Yesterday’s statement by Celtic was clear and unambiguous. The club are aware of reports of ill-treatment of supporters by police and have an established process in place to handle concerns, directed through the umbrella Fans Against Criminalisation Group (incorporating Association, GB, Affiliation, Irish Association and Trust). Two complaints have been received and actioned since December, which sounds like we have an under-reporting issue.
I am very pleased they have committed to form a Complaints Panel, with representatives from the support and the club. We are the one family so there is no need for the club to manage complaints, the support is more than qualified on this matter. This is important as it gives supporters oversight and ensures the club cannot act behind supporters’ backs on such an important issue, which should ensure that going forward matters are dealt with properly.
This is the response I wanted from Celtic.
Celtic also suggest accusations they have targeted supporters are “without foundation”, asking “What would be the Club’s motivation for being involved in activity which targets or victimises supporters? It is simply not true. It does not make sense.” It makes no sense, of course.
Statements from the Green Brigade on Saturday, and the Affiliation committee (who believe they were referred to in the Green Brigade’s statement) today, raise some real concerns.
If, as the Affiliation suggest, “In recent weeks have seen finger pointing, whispers, rumours and lies aimed at organisations and individuals within them from sections of our own support”, we have a poison in our midst.
These matters are important enough (to me, anyway) for all parties to require clarification. Get whoever said what to whom about whoever in a room together. You will soon find out who has the cojones to look everyone else in the eye, and you will find out who is damaging your football club.
Lest we forget, these matters are a result of First Fantasist Alex Salmond’s Offensive Behaviour at Football’ Bill. The consequences of which were predicted by Fans Against Criminalisation Group, as well as Celtic, who in their written submission to the Justice Committee (sic) said as much:
“The legislation potentially discriminates against the football supporter by reason of that person being a football supporter. It criminalises him or her for being a football supporter and not only because of the nature of his or her behaviour. In other words, exactly the same behaviour could be deemed illegal if performed by a football supporter, while not constituting an offence by anyone not participating in a football environment.
“An offence of “offensive behaviour“ and the test of the reasonable person, are introduced in section 1(2) (e). This test is extremely wide and creates considerable uncertainty over what is or is not acceptable.
“If this offence is to be introduced notwithstanding our comments above, clear guidelines should be published by the Lord Advocate to explain what sorts of conduct are considered as offensive or unacceptable. The potential for confusion in the absence of clear and consistent guidelines is potentially limitless and runs the risk of the law becoming unenforceable, or brought into disrepute.”
The Scottish Government passed sloppy legislation and put extraordinary funds into a policing project which only serves to make them look clueless.
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ernie lynch
18:35 on
19 February, 2013
lionroars67
18:28 on 19 February, 2013
I find nationalism, at best, silly and distasteful.
Your an Internationalist Ernie fair enough, why sings songs about Irish nationalism, whats so different
Sorry if mypreviouse posts were off topic but thought worth a mention, now back to the game.
I see that Shanghai Shenhua in China have been stripped of the 2003 title after a match-fixing inquiry.
What is the Mandarin for, when is Lord Nimmo Smith going to report?
lionroars67
18:38 on 19 February, 2013
ernie lynch
18:35 on
19 February, 2013
‘ why sings songs about Irish nationalism, whats so different’
Ireland was a colony. It’s people were oppressed because of their nationality. In that context nationalism was anti colonialist and anti imperialist and was progressive.
Don’t equate Scotland’s situation with Ireland’s.
Shanghai Shenhua is Mandarin for “the dead team in blue”
BMCUWP
And that is why the club will never come clean about it. The club thought it could influence. It also desired the removal of political inclined groups that dont believe in what Dermot Desmond believes in. I believe that PL is his pavlov dog and that this empass will never be negotiated. In fact I predict an increase in our sleekitness. The club is becoming a true reflection of its major owner.
HH
Celtic starting XI to play St Johnstone:Forster; Matthews, Ambrose, Wilson, Izaguirre; Commons, Wanyama, Ledley, Mulgrew; Hooper, Lassad(MH)
Is there a game on tonight?
Or a referendum on Scottish independence?
HH!!
Lassad for Stokes?
ernie lynch
I thought supporting Celtic FC was being part of an all inclusive family ?
“It’s not the creed nor his nationality that counts. It’s the man himself.”
Willie Maley
You speak on all political matters for Celtic fans a dangerous pedestal there Ernie
EC67- Just a bit!! I do like to trash a good lie though!
orster; Matthews, Ambrose, Wilson, Izaguirre; Commons, Wanyama, Ledley, Mulgrew; Hooper, Lassad
Subs: Zaluska, Stokes, Rogne, Rogic, Kayal, McCourt, Forrest
Stokes getting a rest after a couple of games? Would rather have seen Watt getting a chance to be honest.
Who had Stokes hat trick @ 33/1?
Onthebench CSC
BBC………………………………Celtic not playing tonight, but they mentioned the womens curling.
LicenceScandal CSC
lionroars67
18:47 on 19 February, 2013
‘ernie lynch
I thought supporting Celtic FC was being part of an all inclusive family ?’
It’s all inclusive.
That doesn’t mean some don’t have longer pedigrees than others.
Or different life experiences because of their backgrounds.
And different outlooks shaped by experience.
