I spoke to Celtic today about various questions surrounding stewarding and policing in and around the stadium.
The club would not be specific on any particular incident but I got a run down on various instances (alleged assault, vandalism) when Celtic have responded to police requests for identifying information on fans. Celtic said the police can only ask for identifying information if they allege a crime has been committed and Celtic’s safety certificate, allowing them to open the stadium, depends on the club complying with police requests if they allege a crime has been committed.
The club were clear that complying with police requests on such instances is not a matter of choice for Celtic, “It happens, it has always happened, and it happens at every other club in the UK”.
I asked if the club target fans and ask the police to arrest them. I was told this is ludicrous to suggest the police do the bidding of the club (I was also laughed at for making the suggestion). Celtic can revoke tickets and stadium access without recourse to the police.
My conversation happened before anyone at Celtic heard last night’s podcast from the HomeBhoys but I asked specific questions about the red haired fan discussed who was allegedly brandishing a seat and was told no police request had been received in connection to him and that his details had therefore not been passed to the police.
I understand the club have met with various supporters’ groups and clarified these issues, as well as more general stadium safety matters, and that they will issue a statement later today in response to questions asked by the Celtic Trust, who I believe put many of these points in writing.
After speaking to Celtic I spoke to a police officer who is a regular Match Commander at SPL games (not Celtic games) who confirmed clubs would lose their safety certificate if they failed to cooperate with the police.
Having had the chance to put questions to Celtic I asked them give others the same opportunity and to unconditionally meet with any fans’ group with concerns on any of these matters. They assured me they would.
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ROW Z – Let Celtic Flourish By The Cleansing Of The ‘Den! – 17:08 on 26 March, 2013
Possibly. However (and I don’t know if this would constitute a breach of the law), what if our letter reaches him before Plod, alerting him to the fact that they’re onto him and he does a bunk?
Club in trouble? I don’t know, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
weeminger is playing devil’s advocate today and he’s good at it.
Dontpatmadug,
I don’t need a pat on the head. If I have a question to ask or something to say, I say it. if I want to find out something from Celtic, I can ask. I object to faux righteousness from those who would rather bad mouth one person who asks questions rather than act on their own behalf.
Hope you don’t find this patronising – thats when someone talks down to you;)
Hail Hail!
Offski for a rare midweek session with my big Rangers supporting pal.
Shlàinte.
weeminger
aiding and abetting a criminal? Would that be allegedly?
Young 17 year old does a bunk over alleged breach of the peace in Glasgow?
Perhaps plod could then spend his time chasing actual criminals?
That sounds like win:win to me ;-)
Seriously, informing someone that you have passed on information held about them, normally protected by the Data Protection Act, to a third party is a crime??
HH
RowZ If a Company had any respect for its Clients that is exactly what would and should happen. Unfortunately the Powers that be at Celtic appear to be displaying total contempt for the Green Brigade, if that is the Clubs attitude then what can you expect from the Police. It gives me no pleasure at all to say this because in the past I have been fulsome in my praise for the Club and the way it treats Supporters. I remember a few years ago I was waiting for the European Group Fixtures to be announced so as to book my Ryanair Flights before the prices jumped. The fixture list appeared on the site, I booked 3 return flights to Glasgow for 2 for the 3 Home Games. To my horror, the fixture list disappeared and when it did reappear, the dates were different. I e-mailed Celtic Park to vent my annoyance and they asked me to send on my flight bookings which I did. I never sought compensation but did suggest that we might get an invite to meet some players or something like that on our next visit. However the Club absolutely insisted on refunding us in full for all our flights. Whenever I’m arguing with EPL lovers I tell the story and ask them would their beloved United or Liverpool do something like that for them. I love the Club and think the Board are doing a great job but unfortunately there seems to be a hidden agenda re The Green Brigade. It urgently needs resolving as the poison is spreading and causing disillusionment amongst many fans.
stevebhoy @ 17:21
The word you’re looking for is “condescending”.
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/statement-from-celtic-football-club
ffm
I’ll take your word for it
;)
ROW Z – Let Celtic Flourish By The Cleansing Of The ‘Den!
