It all seems a bit cloak and dagger to suggest that pyrotechnics are smuggled into football grounds inside flags and banners. I’d always assumed the ‘stick it up your jumper’ technique would have been the delivery mechanism, not that I’ve any experience of the subject.
Flares have been an increasing menace at football games across the UK in recent years, including earlier this season at a Europa League qualifying game at McDiarmid Park, which passed off without mention in the media, but police have previously limited their interventions to lectures and the occasional arrest.
Football clubs are dependent on Police Scotland for safety licenses for games, and in their wisdom, the police have determined this action will remove one method of entering a stadium with pyrotechnics and discharging them without detection. The ‘stick it up your jumper’ technique remains, as does ‘light it while pretending to tie your laces’. Jumpers and tie-up shoes are the real enemy here.
This is an arbitrary over-reaction to the criticism Police Scotland came under for failing to properly police the vandalism at Fir Park, it will not prevent anyone intent on letting off flares inside a football ground from doing so. Over-reacting after under-policing is a well-known phenomenon. Going after flags and banners feels provocative. Coincidence?
You’re likely to find out if you’re in a provocative mood on Thursday; Police Scotland will know that provoking a crowd seldom quietens things down. The reaction to Fir Park made me hopeful that we’d seen the last flare from the Celtic support, now who knows? We’re deep in muscle flexing territory here.
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djbee
00:26 on 24 December, 2013
:)
Seize not cease
TT
From Angela Haggerty
So Celtic phoned CaleyThistle to discuss Boxing Day game and Caley didn’t think to mention that they’re not St Johnstone? Is everyone drunk?
M McGill
Aye. What next? Military Police Scotland!
Mags,
cheers. got it
DD
You beat me to it (:-)
TT
tonydonnelly67
00:26 on 24 December, 2013
Tickets are sold subject to the terms of the stadium regulations. The regulations will doubtless say they can be amended at any time. St Johnstone are entitled to stipulate no flags or banners. It’s their stadium. If you show up with a flag or a banner they can refuse you entry. If you produce a flag or banner in the stadium they can eject you.
To be fair to St Johnstone they are prepared to refund ticket money which they probably don’t have to.
I suspect plod is behind this. They’ve put pressure on St Johnstone, like they tried to put pressure on Tesco, and St Johnstone have caved in.
Don’t forget we now have a national police force and this will be coming from the top.
The big issue here is plod’s behaviour.
NegAnon2 – The Herald are claiming that Celtic agreed to this ban. If this is the case I don`t see how Celtic could now refuse to play the game.
The best thing that could happen in my opinion from here if Celtic did agree to the ban is:-
1. Adverse weather sets in and forces the game to be postponed;
2. The identity of whoever from Celtic agreed to the ban is leaked and they are given their P45 for causing so much hassle and disharmony among the support.
If the ban stands Celtic should advise fans not to travel and to apply to St Johnstone for a refund.
That would ensure no other club goes down this road.
Glorious balance sheet celtic are a shambles. We need to boycott them to bring about meaningful change.
From @CelticResearch via Herald via Cops
Celtic were represented at a pre-ops meeting at McDairmid Park last Wednesday at Safety Officer level and agreed the ban
Also glorious what if it was PL who agreed this?
TT
Notice I spelt seize wrong?
Empathy for a damn fine Tim fae the Kingdom.
Happy Christmas to you and yours T.
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon, supporting WEE OSCAR..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
23:56 on
23 December, 2013
KK
My first trip to Milford, Donegal was when I was 4……remember most of it to this day……
===================
Went to Milford about 20 years ago. We wanted to go to Letterkenny but couldn’t get accommodation. I turned up at the Post Office on a Saturday morning asking the times of the buses into the main attraction 9 miles way. “One on a Monday and another on a Friday.” was the reply.
A different pace of life all together.
Ernie,
agree… only option
this might be a bit paranoid… but I’m beginning to think some of the staff at Celtic either huvnae a clue, or worse
tonydonnelly67
00:26 on 24 December, 2013
I called you a name the other night, I apologise sincerely, I was out of order. I know it’s no excuse that I was drunk at the time.
I don’t usually agree with you but that is no reason to make personal attacks.
Sorry.
NegAnon2-
The Herald are claiming it was the Celtic safety officer who agreed to the ban. Did PL instruct/ agree to this or was the safety officer acting off their own bat? We`ll probably never know. But it is clear that Celtic only kicked back against the ban in the face of the fans furore over the last two days.
There`s been some strange decisions made at Celtic this last 12 months.
************NNNNNNEEEEEEE***********NNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWW*****EEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWW****************NNNNNNEEEEEEE***********NNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWW*****EEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWW****
This is a Police Scotland announcement:
RE: Purth.
