Well done to the Daily Record for revealing that SFA referee, Eddie Smith, was the policeman who reported Celtic fans to Uefa for singing offensive songs against Rennes last month. Smith was one of the referees who declined to make his services available as referees went on strike last season while Celtic took-on the SFA amid accusations of lies, bullying, sectarian behaviour and cover-ups among referees at the association. He is no longer on the Grade 1 list.
Following the strike the SFA Head of Referee Administration was removed from his post and referee, Dougie MacDonald, who was accused of lying to Celtic manager, Neil Lennon, resigned, prompting then-Celtic chairman, Dr John Reid, to say the club felt vindicated in raising their concerns.
Vindicated, no doubt, but with more than a few feeling bitter towards the club.
While the Daily Record can reflect on some good work today, bizarrely, the Scotsman newspaper accused Celtic fans of sectarian chanting at the Rennes game, something even police-gossip, Eddie Smith, didn’t accuse them of.
Why stop at accusations of sectarian behaviour? If the Scotsman are going to be ridiculous, why not accused Celtic fans of genocide and treason? Better still, just say lots of them have funny names, go to strange schools but will never ascent to the British throne.
Celtic have 123-years of non-sectarian history, it is downright offensive to suggest otherwise.
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The Battered Bunnet, youre back on my christmas list again so I hope yir cool with that :¬)
you could of course just reply with “tosh” ya bam ye!
Vinny
HH to ye!
Craiginho,
spot on mate. could not agree more.
So given everything you said why can’t we cut out the few muted shouts of Ooh Aah then there would be nothing , nada for them to complain about.
I love what the Green Brigade are bringing to the games – the chanting across the stadium is the latest brilliant addition.
Seville67
I was at the Rennes game and this story totally took me by surprise ! I thought the crowd and the Green Brigade in particular contributed to a great atmosphere, considering the relatively lom attendance. I don’t remember cringing at any prticular IRA mentions / songs or chants.
I don’t read the DR so can anyone add more meat to the bones of the story here for me ? I’m wondering if the Police reporting the fans to UEFA was an individual action by the Polis involved ie as a proivate individual, or if this was an official complaint to UEFA by Strathclyde’s finest ?
I would have hoped that the Polis would have brought this to Celtic’s attention during the game and got the suspects identified via the CCTV camera that are always on at the stadium. To me not involing the club at the time and afterwards reporting the club to Uefa makes my paranoid hackles stand on end… whats happeing to common sense and logic ?
Are the Polis really out to get us ?
Be interestijg to seee how this pans out, hopefully we get cleared and the Polis involved gets a swift boot to this erse and told to no be so daft in future.
weeminger @ 11:27
Honduras world ranking at the moment is close to Scotland’s (55 v 51) , whereas India’s is around 160.
Honduras have Figueroa , Thomas and Palacios playing in the EPL, and Alvarez playing in Seria A. The Indian team by comparison has no-one playing outside their national league.
Your point is still valid though, as Izzy, and Moravick before him, have proved the benefits of shopping in less fashionable markets. I tend to agree with Livibhoy though, and think there is more of a marketing decision taking place with the huns than a footballing one if they recruit any of these lads.
Craiginho says:
14 November, 2011 at 11:40
Well said Sir! I endorse those senTIMents entirely. We do not need the ra stuff; our songbook, without those songs, encapsulates our heritage in a big way and in a way that is, or should be, acceptable the world over. Who got the BFITW awards by the way? Let’s not sully the legends.
HH Gerry
bournesouprecipe says:
14 November, 2011 at 11:47
Som mes que un club
Your link stinks
Ok then. That’s the end of that.
South Of Tunis – “Celtic gather enough points to progress to the next stage of The Europa League”
This is where the whole theory falls down :)
bournesouprecipe @ 11:27
Philvisreturns will love those 80s perms and pom poms.
Wee horse for today..Sligo Publican,1.10 @ Limerick..
AwNaw
Sadly I must agree with you, but if we are not squeaky clean, surely it lessens our case.
Hail hail
KINGLuBO
South Of Tunis
Do you think a first offence for unsporting behaviour is going to result in being booted out the competition when its a first offence and the huns have been up more than once for worse and still played?