Tallybhoy
18:47 on 19 February, 2013
‘Is there a game on tonight?’
Yes.
But it’s on Alba at 10pm.
So the question is.
Pretend it’s not happening until then and watch the game on telly or listen or look out for updates?
Izzigurre 33/1 first goal.
DueToHappenSoon CFC
lionroars67. 18:16
The good old days before the Catholics and the Irish came to Scotland and upset everything.
The greatest wee country in the world nonsense. When we are actually a bigoted wee back water…
Chico Mulgrew continues in key centre midfield role
Fact is, an independent Scotland could only prosper as a low tax, deregulated economy.
No way the current level of welfare spending would be sustainable outside the UK, especially not with the entire economy tethered to the finite and volatile resource that is oil…
I suspect the SNP understand this, and some of them – Mather, Ewing, Salmond and his billionaire friends- are perfectly happy about it.
Others, like sturgeon, less so.
ASonOf
Was that after Braveheart?
Stokes scores two, makes another two and then gets benched?
Danny Devito decided to dye what little hair he had left CSC
ASonOfDan
18:59 on
19 February, 2013
Thats a quote from Leggo the SNP hater, loyal unionist, he hates Salmonland like you
So what wee bigoted country do we want to live in?
The bigoted unionist one just now or after indendance
BBC Alba has the full game tonight at 10:00.
I see Driver has left hearts tonight to play in MLS.
Is Tony Watt injured?
new article posted.
Big Nan
Anthony Stokes has suffered a bereveament.
Goldstar,
Did you get a ticket for tonight?
lionroars67 18:38 on 19 February, 2013
ernie lynch 18:35 on 19 February, 2013
‘ why sings songs about Irish nationalism, whats so different’
I find nationalism, at best, silly and distasteful….
Ireland was a colony. It’s people were oppressed because of their nationality. In that context nationalism was anti colonialist and anti imperialist and was progressive.
Don’t equate Scotland’s situation with Ireland’s.
________________________________________
A contradication, however, those who vote YES are not voting for Nationalism, they’re voting for independence. Not the SNP, nor the Greens, nor the SSP (who are all Independence parties) but independence per se.
Then an election will decide who get’s into power: The Centre Lefts, Centre Rights, Republicans, Monarchists or coalitions etc.
Republican Socialists CSC
On Twitter that Celtic have applied to Council to build a standing section at 111.
ItaliaBhoy
18:59 on
19 February, 2013
Fact is, an independent Scotland could only prosper as a low tax, deregulated economy.
No way the current level of welfare spending would be sustainable outside the UK, especially not with the entire economy tethered to the finite and volatile resource that is oil…
I suspect the SNP understand this, and some of them – Mather, Ewing, Salmond and his billionaire friends- are perfectly happy about it.
Others, like sturgeon, less so.
Just give Cameron and Osborne a little more time and any banana republic will be able to outdo the UK on welfare spending.
lionroars67
19:04 on 19 February, 2013
‘So what wee bigoted country do we want to live in?’
“Wheresoever knives and razors are used, wheresoever sneak thefts and petty pilfering are easy and safe, wheresoever dirty acts of sexual baseness are committed, there you will find the Irishman in Scotland with all but a monopoly.”
SNP* founder member, Chairman and leading intellectual Professor Andrew Dewar Gibb Q.C.
* That type of sentiment explains why they were known as Strictly No Papes.
If it’s all the same with you I’d rather remain as part of the UK.
lionroars67
18:38 on 19 February, 2013
In life, each person is rendered happy and inspired for different reasons…..you have to follow what is in your heart & soul….
All I know is that, ever since I was a ‘wee bhoy’, I have never felt Scottish……..I was born in the Gorbals, to Irish parents, and have always felt Irish……if I had been willing to leave my family, I would be living in Donegal now …….and….it is a source of great pride to me that Ireland is a nation once again ………most regrettably, that makes me a ‘bad person’ to some in this Country….
Now, don’t get me wrong…..Scotland is a wonderful Country, with some of the best countryside / people in the World …..it’s just a pity that some of the inhabitants are bigoted cretins who haven’t ‘moved on’ from the 17th Century……not to worry, some people love to hate…….that is life, a sad life for some…
When this piece of legislation was passed I remember thinking that this is exactly what the darker elements within the Strathclyde Police Force have been dreaming off. I also remember thinking that the GB are going to need someone fighting their corner as its going to be payback time for the poppy display etc. I dont believe for one minute that Peter Lawell is going to start banging the table and ordering Strathclydes finest to back off or face legal action. In all fareness it would be a complete and utter waste of time anyway as they can pretty much do as they please as they’ve always done except now they’re coming through doors at 5am and carting 16 year olds off to jail for a week or 2 like something out of 1970s Belfast. And I thought it was a game of football that was being played I honestly despair about this cesspit of a country to the point I am seriously considering removing myself and my family from it!
ernie lynch
19:10 on 19 February, 2013
I don’t think you are far off the mark on this …….. If SNP gain Independence, they will have pander to the majority to retain power……straightforward fact of life……it’s bad enough at the moment….
@Parkheadcumsalford @greendreamz
“But I have no desire to leave the UK while people who are anti-Catholic wield enormous influence here”
Fair enough chaps, I don’t know the first thing about religion so I’ll bow to yous on that one.