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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HT
Naw……no you
Paddy T
The Scottish Premier League has confirmed that it has opened an investigation into reports of offensive chanting at Parkhead during a match between Celtic and Hibernian on October 29.
Celtic were informed by UEFA yesterday that a hearing would be held concerning reports of “illicit chanting” during a match against Rennes on November 3. Now the SPL has revealed it is investigating a similar report from a match delegate at a domestic match.
Both investigations were instigated by Strathclyde Police Superintendent, and former referee, Eddie Smith, who had reported the chants to the UEFA and SPL representatives at the respective matches.
“Eddie mentioned to our delegate that there was pro-IRA chanting from one specific section of the stadium,” SPL secretary Iain Blair told the Daily Record.
“It was included in the report and is now subject of an ongoing investigation. I am currently gathering information about what happened during the match when the arrests were made.
“Eddie has mentioned there was pro-IRA chanting but we need to find out more about when it happened and exactly what went on.
“We also have to establish that Celtic, as I am sure they will have, cooperated fully with the police in the aftermath of this event.”
Celtic may not necessarily face a charge as a result of the investigation, which would have to conclude that the club had not taken appropriate steps to discourage such singing or to assist the authorities in dealing with any problem.
However, if the investigation finds that Celtic have been negligent, a recommendation would be made to the SPL board that a charge is brought against the club.
Lawyers,
If, as I’m led to believe, arrests have been made at the weekend following police investigations into the Rennes game, can UEFA hand out a decision or is it now sub judice?
Good morning all.
Do the songs break the law? No, whether I like them or not, whether 1,000 people like them or not, whether a million people like them or not.
Why, therefore, must they stop? Because some people don’t like them and they are building up a campaign against the club and its support, as they have done in the past (and will do again).
The media, the police, mainstream Scottish opinion, some MSPs are insisting: “Say or do something we don’t like and we will launch a campaign against you to get you to stop.” Yes, legislation can change and these are the very forces that often take the lead in formulating new legislation, going through due process.
No legislation is in place yet for preventing Celtic fans singing “Up the Ra”, or “Fenian Army”, therefore to do so in a stadium at a game breaks no laws.
What, then, is the campaign about? Harold Pinter had a word for it: censorship. If you have a view that the mainstream disagrees with, the mainstream will shame you into keeping quiet about it or facing ridicule.
http://www.5pm.co.uk/the-big-deal/
half price package for Celtic v Dunfermline
The Honest Mistake – dropped your guard there Peter! ;-)
T4
Ah, the old ” songs debate”. Has existed in one shape or form on cqn since the blog started. Most people have pretty entrenched views on the issues. What is different now is an rfc on the ropes (off the pitch anyway and hopefully soon, on it too), rfc being punished by uefa for sectarianism yet our own Scottish authorities praising these guys for their bigotry!
They then bring in ill thought out and unnecessary legislation to, in their own words “even thins out”. Just to inflame passions all the more we have guys like pat nevin picking on the chants of a few Buckie bhoys while he ignores the actions of thousands, for decades, across the city.
The gb are clearly a very political bunch and this is a very politicised environment. My take is that it is only a minority who sing “offensive” I.e. Pro ira chants. At certain away grounds it is more than a minority. My point here is not to debate the rights and wrongs of this. We all have the right to hold whatever political views we hold. But should we implicate others in the views we privately hold? We are all branded as ira supporters no matter how few actually carry out the chanting.
There is the right time and the right place to say any number of things. Playing into the hands of celtic’s enemies by chanting ira songs doesn’t seem to me likely to win hearts and minds. And to many without any media house agenda, they are genuinely offensive. And don’t give me, they all hate Celtic anyway….. We are head and shoulders ahead of rfc in the moral high ground and I don’t want stained by any equivalence.
It appears to me from a recent post the real reason why a lot of posters give their stamp of approval to political songs being sung at CelticPark. It is not that they want to celebrate their Irish heritage or give voice to their political beliefs it is just a case of being another instrument to annoy the Huns
Muck spreaders.
Not careful what they step in……….
So are our esteemed police saying that singing illegal, sectarian and rascist songs are ok, but if you sing something that is ‘illicit’, and whoever is match commander doesn’t like it, then we will report you to the relevant footballing authorities?
This is increasingly looking like a get the green brigade campaign by the boys in blue.
Late to the debate.
Not sure if this has been covered before?
“Illicit Singing” – What exactly is this?
