Flag ban feels provocative

1033

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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  1. Heard that CFC and the polis were happy to move the Partick Thistle game to the 2nd Jan,but Thistle refused……..allegedly

  2. From the Scottish Football Monitor. Could be crap but as it’s Crimbo time we should run with it as an informed rumour!

     

     

    =================================

     

    Probably usual hearsay/rumour, but anyone heard about this possibility?

     

     

    Is Hector the tax inspector about to visit Govan again? – From KDS poster during the night

     

    Today, 2:06 AM

     

    Apparently their end of VAT period is Dec payable Jan 2014 is £1m and they havent paid their monthly PAYE payments according to a few reliable cid sevconians in the pub tonight who really don’t speak ill of their tribute act but know the writing is on the wall very very very quickly.

  3. ‘Twas the night before. the Night Before Christmas

     

    and all around the ‘House’

     

    all the Huns were stirring……………………………….”

  4. .

     

     

    Don’t Ban the FLEG, If you ban the FLEG, I just don’t think you understand.

     

    Cos if you ban the FLEG, if you ban the FLEG, then you might just have a riot on your hands.

     

     

    Summa

  5. Tell you what Peter….I thought Houdini was good….but your manipulation skills would put him to shame.

     

    Cant pull the wool over your eyes eh.

     

    You have single handedly defeated those Marxist malcontents, that your polis pals don’t like….well done.

     

    Im sure you will be in line for honours after the Queen calls at CP….again, well done.

     

     

    HH

  6. bognorbhoy oscar in my thoughts/ support the dam 5 on

    got a reply from tesco :

     

     

    Dear Customer

     

     

    Thank you for your email.

     

     

    I have spoken with Chloe, our Duty Manager at our Perth Extra store today and she has advised that this statement is not true.

     

     

    The Police have visited the store asking for them not to sell any alcohol to the supporters. We have objected to this but we have agreed to place restrictions on the amount of alcohol that a supporter can purchase at one time.

     

     

    I hope this has been helpful.

     

     

    If there is anything further I can help you with please let me know.

     

     

    Kind regards

     

     

    Sarah Davies

     

    Tesco Customer Service

  7. Vmhan

     

    The bow has been duly taken by the real JJ 0:-)

     

     

    MWD ……and yesterday was Christmas Eve Eve Eve.

     

     

    JJ

  8. Ok so it’s the rozzers who banned us from tesco.

     

     

    Meanwhile we have a triumvirate of celtic st Johnstone and the rozzers trying desperately to claim none of them brought the flag ban in.

     

     

    Celtic really are a pathetic bunch of wasters. Yes sir please sir no sir. Go to the back of the bus.

  9. darwinsbeautifulidea on

    the only flag that should be banned at football grounds should be the union jack,and the one at cp should be removed immediately

  10. McMoist didn’t know there would be cut at sevco until the CEO told everybody else at the AGM, what goes on over there they must live day to day making it up as they go along what a place

  11. If your are a celtic fan goin to the game in perth then good luck. Feels like the whole of scottish society, including our club want to arrest you.

     

     

    Wonder why…….

  12. The Green Man

     

    15:18 on

     

    23 December, 2013

     

     

    have a look at any match thread on any site for the home game against Ross County on 22/12/12 – Saturday 3pm kick off. Many estimated that at between 25-30k.

     

     

    Given that one guy I spoke to at work, who sits in the main stand thought we had about that on Saturday tells you what the figure might really have been. That was with kids tickets down to £7 as well.

     

     

    More than anything the time of year and the KO time affected attendance on Saturday.

  13. darwinsbeautifulidea on

    So just who is making the laws in this country the pigs have no right to ban anyone of legal age who is sober from buying booze during licensing hours

     

    blood police state i tell you

  14. Club statement on St Johnstone v Celtic game

     

    By: Newsroom Staff on 23 Dec, 2013 15:05

     

    FOLLOWING discussions today between Celtic, the local police and St Johnstone FC, it has been decided that flags and banners will now be permitted at the match on Boxing Day.

     

     

    We have an excellent relationship with everyone at St Johnstone FC and we thank them and the police for reviewing their initial decision.