The unmistakable aroma of the Glasgow Underground wafts through nostrils, first thing on a Monday
– guy opposite is wearing a snorkel jacket, not seen one in years.
its funny how not one media source even mentioned any “offensive” or “illicit” chanting in their tear stained rennes match reports yet all of a sudden they all claim to hear what they want to hear just because some ex ref who’s a cop says there was
.
.
I Reckon we Should Ban “Illicit Chortling” @ Rankers on CQN..
chortle [ˈtʃɔːtəl]
vb
(intr) to chuckle gleefully
n
a gleeful chuckle
[coined (1871) by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking-glass; probably a blend of chuckle + snort]
chortler n
.
Summa ft TooMuchChortlingCSC
bournesouprecipe says:
14 November, 2011 at 11:58
The unmistakable aroma of the Glasgow Underground wafts through nostrils, first thing on a Monday
– guy opposite is wearing a snorkel jacket, not seen one in years.
__________________________________________
Are you sitting in front of a mirror?
Vinny
Was never quite sure why I was scrubbed tbh.
Lotta tosh ;¬)
KINGLUBO
Scottish police are the biggest liars out there. Bigger even than the SFA, the MIBS and the mafia for the mediocre that pollutes all these organisations. Not quite up there with the paptalk loyal
So it makes absolutely no difference…….. at all …… whatsoever.
Hail Hail
that’s clever, Paul
the words “sectarian” and “offensive” in the final phrase there
i see what you did there
:)
I’m sure the club will stand firm over these allegations which appear to have surfaced in an underhand way – who would have thought that, eh?
It seems only like yesterday since the ole Scottish media were trying to make an issue out of The Fields of Athenry – which they wrongly described as a rebel song.
LiviBhoy says:
14 November, 2011 at 11:47
Sorry I’m not being very clear here, trying to do urgent work and divert myself from it at the same time.
I agree I don’t think these two are any great shakes.
It was more a general comment about fans’ attitudes to players they haven’t really heard of coming from wee teams or wee nations (in footballing terms). I remember all to well the moans about a 30-something has been from a minor French team.
I suspect the same feelings you have (rightly in this case) made about the two Indian lads would be made about any players we looked at from eg Thailand (just a random country). History suggests it’s unlikely they’d be great but they deserve a chance of the scouts have suggested otherwise. That’s all I’m saying.
This is obviously a fit-up to back up Salmond’s new legislation.Eddie Smith has been on numerous trips abroad with Celtic in his Police capacity,don’t tell me he has never heard a song which some may find questionable or “illicit”,and nothing has been reported.Why now?.I think we know.
Seville
What you are failing to realise is that our detractors will always try and come up with an excuse to make us look bad hence why every inch must be fought for.
You’ve painted an easy solution to a never win problem.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo says:
14 November, 2011 at 11:59
What was the old saying, God made b******s big and small, Strathclyde Police employed them all!
MWD @ 7.07
“SFTB
I was not alluding to this being a conspiracy.
More an opportunity.
A conspiracy would suggest, to me anyway, some involvement prior to the rediculous Strathclyde Hun Cop/ers with those in the PLC. That in my view would be collusion. That I am not willing to accept.
But!!! Now the reporting has been orchestrated by House and his mob of Whataboutery Nutty Coppers do I believe Celtic are prepared to step and gather the support of the establishment and put a fighting case to UEFA at a time when they have been asking the support to refrain from singing songs.
No. I dont and anyone who is daft enough to think they will is, errrmm for want of a better word, DAFT.”
We were talking at cross purposes then.
You would expect PL and the Board to speak up for us against the points raised and I too would expect the Board to make representation to Uefa one they learn more details about what ofensive/illicit singing we are being charged with.
I would not, however, expect them to conduct that argument in public in the press or media, because there is too big a downside to that. You don’t argue with organisations that buy ink by the bucketload or control the “dump” button and editing facilities.
We, the Celtic fans, already know who our enemies are and, If posters like Kev fae Newarthill are re-discovering their mojo, then I expect the Daily Record, for example, to have lost one more purchaser/contributor, and that’s the way to lose their battle with the Celtic support. Not a slanging match with our Board.
Bada Bing
exactly and .. why the changed method in reporting … when the correct action was for Eddie Smith to do his job and arrest those concerned and why no contact with the club whatsoever about it ?