17:08 on
26 March, 2013
Exactly lets keep to the heart of the debate, some of us myself included have serious reservations about being in the same stadium where a certain section of support is subjected to harassment by the police, i agree there are no winners in all of this as has been stated, however i expect Celtic to stand by their fans and give support when the authorities are behaving without due honesty and integrity, as you correctly point out at the very least a letter politely saying, look son the bassa’s are out to get you, is the very least the club could do
patronising present participle of pa·tron·ize (Verb)
Verb
Treat with an apparent kindness that betrays a feeling of superiority.
Frequent (a store, theater, restaurant, or other establishment) as a customer.
Re Boavista
Was at the game with my son who was 15 at the time and we were among a small section of tic fans opposite the main stand in the corner.Our nerves were shredding fast as full time approached but when Henke scored I must say it is the best feeling ever having watched Celtic for 50 years.Cue bedlam and will never forget big Bobo running towards us and going down on his knees and crying like a kid followed quickly by Lenny who wrapped his arms around his neck,then big Rab Douglas joined in.An absolute joy to be there.HH
Now the pars are in adminstration Jim Leishman knows what liquidation means
“It was either liquidation, where you’re done and dusted and you’ve nothing [or] what we’ve done”
—
Of course liquidation is something completely different for Sevconians
ffm,
That definition was for the benefit of less erudite posters…
;)
GMS
go the whole hog.
just call the GB plastic paddies.
let rip at the Catholic Church
get a job with the Sunday Mail.
who are you kidding ?
You can be any creed colour or race to be a Celtic fan
just don’t be loud or proud about it, especially if your from Irish stock
Oh, and it’s money up front btw
So tolerant, we tolerate nothing, it’s the safest way don’t you know
vomit
Where to watch the game tonight ?
Victors bar I reckon, the vino is better at Jairos, as is the tapas, but the atmosphere is 100 times better at Victors.
Should be a decent game, Spain really have to win.
HH
Stevebhoy
there is nothing in Paul’s article which we havent heard before from the club.
nothing new – no comment on anything that has happened outside the turnstiles – maybe rightly so ?
we are all Paul’s customers ;-)
stevebhoy @ 17:36
:)) You’ll get the hang of it soon enough.
Row z – I specifically said I didn’t know. I’m merely putting a theory out there as to why the club might be unable to inform somebody if the SP had requested their details.
Despite the best efforts of several posters to demonise fellow Celtic supporters (Tractorbhoy, Kojo, Quonno and Gallowgate mad squad take a boy), Celtic are in serious trouble here.
I think its laudable of Paul to try and seek answers but the problem here is that Celtic and PL are dancing round the handbags. There is a reason for that – either they have made massive mistakes and are unwilling to admit it or they have colluded.
It is clear that the Police spokesman who said they would “smash the marxist green brigade” had the full support of club officials in attempting to break up a perfectly legal grouping of Celtic supporters.
Celtic have tried to disguise the extent of their collusion as the story broke. They, like another couple of organisations, have clearly not got to grips with the pesky new media.
That, coupled with a police force who just cant help behave badly (as I am sure many of us can testify) – leads to a toxic combination.
I look forward to Celtic’s statement tonight – they have a lot of explaining today and a simple brush off wont suffice.
When their supporters are being harrassed and victimised the least the club can do is openly defend the supporters and take up the fight. But I wont hold my breath.
Prepare for a massive drop in attendance next season.
Good statement.
Nails it I would say and should put to rest the daft theories Celtic are working with plod.
Assisting 7 fans with complaints about the police doesn’t sound like collusion to me.
Jim Leishman also knows that his club (company?) are not part of the fabric of the Scottish nation, not even a stitch on the hem.
I wonder what the first decision of the Administrators will be?
Offer reduced wages to the playing staff to allow the club (company?) to fulfill all its fixtures till the end of the season.
That would be a novel idea… oh, wait!
The next few weeks should be interesting to compare and contrast with a recent club (company?) that found itself in such a precarious position.
Neganon
When their supporters are being harrassed and victimised the least the club can do is openly defend the supporters and take up the fight. But I wont hold my breath
I would say based on the statement by the Club that they are openly defending supporters by assisting in those 7 complaints against the police.