Do not enter this state or you are liable to arrest, particularly if you have a man-sized handkerchief from M&S as they are extremely large and you might set off pyro underneath it and we may not be able to identify you.
News Just In from PS: Contrary to popular belief we have not made complete arseholes of ourselves.
Goodnight
HH
Its like something out of OOR WULLIE
Celtic: Hullo there teuchters! How are you this fine Christmas season.
ICT: Aye very funny.
Celtic: Merry christmas
ICT: Merry Chri….
Celtic: Noo about this pyro flag ban thingy.
ICT: what? Could you repeat that p….
Celtic:Seems like we’re both losing a good bit of cash if things continue as is.
ICT: You got the wrong….
Celtic: Let me finish! How about you tell PC plod to call off the ban and we’ll post it on our our website.
ICT: Aye Knock yerselves out and Merry Christmas!
Click!
DD
And to you and yours.
TT
Is John Park scouting our office staff as well now?
just kidding fellas!
I agree, this is the moment for Celtic to seize the day (not cease TT).
Take a stand. Make an unequivocal statement that the authorities have clearly lost the plot.
The club must make an official statement that this ban must be officially reversed immediately or the club will have no choice but to regrettably withdraw from the fixture for reasons of concern for the safety & well-being of the fans.
JQB: is this another instance of reports stating that CFC agreed to certain actions when they have in fact been given a directive?
Either way, Celtic need to make an official statement, this farcical situation cannot be allowed to continue. If Celtic do not do so they are leaving their fans in a very precarious position.
This could well be the last straw if they fail to stand up in support of their own fans.
Anyone heard from Tom McLaughlin lately?
Is this unprecedented in world football? I know fans have been banned from away grounds, political banners etc but this.
This is beyond ridiculous, a high profile game against St J.!!!!
I am looking forward to Mr Cosgrove’s opinion on this and while he is at it could he explain his overnight flip on his opinion on the huns debacle. Who got to you that you would completely flip flop your opinion there eh?
DJBee
I have thought the same. Knobbled or threatened or ………???
If Celtic screwed up agreeing to this then they need to do whatever it takes to show the support that they the PLC is nothing without the fans. So if the ban stands Celtic need to very publically and materially make a stand. If the ban is lifted Celtic need to make sure that the attack on the Celtic support is met with a very public message of unity. Time to stop playing in the shadows PLC. Stand up for the champions. .
Is it any wonder the club is in the state it is when supposedly the senior security man cannot phone the right club?
jeeeezo, and to think they are quick to call the paying customers an embarrassment!
gebhoy
DJBEE
01:12 on
Delaneys Dunky
01:19 on
What did he say? Any links?
Nice one Ronnie
Nice one son
Nice one Ronnie
You phoned ICT rather than St Johnstone!
If that turns out to be true it is seriously funny as feck.
MWD
MWD
It’s on a par with the fabled “Aye,and I’m the Pope!” alleged to have been said to Sean Connery when he phoned the old board looking for a ticket.
Eddie
No link bud. Just heard a u turn in his views on air.
Off out into a wild wet Wiltshire for a few hours.
I think the going may come up soft at Kempton on Thursday!
Delaneys Dunky
01:36 on
Cheers mate
Police Scotland,
Paid for by the taxpayers to Police Scotland.
Everyday there is information in the newspapers about the various crime lords. Some newspapers even have a top 10. there is a proceeds of crime initiative which was introduced in Ireland and followed by Scotland. Ireland went after the criminals and made plenty of money.
Mr House and Campbell Corrigan ( he who praised the sectarian singing of the Huns at League Final ) have other priorities ;The scourge of international crime, flag waving Celtic fans.
Only in Salmonds Scotland.
RRC:
00:12 on
24 December, 2013
If the idea of a tenner a month is a goer I’m in
Burghbhoy
00:14 on
24 December, 2013
Count me in for a tenner a month
Delaneys Dunky
00:18 on
24 December, 2013
Greendreamz
Agree 100%
Am in a tenner a month, for my 3 year old grandson, who will look amazing in his Gold away kit that Santa is bringing :)
==================================================================
At least some of us can see the logic…….thanks for the support. Just need the other 39996 and we have game on!
Maybe someone can get Jean Findlay involved to administer it?
The establishment relies on an uninformed and fragmented society to control it with limited but empowered forces.
The last time I checked we live in a democracy so play them at their own game and make them accountable….publicly.
Whats a tenner today?………120 per year. We could employ a full time Legal Department of our own with enough PayPal monthly mandates.
It may seem fanciful but it is how Obama financed his way to the White House!!!
Pity we missed out on getting this guy to handle Celtic’s liaison with other clubs. Mr. Lawwell was obviously not prepared to pay the money needed to land a top quality f***er upper.
New Club Liaison Officer for Celtic