When asked about the Scottish Government’s incredible action, which gave Newco a competitive advantage over Celtic and Aberdeen, Neil Lennon said, “I can’t comment on what the Rangers (sic.) boys did. What I can comment on is the reaction from the Government, which I find bewildering.
“Considering the way they treated us after the Bolingoli incident. There seems to be double standards at the minute as far as we’re concerned.
“We were subjected to ‘privileged footballers, yellow card and blah, blah, blah’. We have been treated in one way and other clubs have been treated another by the Government and that’s unacceptable from our point of view.”
On discovering Boli Bolingoli broke Covid rules, Celtic isolated the player, disciplined and transfer listed him. He has not been near Celtic Park in the three months since. At a time when the virus was at its lowest, Nicola Sturgeon switched into Daughter of Ayrshire mode and grandstanded on Bolingoli’s transgression, banning Celtic (and Aberdeen, for players visiting a pub) from playing football for two weeks.
On discovering two of their players broke Covid rules, Newco isolated and disciplined both. Sturgeon was silent, instead a Scottish Government spokesperson issued a statement offering Newco their support. Despite prevalence of the virus being much higher, this incident did not register with this Government.
I have a friend who often refers to the ‘Everyone’s against us’, siege mentality, they try so hard to foster at Ibrox. Giving people something to fight against brings the best out of them, especially if they are ‘privileged footballers’.
Neil Lennon needs to use this two-faced Government action. Let the players know they are up against a Government who could not wait to cause fixture congestion to them, while allowing Newco to play on. None of this remotely surprises me, this is a glimpse into how things will be, Scotland.
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Well said, Neil Lennon.
Tell ‘em Neil
If the SNP Government were trying to win over the supporters of the deid team by their idiotic double standards, I think they are wasting their time. Their utter identity is to the crown and unionism. If they were taking the Catholic/Irish/Celtic vote for granted, imo, they have made the biggest faux pas they could have.
I have little regard for the Scottish Labour Party, but I think that will be where my vote goes, unless and until the SNP treat each and every person in Scotland the same.
Was Neil the correct employee of our club to call this out ?
What is our PR or board doing ???
It’s not Celtics Business what Scottish Government does with Rangers. What do you want? Do you want them to issue the second Yellow card? if the season is stopped then Rangers are in the lead
Neil is quite right to call out the double standards of Nicola sturgeon and the SNP, what was it Alex Salmond said about the Rangers:
“That the future of Scottish football and “the fabric of the country” could be under threat if Rangers are allowed to go out of business.”
Clearly the party line is still the same in Holyrood, don’t upset the Rangers.
Let them issue the second yellow card if they so desire, the world will see them for what they are, mendacious two faced political opportunists.
MM – from previous…
7am indeed – you’ve inspired me to porridge with a wee whisky moat, followed by some more double-donuts!!
Given James Forrest – the talented winger wan – is OOA for another 6 weeks, will we start to see more of Hatem at RB and wee Jerry foraging furrit? Bring back the right wing wizard that is Shved ?
ROBINBHOY,
While I want the 10 as much as anyone, I think the future governance of our country is far more important. If the SNP continue to show that they are at heart a bigoted party, I want them exposed NOW.
Bigbhoy,
Like you I agree that it’s not really Celtics responsibility to comment on issues affecting other teams.
Like you I’m also wary of bigging up any COVID rule breaking as I really do not want football stopped.
But for a ScotGov spokesperson to actually congratulate Sevcos actions when they really did no difference to what other clubs have done (I.e. taking appropriate action as soon as they learned if the incidebt) left me astounded of forehead.
Whilst I’m not that enamoured by CQNs recent crusade to kick the SNP at every possible opportunity, on this particular issue I think the ScotGov was, at best, misguided. But our Club, not Neil, should have asked about the different treatment.
He was right but its PL and board who should be condeming it.
They “excuse” for the huns are their players werent near the team, never played a game & therefore different scenario .
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 5TH NOVEMBER 2020 12:24 PM
‘If the SNP Government were trying to win over the supporters of the deid team by their idiotic double standards, I think they are wasting their time. Their utter identity is to the crown and unionism.’
