or “sport” to communicate
quonno
Exactly, a nonsense act through a nonsense game, politicians thrive on opportunity and other peoples misfortune
Hail Hail
Chicagobhoy, did you get an invite to oldtim’s garden party? They say its the social event of the year.
Naw!! Me neither :-(
Welcome and Hail Hail bruv
Some interesting figures here, especially 50 out of 58 were for religious hatred and 82% of those were against Catholics.
Yet Focus want to arrest kids and young adults for singing sings about freedom. Surely that puts Bob Marley on the banned list.
Forgot to post the link, diddy
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-33106460