Return to SNP sender, when one becomes six

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I’m not taking the SPFL- face recognition plan too seriously but that’s not to say the politics behind the suggestion should be ignored. Scottish football has no hooligan problems, compared England or the Continent our game is orderly and sedate. Until recent years there was no such thing as a flare problem, and offensive signing was a thing of the past.

All that changed when the SNP government got involved in 2011. Two managers shouted at each other after a game, three Rangers players were ordered off, and First Minister, Alex Salmond decided a summit was necessary to reign in the game’s wilder elements. What utter tosh.

Three weeks later, Justice Minister, Kenny MacAskill congratulated fans on creating a great atmosphere at the League Cup Final, which was notable for the re-emergence of the previously eradicated Billy Boys song. At an instant MacAskill rebased what was acceptable behaviour at Scottish football.

Since then the game has been trying to put the genie back in the bottle. The arguments were rehearsed in the CQN comments pages and elsewhere, “They are congratulated by the Government for singing The Billy Boys and we can’t sing about nationalist politics”, or words to that effect. Songs which had disappeared from the Celtic support lexicon were soon back and remain. Incalculable damage done by two incompetent clowns.

Since then the Scottish Government and a very small number (very small indeed) of senior officers at Police Scotland decided to subject football fans to the kind of surveillance that would make a military junta of a banana republic blush.

It’s a mess. Officers on the ground readily complain in private, all other political parties pledge to repeal the Offensive Behaviour’ Act, while sheriffs line up to mock cases arising from the Act. Football has been left to pick up the pieces left from a Scottish Government created problem. The Government refuse to accept any liability, will not repeal the Act and having celebrated a new, low, standard for spectator behaviour, seem quite happy with the situation.

Scottish football was doing very well before the Government decided to rebase what is acceptable behaviour. No football authority will succeed in any endeavour if the government is working against it. What the SPFL did was make a clear, if clumsy, attempt to return the problem to sender – the newly disinterested in football Scottish Government.

When one becomes six

I’ve scoured the internet today but cannot see any complaints about Celtic’s alleged “one up front” tactics. This season hasn’t gone to plan, but we’re making an incredible number of chances and scoring a remarkable number of goals.

One up front leaves space for, what is in effect, two wingers on each flank, and an attacking mid able to work inside the box.

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  1. Paul67

     

     

    Well done for highlighting this issue in today’s blog. However, I’m not sure I agree with your relaxed atmosphere towards the introduction of facial recognition at football.

     

     

    Some of the ‘offences’ that have incurred the wrath of the OBaF Act would leave most posters aghast.

     

     

    Weeminger hit the nail on the head earlier. House was appointed by the SNP. Yes, he was a fool but he was their fool.

     

     

    A number of not guilty verdicts have been appealed by the Crown, something normally associated with much, much more serious crime like murder.

     

     

    This results in those who’ve been charged having to endure even greater stress often after years of waiting and countless court appearances and the pressure this puts on work, family and relationships.

     

     

    On every occasion the appeal has been dropped, at times on the very eve of the case being heard in the high court.

     

     

    The reason?

     

     

    If a case goes before the high court and the judge upholds the not guilty verdict then that decision would then force any similar case to be put before a sheriff to give a not guilty verdict.

     

     

    This Act has much more to do with politics and grandstanding than has to do with football and its supporters. The SNP claimed that they wanted to build a consensus around the Bill in 2011, however, all that remains in the consensus of opposition. Not just from fans the length and breadth of the country but every political party and every other MSP.

     

     

    I worry because I wouldn’t put anything passed them.

  2. Quonno

     

     

    All of them behaved differently.

     

     

    Not one of them called for a summit to be held.

     

     

    Not one of them phoned Stephen House and told him to issue a call for a summit.

     

     

    But you go on and believe that everyone would have acted as the SNP did.

     

     

    When a more serious situation than the Shame game was in play i.e. the Manchester UEFA riots, no actions were instituted by a minority SNP government and no pressure was exerted for a summit then by an almost equal number of Labour MPs in opposition.

     

     

    Your point cannot be disproved fully because there were no other alternative governments who “had to” deal with the shame game. The only dabbling that the Labour Party ever did in this area was Jack McConnell’s educative approach to anti-sectarian measures, a pious and optimistic approach but certainly not illiberal.

     

     

    Only one party introduced illiberal legislation here and it fits in with their centralising, intolerance of dissent tendencies.

  3. glendalystonsils on

    Spurs v Leicester game has been mince first half.

     

     

    I’d rather be watching the EK game.