###
There are SNP supporting huns.
The idea that the huns are one monolithic block is simplistic. Their Scottish identity goes back further than the English love in stuf that only started under Souness.
The SNP are hoping to win over more of them on the fringes and make further inroads as and when they can.
Neil spoke well. The comment from SG was ridiculous.
However, I would question whether Neil was the correct spokesman here
In my opinion, Neil does not have enough support from the dugout. It would appear he does not have enough from the boardroom either.
We are asking a lot of Neil.
His employers need to consider his remit and workload.
https://news.stv.tv/politics/government-to-pay-furloughed-workers-wages-until-march
“Sturgeon was silent, instead a Scottish Government spokesperson issued a statement offering Newco their support. ”
Did the Scottish Government (who?) issue a statement on this matter without getting Niola’s approval? I’ll have to wait and see if this is raised at the Coronavirus briefing today?
Expect it to be batted away with the same kind of tone-deaf listening that she displayed when asked about favouring the rugby crowd. Then she replied that “the virus does not discriminate betweeen different shaped balls!” but it wasn’t the virus that dictated crowds allowed into rugby but not into football.
I don’t think Neil will find many friends for this point of view. The SNP Celtic supporter will tend (sic) to side with their politics, the huns will have a laugh and say “Look at where your love for the SNP got you!” and the neutrals will say ” Imagine making a fuss about a trivial issue like football when there’s Covid about”
It should not be Lennon getting involved with this. It should be Lawwell or Bankier who should be shouldering any dispute with ScotGov. The manager should be dealing with the team only and not attracting flak (which he will now)
PS
Sevco got wind of the party extremely quickly. If it was the polis, what right do they have to tell your employer you have been fined? Unlawful i think
or was Lee Wallace at the party?
CONEYBHOY on 5TH NOVEMBER 2020 12:47 PM
The idea that Plod may have tipped off the hun hierarchy is of particular significance given the scandal surrounding the malicious prosecutions arising from the liquidation of the club and the roles played by Plod and COPFOS.
FAVOURITE UNCLE on 5TH NOVEMBER 2020 11:05 AM
BIG JIMMY on 5TH NOVEMBER 2020 10:59 AM
Is that you and ROCKY on E TIMS.
………………….
NO…Myself and Rocky have never contributed in any form to E TIMS.
IF someone is impersonating Rocky and I…they better be sure that they are Feckin Good Looking ?
HH Mate.
Paul67
Throwing Neil Lennon to the lions, over Covid-19 with his widely shared opinions the club hierarchy is invisible, as they’ve nothing to do with his football contract.
Neil has enough on his plate without getting involved in politics during a pandemic. They did the same when he lost a game against Glasgow’s new club, and suffered ridiculous coverage, moved to defend himself, because nobody else from the club did.
Do Peter Lawwell and company share Celtic’s concerns over have we just written a nice letter to Holyrood. Non communication with the supporters over a never ending plethora of contentious issue, is still the Celtic Achilles heel.
Brilliant from Lennon.
Disgrace from the SNP.
We have to tackle this head on.
Now we should recruit a CEO to take this matter up.
Oh wait, we have one.
What a pathetic excuse for a CEO he is.
Good description Paul she is indeed a Daughter of Ayrshire !!
Nicola in Celtic attire at Holyrood trying to make amends 😂
I am watching ” First Minsters Questions in the Scottish Parliament on BBC 1 right now.
I wonder if ANY of the OTHER parties will ask the Scot Gov/NS about the Hun players and the Scot Gov statement complementing the Huns regarding their players and Covid violation, and the BLANTLY OBVIOUS Contradictions by the Scot Gov…Again I wont be holding my breath.
Lawwell has hung Lennon out to dry on this.
The manager should not have had to answer any questions regarding it, instead the club should have made a statement.
This again leaves the manager open to the hun hordes, the same one whom so many on here care to remind us sent him bullets, death threats etc.
Lawwell and the board are cowards of the first order. Pathetic.
