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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ACGR I was doing so prior to your post.
Slow down man.
Playing Devil’s Advocate here but does anyone actually know for certain if any members of the green brigade were refused entry on Saturday at the turnstyle as it could be just made up?
Mort
South Of Tunis – Surely no self-respecting Italian pays tax in the first place? (thumbsup)
Paul 67
I am struggling to see the problem with the club statement a lot of posters have.
Even if it doesn’t specifically answer the very specific questions outlined by the GB it offers an avenue for grievences to be aired.
Dialogue is now key, there is no place to hide for the club/board/supporters now, engage and work this through.
Some would have every aspect of every part of Celtic, the SPL, the dead club commented on officially by the club, this would serve only 2 things:
1. Waste Celtic’s time
2. Make us look like Chuckles Green, commenting on unrelated matters in order to raise the profile
There is far more that unites us than divides us, some seem to want to create a wedge.
As you say eye to eye air the grievences, engage in dialogue.
The agent provocateurs are the SNP, their legislation and the police who enforce.
Come together.
Duke
Burghbhoy – It’s almost as if Charlie saw Sevco as a get rich quick scheme, and now wants out. (thumbsup)
Bhoys,
Myself and my son heading up to Perth shortly and going for a bite to eat….is there anything I should or shouldn’t do to avoid arrest?
All answers welcome!
Sarcasticcsc
6 million for Efe Ambrose from EPL and MON. Deal !!
philvisreturns 13:15 on 19 February, 2013
“See also: doctors who now think it’s their job to control what people eat.”
Do you have an expanding waistline or something?
kikinthenakas don’t start with those Dunfermline anthems.
Ntassoolla, thanks.
A good statement from the club. Hopefully they back their words with actions.
HH
Needs to be nipped in the bud.
Anyone know if Rangers fans are receiving similar treatment since this legislation was passed or are the cops only interested in us because of the lovely opportunity for free travel across Europe which you can’t get by following Sevco (apart from the trip to Berwick of course).
Ntassoolla
No sure whit ones they are but deffo no lateral movement…..
Peter Lawwell Ate My Bonus
By
D Balde
Steinreignedsupreme – I’ll have you know my replica Celtic shirt is a comfortable size M.
I’m usually all for picking on the fatties, snapping them with towels, etc., but that’s a private sector pursuit. Doctors should stick to doctoring. (thumbsup)
cavansam \o/
From the beginning of season 2012/13 up to 8 October, 6 Celtic fans and 15 rangers fans were arrested.
In the whole of 2011/12, there were 81 Celtic fans and 99 rangers fans arrested.
Figs from Strathclyde Police.
Mort
philvisreturns .
Silvio missed out the ” self respecting ” bit when he said this —
” Only stupid people pay tax “.
Cheers Mort
Is that purely off the back of this legislation or are we talking a range of offences?
cavansam \o/
Not 100% sure. It was in response to an FOI request about the number of games the FOCUS officers attended and what fans were arrested so I’d guess its reasonably connected but probably includes other offences.
Mort
Paul 67
Curate’s egg response. I welcome Celtic making a statement. Can’t agree that it has clarity or substance. It’s a holding response with no detail. Corporate in the extreme.
I welcome the move by the Club to offer up opportunity to raise grievances in writing and I especially welcome the creation of a complaints body. However, any complaints body needs to have powers, teeth and clout as well as intellect. Will it be so constructed? The cynic might suggest it is another way of keeping the issue at distance from the Club/Board and this remains a concern as a possible outcome.
The GB now need to present chapter, verse, recordings and concerns via the channels either through FAC of which they are a member or the Celtic Trust which has offered to help.
That chapter and verse then needs investigated. I would suggest NOT by Mr Hawthorn an ex-employee of SP and someone named as involved, but by someone who is genuinely impartial AND capable of doing this properly.
All of this should be aired PRIVATELY around the complaints table but for progress updates to be delivered by those affected and taking part so that we know whether progress is happening.