     

     

    Football is about colour and atmosphere and creating a positive occasion for all and everything should be done to ensure that such an event can take place.

     

     

    However, it is also imperative that the safety and the well-being of fans is given paramount importance and in this regard we share the obvious desire of St Johnstone FC and the police that all matches take place in a safe environment.

     

     

    We do not need or welcome any form of pyrotechnics at matches and clearly any continued presence of these does nothing for Celtic Football Club or our supporters.

     

     

    Celtic has already had discussions with our main supporters’ representatives and we have been assured that our supporters will again back the Club in the right manner at McDiarmid Park.

     

     

    With the team currently unbeaten in the League we want our fans to come and enjoy the game safely in a positive atmosphere – and hopefully celebrate the Club continuing this great run over the festive season.

  15. I can see it all now….Sir Peter Lawell.

     

    Recognition for all your fine work.

     

    Well done that man, you showed them who’s boss eh.

     

     

    Sarcasm might be the lowest form of wit, but its good for showing contempt:)

     

     

    HH

  16. McDowellcelt god bless wee oscar on

    The flags are back!! Common sense prevails! Bout time we got some positive news from Celtic!

  17. Banner U- turn

     

     

    FOLLOWING discussions today between Celtic, the local police and St Johnstone FC, it has been decided that flags and banners will now be permitted at the match on Boxing Day.

     

     

    We have an excellent relationship with everyone at St Johnstone FC and we thank them and the police for reviewing their initial decision.

     

     

    Football is about colour and atmosphere and creating a positive occasion for all and everything should be done to ensure that such an event can take place.

     

     

    However, it is also imperative that the safety and the well-being of fans is given paramount importance and in this regard we share the obvious desire of St Johnstone FC and the police that all matches take place in a safe environment.

     

     

    We do not need or welcome any form of pyrotechnics at matches and clearly any continued presence of these does nothing for Celtic Football Club or our supporters.

     

     

    Celtic has already had discussions with our main supporters’ representatives and we have been assured that our supporters will again back the Club in the right manner at McDiarmid Park.

     

     

    With the team currently unbeaten in the League we want our fans to come and enjoy the game safely in a positive atmosphere – and hopefully celebrate the Club continuing this great run over the festive season.

  18. Dontbrattbakkinanger on

    Cadizzy- why are you watchin’ SSN?

     

     

    Is there not an ole war film on, in B/W?

     

     

    Preferably ‘Ice Cold in Alex’.

  19. eddieinkirkmichael on

    CelticFC SLO ‏@CelticFCSLO · 24s

     

    Confirmation, the ban on flags and banners for Thursday has been overturned

  20. weeminger

     

     

    Honestly….our board are a busted flush.

     

    Im totally disgusted with them, you cannot believe a word they say.

     

    They cant talk about corruption, but can attack their own fans…disgraceful imo.

     

    And as you know…..when people start taking advantage of Celtic fans, they usually don’t last long.

     

     

    HH

  21. Paul67 et al

     

     

    “Listen Men. This is bringing before all the Sons of the Gael. The King and the Parliament of Britain have forever abolished the Act against the Highland Dress; which came down from the beginning of the world to the year 1746.”

     

    July 1st 1782

  22. The Battered Bunnet on

    Does this mean the boycott’s off, but none of us should take banners or flags now, just to show them?

     

     

    ConfusedCSC

  23. And since we were near universal in condemning the ban. I expect us to be likewise in congratulating all involved in getting together and seeing sense.

     

     

    Well done. (we know it was all the refunds that were threatened)

  24. The Honest Cover-up on

    Thank goodness common sense has prevailed. I suspect St Johnstone have told the police to forget their stupid idea when faced with refunding thousands of pounds worth of tickets from Celtic fans. After all, surely the police couldn’t enforce this on St Johnstone without their consent?

     

    I hope the travelling support realise that the biggest GIRUY they can give to the police and MMS is to behave impeccably, ditch the pyro and cheer the boys to a resounding victory. Don’t give them the headlines they want. Box clever bhoys.

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