Hopefully Celtic will play well, keep a clean sheet…and win the 3 Points Tonight.
HH.
Ernie Lynch
Good point. Must be difficult these days to know which lodge member to support in connection to sevco
Hail Hail
Stay Safe
The fact that the SNP’s Plan for an independent Scotland includes retaining the Sax Coburg Crowd as heads of state tells me all I need to know.
No friends of mine. They have a cheek to refer to anyone else as unionists. If they won’t put their money where their mouth is and go for a republic, Scotland will remain the same bigoted wee place it has always been. Most of the population don’t like Celtic or Catholics and that won’t change in an independent Scotland imo.
They will be after the Catholic schools in the first parliament after a yes vote imo.
I don’t get the comparison.
Had the hun players rocked up at training the next day or been involved in a game then fair enough. (that being said, they probably would have if they had not been caught, but that’s another story).
Boli’s crime was not only the deed, it was the fact he endangered others by his deceitfulness
100% agree that PL should be Leading our Club’s response on this, not having NL fire his bullets.
Fully agree with others that the board should be leading on this.
That said, (I suspect) Celtic want to land a clear message that inconsistent political positioning has resulted in TANGIBLE SPORTING DISADVANTAGE.
Make it about the football !
On that basis, if the club board decide that the message will get better traction and more attention coming from the manager – and he is happy with that – don’t see a problem.
Hail hail
Keep The Faith
NOTTHEBUS on 5TH NOVEMBER 2020 1:26 PM
‘I don’t get the comparison.’
##
Let me guess, you’re an SNP supporter?
My admiration for Neil Lennon remains undiminished. I love the man and my desire to see him lift ten in a row is burning. His fearlessness is an example to us all. He stopped null and void in its tracks and now this, rightly calling out the government and, not least, the contextually weird statement of support for Sevco’s efforts. It matters not a jot if you support or despise Snp, support or don’t want independence. Neil has got it right and has pointed the finger in the correct direction.
God bless you, Neil Lennon.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EmAVrJeW0AQTogc?format=png&name=900×900
smiley we dinae need the Murrell,s never did thing
let the people sing
#PeoplesAS30
Saor Alba
Braw
If emdy sees SFTB, ask him WhatsApp.
They are all durty protestants and they hate us so they do.
Pathetic, from the man who 100% supports an absentee tory landlord.
Paul67 et al
“….Nicola Sturgeon switched into daughter of Ayrshire mode *…..banning Celtic (and Aberdeen…) from playing football for two weeks….
What the Joint Response Group actually said; (See SFA website);
“During discussions this morning with the Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing a request was received – and subsequently agreed by the JRG – for the postponement of the following fixtures:
Aberdeen v Hamilton Accies Wed 12 August
St Mirren v Celtic Wed 12 August
Celtic v Aberdeen Sat 15 August
These matches have been postponed in the light of ongoing restrictions in Aberdeen and today’s news of a breach in government health guidance and and football protocols involving Celtic FC player, Boli Bolingoli -Mmbombo…”
Much as I respect you for setting up and maintaining this site over the years, I would never even think about hiring you as a lawyer or a spokesman, although others might. Even less so Neil Lennon, disingenuous in the extreme, in referring back to Bolingoli’s actions just after the start of a football season which the Scottish government permitted to begin a week before that in England. Neil’s reference to the “yellow” card quote made by the First Minister at the time as “blah blah blah” only adds to my view that he should not be commenting on this issue if he failed to even understand the football vernacular she deliberately chose. If Celtic FC have a view on, maybe the one expressed on here, they should come out in public and state it, but likewise they would be fools to do so.
*My mother was a “daughter of Ayrshire”, her’s too, and her’s before that. Might best keep your own prejudices to yourself Paul, along with some of your own ill-informed views on the matter in hand.
ERNIE LYNCH
Yes, like the majority of the population..are you?
‘This is a glimpse in to how things will be, Scotland’.
Bravo.
How any Celtic supporter, let alone anyone of Catholic faith can think Scottish independence is a good idea is completely beyond my ken.