The most important thing is face to face dialogue and issue resolution so that rifts do not fester but are healed.
My nomination for Chair of the Complaints Panel is Tom Divine.
My nomination for Investigator is Phil Mac Giolla Bhain.
HH
Kickinthenakas
Don’t break the law!!!!
Seems to have worked for me all these years.
Were the 2 London polis who lifted me outside the Mangrove restaurant in 1980 -” for your own safety ,Sir ” ——simply 33 years ahead of their time ?.
kikinthenakas
13:26 on 19 February, 2013
Bhoys,
Myself and my son heading up to Perth shortly and going for a bite to eat….is there anything I should or shouldn’t do to avoid arrest?
All answers welcome!
Sarcasticcsc
……………………………………………………….
Dress up as policemen and every now and again boot a Celtic supporter in the baws.
You should be ok.
pedrocaravanachio67
No sure that’s true for me……….looking forward to the game….always a good atmosphere there and it’s usually a good surface….me and the bhoy looking forward to it….
South Of Tunis – Maybe they will start arresting people in the queue at Greggs next. (thumbsup)
Staggering to hear Celtic supporters turn a discussion about arguably flawed SNP legislation into a wider pro-British union point.
Reminds me of Peter Kay’s classic comedic bamboozlement over the apparent oxymoron of “garlic bread”.
Garlic bread? Garlic bread? Garlic? Bread?
Unionist Celtic fan? Unionist? Celtic fan? Unionist? Celtic? Fan?
philbhoy – it’s just the beginning
Brilliant, even my bhoy thought that was good……
musters – Not sure where your bamboozlement comes from.
Most Celtic supporters don’t want Scotland to leave the United Kingdom. (thumbsup)
Kickinthenakas
Hope u and the bhoy have a good night. Lasting memory of that ground, was the sound of Stan’s scream when he broke his leg……think we won 2-0 that night, same again tonight would be good.
I’m pretty sure there are smoke and mirrors here but not sure the origin.
Surely those excluded is the one hard fact that can be proved/disproved one way or another.Unless Celtic don’t want to engage.
Paul, I don’t think this has clarified matters any
P
could anybody tell me if it’s possible to get tickets for tonights game direct from St Johnstone ……just realised I’m working half an hour north of Perth duuuuh……or have they all went to Celtic for distribution
philvisreturns 13:35 on 19 February, 2013
“Doctors should stick to doctoring”
If they stuck to doctoring there would be less time for other pursuits like the ole music – Dr Dre, Spin Doctors, Doctor and the Medics, Dr John, Beat Doctor, Dr Hook … is there a Doctor In The House?
philvisreturns —–
Yes ————
” he was in possession of 7g of saturated fat — Your Honour ——- a crime compounded by his wearing of bri nylon underpants . The static from the said underpants could have caused the saturated fat to ignite “
Mort
13:35 on 19 February, 2013
cavansam \o/
From the beginning of season 2012/13 up to 8 October, 6 Celtic fans and 15 rangers fans were arrested.
In the whole of 2011/12, there were 81 Celtic fans and 99 rangers fans arrested.
Figs from Strathclyde Police.
__________________
On the face of it, those figures would suggest some sort of parity.
To put them in perspective though, you have to take into account that a pressure-free Celtic was free-wheeling to the title & to financial security, while our troubled neighbours were suffering failure, humiliation & liquidation.
Taking that into account, it would seem slightly surprising that the numbers of arrests should not reflect this situation more starkly.
Maybe I am just an old cynic.
Steinreignedsupreme – You forgot Doctor Kiss Kiss. (thumbsup)
Doctor Who?
musters,
I am Scottish and happily so. But I have no desire to leave the UK while people who are anti-Catholic wield enormous influence here.
South Of Tunis – Ha!
Ally McCoist must be sweating like a horse in the Tesco lasagne factory. (thumbsup)