It is a crime I have not heard before, what exactly does it mean?
Illicit –
1) Illegal / offensive / disapproved by society.
2) Not sanctioned by custom or law.
Main issue here is the history of this offence?
When did it come into being, who originated it and what is the case law surrounding it?
So we need to start with the basics –
What songs or chants are considered “Illicit”?
Why are these songs or chants considered “Illicit”?
When were these songs or chants sung?
Was this the first time these songs or chants were uttered?
Why was the complaint made – if this was not the first time these had been uttered?
What part does EUFA have in all of this?
Where does the SFA have in all of this?
What part does MH have in all of this?
Basic point is why “Illicit” not “Offensive” and not “Sectarian”?
Once these points have been sorted out then we can educate the GB.
That is the Clearasil Republican element of the GB.
That is the “Norman” element of the GB – I can therefore I must.
That is the Zulu warrior element of the GB – I want to fight the wars of my fathers.
Singing about the “Ra / IRA / PIRA” is not big and it is not clever.
They do not sing about this in in the sporting grounds of the 26 counties.
Consequently why are you singing about it in G40?
I fear you have become not the GB, but Green Huns.
Your agenda is being set by the mentalist / loyalist wing of the TFOD.
You are reactionary and you are wee boys playing soldiers.
As I mentioned some time ago.
MMcG lost, get over it, why not get real with the real Ireland?
A chorus of “Ooh Ah – Up the Irish Labour Party” would be a good place to start.
So, one’s as bad as the other eh?
Not for much longer I think. As John Cleese might well put it:
This club is no more! It has ceased to be! ‘E’s expired and gone to meet ‘is maker! ‘E’s a stiff! Bereft of life, ‘e rests in peace! If you hadn’t nailed ‘im to the bench ‘e’d be pushing up the daisies! ‘Is fiscal processes are now ‘istory! ‘E’s off the twig! ‘E’s kicked the bucket, ‘e’s shuffled off ‘is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisibile!! Bust. Bankrupt. Liquidated. Dissolved. It’s f*ckin’ snuffed it!….. THIS IS AN EX-CLUB!!
The SPL are on record saying that they look at the Club and as long as the club are doing everything they can they choose to take no action. Hence no action against Rangers, despite UEFA convictions. They will do the same here but the assimilation effort goes on.
The issue here is that the Trust took on Eddie Smith and didn’t have enough to take him out. A disastrous tactic. This was followed by the Green Brigade being physically challenged in the ground but they did not lie down to bully boy tactics. The fallout from all of that is an orchestrated police campaign, directly, to UEFA, to the SPL, and to the Scottish Government on hardening their stance on the Bill. Given the yellow streak running through the boardroom and the quizzling QC pulling some strings I don’t expect the Green Brigade to survive and I don’t expect there to be 20,000 season ticket holders next year.
Over to the Trust to come clean out with whatever they have and to explain to the rest of the supporters what they are up to or this is exactly how it will play out.
So after 100 years of overtly sectarian chanting and singing by the Orcs, the SPL are now investigating Celtic.
Time to resign Celtic. This shower of scum know no shame whatsoever.
There’s only one question Celtic should be asking right now – and publicly. Where was Eddie Smith and his principles during the Cup Final last season when 40 thousand bigots were up to their knees in Fenian blood ?
Where were you then Smith ?
neveralone says:
15 November, 2011 at 09:32
A long time ago I decided no but not everyone is as sensible as we are.
Mickybhoy1888
I think, as usual, you do the Celtic support a great disservice.
BlantyreKev says:
15 November, 2011 at 09:42
Very interesting post Kev. Can you please expand on it?
mickbhoy – I agree with your perception (sung to annoy) – but what a cost.
What worries me is damage it is doing to our reputation overseas. Which is a necessary market for us – just a quick glance at sports journals in Italy, Spain, France, South Africa and China shows this has made ‘bad’ news for us.
Somehow we need to respond rapidly and proactively. people will be put off (wrongly) from buying our shirts if it is (wrongly) percieved as associated with hate.
We have a lot more to lose than Rangers as we are a worldwide and not just a domestic brand.
The best way to sicken the establishment and whoever else we want to sicken in this country or any other country is to put a team on the park that is capable of winning trophies on a regular basis. That hurts them more than any song does
My My hasn’t Eddie been a busy boy… anybody would think hugh… sorry he had a problem with Celtic
MadMitch
youve obviously not been reading the previous posts . They dont sing “up the ra” anymore “up the celts” is now sung by the GB.