When Neil Lennon told us this was only the beginning he wasn´t wrong was he ?
Hail Hail
voguepunter
Ahh……….because I saw you on your Raleigh Grifter?
You know what this is like reading Rangers forums after their UEFA charges.
1. Who reported us?
2. What songs offended them?
3. The press are against us?
4. Can’t believe there doing this!
5. We have a right to sing what we want.
6. He would say that he’s a(fill in the blanks)
7. There has ben a concerted campaign against us.
8. When were these songs sung?
9. I never heard anything.
Well there is one way to solve it, and the real supporters know it, stop it, now!
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo says:
14 November, 2011 at 11:38
It was Stirling Albion.
One of my friends was there and said it was a bunch of wee neds that kicked it off with a couple of smoke bombs/flares. When the polis moved in, they started spouting their bile (en masse it has to be said).
His point of view on the incidents were that both were very much actionable legally, yet the police were only really interested in taking direct action regarding the smoke bomb/flare – other than the loudspeaker, there was no other action taken from what he could see/hear.
His report of it may have been a tad biased, as he has no great love for the orcs, although I doubt it.
paul67
UEFA security advisor at Rennes game Kenny Scott – look no further
coorslad
Good to see you on here.
Hope you’re feeling better.
Re-post from previous article:
There is NO statement on the official UEFA news site – however it’s being touted that Celtic F.C. is being investigated for Illicit chanting (not sectarian) on media sources.
For everyone’s information – I have reproduced an extract from UEFA’s verdict on RFC and the findings with reference to Articles 5 & 6.
Social and historical context
Given this social and historical context, the Control & Disciplinary Body said it considered that UEFA cannot demand an end to behavior which has been tolerated for years. In view of the above, the Control & Disciplinary Body ruled that, despite the behavior of its supporters, Rangers FC had not infringed Article 5 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (click here) and cannot be punished according to Article 6.
Full article from UEFA site – click to read:
UEFA reasoning behind its disciplinary decision against RFC
Article 5 – Principles of Conduct
1- Member Associations, clubs, as well as their players, officials and members, shall conduct themselves according to the principals of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship.
2- For example, a breach of these principles is committed by anyone:
b) whose conduct is insulting or otherwise violates the basic rules of decent conduct;
c) who uses sporting events for manifestations of a non sporting nature;
d) whose conduct brings the sport of football, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute;
Article 6 – Responsibility
1- Member associations and clubs are responsible for the conduct of their players, officials, members, supporters and any other persons exercising a function at a match on behalf of the association or club.
2- The host association or club is responsible for order and security both inside and around the stadium before, during and after the match. It is liable for incidents of any kind, and can be rendered subject to disciplinary measures and bound to observe directives.
UEFA are duty bound to investigate something that’s been brought to their attention – however having sifted through 312 cases in their archive I cannot find one where a club has been punished for this type of ‘alleged’ offence.
dirtymac says:
14 November, 2011 at 12:04
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo says:
14 November, 2011 at 11:38
^^ just noticed your post on page 2, d’oh
bournesouprecipe says:
14 November, 2011 at 11:58
The unmistakable aroma of the Glasgow Underground wafts through nostrils, first thing on a Monday
– guy opposite is wearing a snorkel jacket, not seen one in years.
***********************
You should look in the mirror bourne! :¬)
2nd thoughts maybe it was BT going back to his roots …..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxHcx7FO8nI
V
HH
I’m not comfortable with the tenor of your argument Paul67; if there is a complaint then there is a complaint. The identity of the complainer is irrelevant. This was the argument many on this site made when Rangers kicked up such a stink about being reported by FARE.
Now, either there was chanting at the Rennes game that breached UEFA’s code of practice, or there wasn’t. Either ther was chanting which was illegal, or there wasn’t. An investigation ought to uncover both of these things.
I could go into what I think of the sufficiency of the current Law in Scotland regarding the policing of chanting at football games, or what UEFA ought to rightfully consider to be offensive in terms of their own code of practice. I could go into the level to which I consider it absurd to assume the de-coupling of such a mass participation event as a football match from politics, culture, ethnicity and reiligon is a possible (or even desirable) objective, but those are surely matters for the investigation?