I didn’t see that as a good statement – far from it. It implies early on that the supporters being harassed are “dangerous” to the safety of other supporters, and engaging in “criminal” activity. It also failed to answer the question of whether the information disclosure has only applied to section 111.
A Civil Football Banning Order. Caffbo for short?
Is the game on the telly tonight ?
HH
Jim Leishman obviously not talking about a Govan liquidation….
” done & dusted”
Unless you’re oldco supported by a complicit society and a rabid press who cannot use words exceeding one syllable.
the MSM will squirm with this but ultimately brass it out ..
“They liquidate differently in fife”. I can see already …
HH
The Guardian has a free legal stream of France v Spain later.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/interactive/2013/mar/25/france-spain-live-video-stream
BBC1 and ESPN
Why’s the club not offering a meeting with the GB + polis to sort out their differences.
Thats the logical way to resolve matters.
Its seems the powers that be dont want dialogue……
It still seems to me they are on a mission to “smash the GB”
I have just read the statement. My first reaction is that it does not address the concerns directly and is yet again another missed opportunity to try and unite the club.
Bazzabhoy – so they are finally helping some supporters – and its funny how precise they are with the 7 cases. They certainly havent been precise before. Well if they are now pursuing well good – but they are hell of a late to the party.
Like FFM the statement is littered with lazy “daily mail” nonesense – about dangerous behaviour and criminiality. Utter tosh. We have seen little to no dangerous behaviour and criminality at CP or elsewhere. The statement doesnt confirm what information is being passed over – instead glossing over it with “its just information we have on season ticket holders. Its also unclear what precise circumstances that they have responded to requests. They are also unclear what circumstances that they have allegedly refused requests.
They are against the bill – excellent. But what exactly are they doing about it apart from excelling in helping the police harrass supporters?
Finally what is all this civil banning orders rubbish and what the hell has that got to do with a situation where supporters are already harrassed. Perhaps Celtic simply want to hassle the support before the the cops do.
Honestly – pathetic, meaningless and designed to say nothing in particular.
Sorry Celtic nowhere near enough to start to rebuild trust.
Tell you what Mr Lawwell – why dont you get yourself on the news this evening and openly condemn the actions of the police and state that you want to discuss the matter with Mr Salmond. How about that?
gallowgate mad squad
Celtic no Irish Republican tradition!! The inaugural song at Celtic Park – God Save Ireland’ basically the role of honour of the period.
Sedition is our tradition CSC
Am really pleased for Paul Caddis – thought he was a terrific player for Celtic at his age.
Work with a lot of Swindon fans who were gutted when mad Paolo despatched him to Brum.
Can’t believe there are Celtic supporters on here defending peter lawwell and thinking he’s not involved in the targeting of Celtic fans or members of the green brigade to be more pacific. I have listened to the recording of lawwell,hawthorn and the DVD maker branning should be run out of Celtic, fair enough if you need to give police details of supporters on request to meet certain requirements of the stadium certificate there’s not much you can do about it but to sit and say I want him out or the guy with ginger hair needs to go who the f### gives them that right it’s our club the supporters the guys paying hard earned money following them all over Scotland and Europe. Lawwell is only interested in the fans when it’s renewal time after that we are just a pain in the arse. Can’t stand the man I pray for the day he’s out. And before someone pops up with the job he does what exactly does he do ? The fans in the stands bring the money, the team on the park bring the prize money by winning the games and any company would be privileged to be in partnership with a club the size of Celtic so what does he do apart from hound the Celtic support. HH
Evening Bhoys.
Have Alex Salmond and David Cameron been on the news asking for measures to be taken in order to save Dunfermline ?
HH
TootingTim
Should be a decent game of fitba.
Should determine who fnishes top of the group (France lead by 2pts at the moment).
And, after all, Spain are having a wee crisis having drawn two of their recent matches.
In saying that, in their last 22 qualifiers they have 0L 2D 20W…
Noticed Scotland game is at Vojdivina’s ground.
I hope Dunfermline survive. If they follow Rangers into football oblivion just watch how quickly the void in Division 1 is filled by Sevco FC 2012 – you just know it will happen.