The Celtic Symphony is played over the tannoy before the games.
Both investigations were instigated by Strathclyde Police Superintendent, and former referee, Eddie Smith, who had reported the chants to the UEFA and SPL representatives at the respective matches.
“Eddie mentioned to our delegate that there was pro-IRA chanting from one specific section of the stadium,” SPL secretary Iain Blair told the Daily Record.
“It was included in the report and is now subject of an ongoing investigation. I am currently gathering information about what happened during the match when the arrests were made.
“Eddie has mentioned there was pro-IRA chanting but we need to find out more about when it happened and exactly what went on.
=============================================
Question…..Can Eddie no write??. Apparently all Eddie has done is “mentioned”……….In most organisations, it is procedural to provide a written report of events as they transpire. This report should include all the essential information necessary. Strangely, the last para quoted above appears to obviate from this.
Paddy T
A post from yesterday.
I’m not sure i’ll get the link-thingy right but, if I don’t it would be greatly appreciated if someone would pick up the torch as I think this brilliant song should be played at CP, PRONTO!!!
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Vmhan♣ who Supports Neil Lennon says:
14 November, 2011 at 18:50
FourGreenFields says:
14 November, 2011 at 18:08
Here are the words to a song , best sung by Luke Kelly –
“A dismal dawn was breaking when they took her man away , not knowing what was his crime.
Just what he was guilty of not one of them could say but they’ll think of something in time.
Sounds as applicable today as it was all those years ago , perhaps someone with more than a basic grasp of this Internet thingy could post a link to Free The People by Luke Kelly
*******************
This is for you sir, and also dedicated to a Scottish born Belfast bhoy who has recently left us – Joe O’Neil RIP.
“……. he said goodbye and remember, that we shall overcome…..”
Free the People
Vinny
HH
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May God’s Light Shine On The Poster’s Involved Here.
Hail! Hail!
Did McBride say the IRA and the PIRA?
Does this mean the Soldiers Song and BOTOB?
To me,whether your embarrassed or proud to sing these songs is not the issue,McBride also talked of ‘singing about killers’,its a fundamental issue of free speech,why should anybody be then allowed to glorify any army?
As Primal Scream say ‘one man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist.’
Is have thought Paul McBride would have had principles due to the nature and inspiration for starting out with his chosen career and sought to defend this fundamental point.
Paul McBride has went down in my estimation.
mickbhoy1888 says:
15 November, 2011 at 09:39
” ….. it is just a case of being another instrument to annoy the Huns”
And, of course, annoying the Huns is against the rules and the law in Scotland !
Damm It!
I wonder if Eddie has reported any other football club…or is he just offended by Celtic Fans, I think we should be told
I really don’t know why some of you are surprised by Quick Cofabulator Paul McBride. He is no friend of Celtic. He is only a friend of Ego and self affirming appreciation.
If any Celt actually trusts this man acting in the best interests of Celtic outwith his own financial gain then they’d be better spending time howling at the moon.
MWD
I’d have thought
Lennon n Mc….Mjallby says:
15 November, 2011 at 09:51
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I think McBride will end up on the board along with the rest of the vultures.
Celtic_First says:
15 November, 2011 at 09:46
I can’t really mate, I don’t want to get any facts wrong on the blog as this is too important. It’s important that those directly involved speak up now though.
Celtic FC want these songs stopped so don’t assume PMcB isn’t acting for Celtic.
MWD
McBride sold his soul down the river in that interview with Eddie Pearson.
On the positive side…..
all this songs pash is giving NL a break ! IMO!
I remember Pat Nevin saying he would continue to point out offensive singing whenever he heard it at the Cup Final. Now that was in May it’s now November. Has Pat not heard anything or is it just one set of fans that he subjects his sword of justice and his shield of truth to
Kevjungle.
Only a couple of weeks ago, you had him on your list of desirables to join the board.
Had you got your wish, you’d be out in the car park only a few weeks after you replaced the board.
Bamboo @ 9.50
Rennes game – “Ooh ah up the Ra” got an airing very early on from the GB.
Consequently it is still on their roster.
Needs to stop – childish in the extreme.
Grange Hill quality football chant.
Eddie Smith is a busy man it seems. Does he only police Celtic games, or does he wear ear plugs at any other games he attends?