Either there is a problem with the chanting of the support or there isn’t. The fact that Eddie Smith, or whoever else, seems to think that at the Rennes game our chanitng fell foul of any standard isn’t the issue. The referee’s strike last year isn’t the issue. To try to highlight these aspects of the story is to deflect, deny, deceive-things we have rightfully criticised Rangers for in the past.
Lennon n Mc….Mjallby says:
14 November, 2011 at 12:02
Seville
What you are failing to realise is that our detractors will always try and come up with an excuse to make us look bad hence why every inch must be fought for.
You’ve painted an easy solution to a never win problem.
——————————————————————————————————————————————-
I agree to a point – that our detractors will always try to push on us – I remember recently The Fields of Athenry coming under attack as a rebel song, and I would fight against that all the way.
I have 2 points.
1. When the club specifically asks the support to support a position on chanting I want us to get behind that one.
2. I take 2 boys to the games and I don’t want them to have to listen to Pro IRA chanting.
I am not trying to solve world hunger. If you think that those 2 points mean that I have no credibility then I’ll need to live with that.
Seville67
All,
i wrote to SPL last night at midnight re a marketing issue
fair play to Iain Blair who responded very quick just now
due to the fact i asked Stewart Regan to pass it on to the relevant contact (which he did, kindly – thanks to him)
topic is below, for your info
please note email address of Iain Blair at SPL should you wish to use it for any other issues in days/months to come is….
iainblair@scotprem.com
______________
From Iain Blair
To TC
Dear TC
Thanks for your email which has been forwarded by Stewart Regan.
Whilst playing kits are generally considered under the Laws of the Game and the interpretation of the Match Referee, I hear what you say from the marketing viewpoint. I will raise this for discussion.
I trust that you still enjoy the SPL wherever you watch it.
Best wishes
Iain Blair
Operations Director &
Company Secretary
The Scottish Premier League Limited
Registered in Scotland – SC175364
Registered Office – Hampden Park, Glasgow, G42 9DE
Tel: +44 (0)141 620 4140
Fax: +44 (0)141 620 4141
Email: iainblair@scotprem.com
_______________
From: TC
Sent: 14 November 2011 00:05
To: enquiries
Cc: stewart regan
Subject: strip contrast etc
Stewart, any chance please of passing this on to the correct fella as this email for SPL never seems to get to them – thanks !)
___________________
dear SPL
please ensure that there is a 100% CONTRAST in strips in SPL
this is a marketing issue
100% contrast ensures clear viewing of teams
examples….
GOOD
Aberdeen v Celtic……….red v green/white
Aberdeen v Rangers……red v blue/white
Aberdeen v DundeeUtd…..red v tangerine/black……(ok but not perfect)….red v white is better
BAD
Celtic v Hibernian……..green/white v green white (on alternate parts of the strip) (all black for one here is good)
Rangers v St Mirren….blue/white v black/white (very bad !! no white v white should be allowed, ever !!)
Celtic v Dunfermline…..green/white v black/white (see comment above re white)
yellow v white (this should never be allowed !!)
question mark too over Rangers v Celtic (white shorts v white shorts – very bad !!) – tradition, i know, but no good !!!
other comments…..
all teams should have an (OPTIONAL !!!!!) RED away strip, in case of doubt
referees to be in CONTRAST to the teams too (obviously !)……red, white, black, ALL blue…….NOT 2-colours !!! ONE COLOUR only, all red or all blue etc
this list of strip selection to be arranged PRIOR to season kick-off and all clubs notified well in advance
pitch surround to be UNIFORM where possible across the whole country (as per UEFA Champions League) –
not going to happen fully but a degree of uniformity would be useful, i am sure
TV camera angles to be considered – New St Mirren Park – angle is no good here, nice little stadium (needs more PIE STALLS OUTSIDE the ground – funny but true !!!)
THANKS GUYS
kind regards
TC, Glasgow
ps – i used to LOVE watchin SPL when i lived in Abu Dhabi – tens of thousands watch worldwide, millions probably
_______________
i am sure there are 100’s of other issues that should be addressed but this was all i was dealing with for now
hope they go ahead with these ideas
Strathclyde Police – Semper Lodgio
Vmhan
Great song, great version