With an understatement of historic proportions, Scottish Government minister Annabelle Ewing said should would “respect the will of [the Scottish]parliament” and set in motion the process to repeal the discredited Offensive Behaviour at Football Act. This is a new approach from a government which has ignored the will of the Scottish Parliament on each occasion on this very issue – despite acting like wounded fawns when others do the same.
The Act was the brainchild of Alex Salmond, who exploited a Celtic-Rangers match which saw two Rangers players ordered off and a brief but angry shouting match between Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist. The game, however, was remarkably free from crowd trouble.
For years Rangers fans were being arrested for offenses of a sectarian nature. Celtic fans had rid themselves of ‘offensive chanting’ but things changed when SNP Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill sat through a Celtic-Rangers cup final deafened by chanting of ‘The Billy Boys’, he congratulated spectators on their behaviour. This saw the return of political chanting from the Celtic support.
SNP minister Christine Grahame made clear the intentions of Salmond’s Bill when she told Justice Committee meeting this Act would allow police to “equalise” arrest figures between Celtic fans and Rangers fans.
It was an appalling piece of governance and sectarian in nature.
61 SNP MSPs voted to retain the act yesterday, as Holyrood heard the most ridiculous nonsense in attempts to justify its place, citing sectarian comments made well away from the football environment. The SNP seem to know there is a sectarian problem, but are blind to any of their own shortcomings.
Credit for this reversal goes in considerable volume to the Fans Against Criminalisation action group, and to James Kelly MSP (Lab), who sponsored yesterday’s vote. Ordinary men and women defeated a wilfully blind, Peronist, government.
We can only be grateful that government does not enjoy a majority in parliament. Its authoritarian tendencies are clear, they did not look at the evidence and reverse their view, they simply didn’t have the votes necessary to continue to ignore all the evidence.
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Generally reflect in awe at the goodness of club sponsor, Intelligent Car Leasing.
Intelligent Car Leasing have offered us 4 hospitality tickets for Tuesday’s league game against Hearts. Winners will eat at the magnificent Walfrid and enjoy a complimentary bar. I’ve done this, it is magnificent, a truly great way to watch Celtic with your nearest and dearest. Proceeds go to the Celtic FC Foundation.
The auction went online yesterday closes on Sunday, so you only have a couple of days to bid.
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Lustic out Jozo in, Griff starts instead of the young one
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CELTIC: (3-4-2-1) Gordon; Boyata, Simunovic, Ajer; Forrest, Ntcham, Brown, Tierney; McGregor, Sinclair; Griffiths
Subs: De Vries, Bitton, Gamboa, Miller, Kouassi, Dembele, Edouard
Good to see Miller on the bench. Though I think he’s ready to step up. Hope he gets some game time today.HH
LIVE UPDATES UP
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 27TH JANUARY 2018 1:52 PM
I don’t have contact details for Jon Spurling but his article (posted by Timgreen) on the famous five inspired Hibs team is terrific from a football story perspective.
However the reference to ‘Mr Swan’ as a modernising chairman is, IMHO, an error.
Perhaps someone here who knows Jon could (very respectfully) convey the view held by many a Celt – Swan was an opportunistic Freemason from Hibs who chose to side with SFA bigots whose aim was to inflict considerable detriment upon Celtic.
Plus ca change
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Swan, if I am not mistaken, had the Irish Harp emblem removed from Easter Road and also kicked off the Irish Tricolour stooshie which was proudly displayed on top of the old Jungle.
Bob Kelly, to his credit, refused to back down and it is still there!
HH!!
A guy called Thomas Ranachan twice stood up and put himself forward politically against it before James Kelly or anyone else in Labour did.
Enjoyed a great game of football and egressed a happy gazebo with all three, delirious points.
Much better result, and game of football with the two Tonies, evergreen EuroChamps67 Goldstar10 DougC and guest appearance of Dallas Dallas .Wee Jordan on ref watch, was on hand to tip us off about Boabby Maddhun (and Craig Thomshun for Hearts) you’ve got to love Celtic fans that know the ref, games in advance.
Celtic held tight against the best Hibs side since ‘the famous five,’ oldies talk about, well at least since Brownlee Blackley, Stanton, Harper -shirley? How can they lose to the mere/mire Heart of Midlothian?
Unrecognisable with Neil Francis at the helm, but we were predictable at our best in the first half, with Olivier Ntcham prominent Boyata,, Ajer and Simo held firm to the end. Tierney was immaculate and of couse firm favourite of the choir. James Forrest was immaculately withdrawn and BR’s tactical switch left us week on the right but debateably so in the centre., where Ntcham’s elevation to support Moussa behind the point didn’t bear fruit, this time.
There was a ‘purr’ round Celtic Park with surprise sub goalie Dorus De Vries returned along with some instantl distribution, sometimes missing via our numero uno shot stopper, who was thumped in a one on one ,right on half time.
Leigh , Leigh super Leigh retired on two goals in around ninety minutes, and other fans hero, Dembele stretched his legs and not his hamstring , as the clock ran down a left sided player was absent for goal number two, as Ntcham checked at least three times trying to get to his right but mere details on another great Celtic day .
M.O.M. guess………Scott Brown
p.s. N.B. to wee Jordan Boaby Maddhun failed miserably on the paranoia Celtic radar his booking for simulation of Dembele was just breathtaking
p.p.s Bring on the Huns without Bus fare