  4. An Gorta Mor Glasgow

     

     

    Help us build an Irish Famine Memorial in Glasgow #crowdfunding @fundrazr Support and Retweet

     

     

    #WeWillBuildIt

  5. traditionalist88 on

    FK ŽALGIRIS IS NOT PLANNING TO LEAVE LITHUANIAN LEAGUE

     

     

    http://WWW.ZALGIRIS-VILNIUS.LT 2016/01/19 11:23:00

     

    IEŠKOTI

     

    ENGLISH NEWS ANKSTESNĖ KITA

     

     

    In the light of rumors in social media that our club is planning to leave Lithuanian football league and join Polish Ekstraklasa, we announce that this option is not considered in the near future as we do not have the stadium, which qualifies the highest standards.

     

     

    The club is not planning to leave the Lithuanian football league

     

    The club is not planning to leave the Lithuanian football league S. Čirba photo

     

    The club is not planning to leave the Lithuanian football league

     

    The club is not planning to leave the Lithuanian football league S. Čirba photo

     

    The club is not planning to leave the Lithuanian football league

     

    The club is not planning to leave the Lithuanian football league S. Čirba photo

     

    1

     

     

     

     

    The club’s owners have discussed a possibility of building National stadium with the municipality of Vilnius as well as Lithuanian football prospects.

     

     

    There was also a discussion on how the club could play more high quality games and the UEFA project for Lithuanian and Latvian football leagues was recalled.

     

     

    There was a proposal of participating in Polish Ekstraklasa without FK Žalgiris Vilnius withdrawing from Lithuanian championship, but only as a theoretical possibility to play more high class games.

     

     

    The club is very happy with new leaders of Lithuanian A league’s board. We aim to contribute to the growth of Lithuanian national championship and get ready for the new A league season and the UEFA Champions League qualification.

  6. lennon's passion on

    Was on the Huddleboard forum. Have a topic called “Doing a tour of the forum’s”. What forum do you think they’re talking about here

     

     

    It was very cliquey and far too many posters were snide wanting others banned if they were not in their online clique or had a difference of opinion(see when yi get older and still use forums yi get to realise how daft and childish it all is). Horrible to be slagged off for spelling – far too many think they have to show an online personality of perfection and great intelligence….

  7. traditionalist88 on

    We have the stadium…

     

     

    Not sure what the ‘UEFA project for Lithuanian and Latvian leagues’ is all about either. Interesting all the same and obviously bigger implications than just football in Lithuania.

     

     

    HH

  8. BGX, @ 8.29 hrs.

     

     

    Is that a Masonic phrase ?

     

     

    If so why, and can you please explain as I am unfamiliar with their terminology ?.

     

     

    Thanks.

  9. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    LP

     

    I’ve been on cqn for years and been ridiculed for my spelling

     

    I don’t give a flying feck

     

     

    It is a blog and a personna

     

     

    My real life if as a drunken eejit, or is that my blog personna top?

     

    Sometime I don’t know and tbh I don’t give that flying feck

     

     

     

    I post about Celtic, my thoughts on Celtic and my thoughts in what goes on in the world of the benefit system

     

    2 things I have strong opinions on

  10. BLANTYRETIM IS PRAYING FOR THE KNOX FAMILY on 20TH JANUARY 2016 8:50 PM

     

    LP

     

     

     

     

    I’ve been on cqn for years and been ridiculed for my spelling

     

     

     

     

    I don’t give a flying feck

     

     

     

     

     

     

    It is a blog and a personna

     

     

     

     

     

     

    My real life if as a drunken eejit, or is that my blog personna top?

     

     

     

     

    Sometime I don’t know and tbh I don’t give that flying feck

     

     

    I post about Celtic, my thoughts on Celtic and my thoughts in what goes on in the world of the benefit system

     

     

    >>>>>>>>>

     

     

    2 things I have strong opinions on…. A pretty face, nice behind and nice pair of….

     

     

    Sorted that for you BT… and to be honest, if t wasn’t for spellcheck I’d wouldn’t post. :)

  11. garygillespieshamstring on

    BT

     

     

    Drunken eejits posting their thoughts on Celtic, their daft jokes and chatting about music were the things I liked about cqn from the first time I came across it.

     

    Happiest when I am with fellow eejits. Drunken eejits having a laugh even more so.

     

    HH

  12. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Sips

     

    I spit in the face of spell mech :-)

     

     

    Which was how spellcheck fixed spellcheck

  13. lennon's passion on

    ADI_DASLER on 20TH JANUARY 2016 8:55 PM

     

     

     

    Yeah one of today’s topics. The forum in question was Celtic Minded. Just shows you we’re not alone.

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