Salmond up to his knees in silence

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It was as though large parts of Scotland’s media, and many Rangers fans, had decided enough was enough after Saturday’s game.  Sectarian singing was reported and roundly condemned, although, inexplicably, BBC Sportscene flippantly suggested disagreeable refereeing could be a cause.  It was, however, Nil By Mouth from the government on tackling this peculiar fabric of society.

A Scottish government spokesman was unable to even acknowledge Saturday’s events, giving the Sunday Herald a completely neutral comment: “We deplore sectarian or bigoted chanting at any grounds or from any fans in Scotland.”

By his own admission, Alex Salmond is busy “arguing” with HMRC and campaigning to secure Rangers’ unique place in the fabric of Scottish society – despite openly being in breach of Fifa rules which could see Celtic kicked out of the Champions League and Scotland unable to compete in the World Cup qualifiers.  It would have cost him nothing to fall in line with everyone else and make it clear this behaviour is not what he is fighting for.

Issues like this are why we need a First Minister, Alex.  If you have decided to go Nil By Mouth, you’re betraying the very fabric you should be cultivating. No one wants to live in a Scotland that looks like this.

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  1. unew mike says:

     

    20 February, 2012 at 11:54

     

     

    As i said PAX – and i have apologised if i have offended and do so again if i have overly offended you. FYI i consider myself an Irish Republican i do not do bigitory, i condem it in all its forms – However my own opinion and choice is to condem those who gave it tacit support. As far as i am aware i am allowed to voice my differing opions / views on this site as much as anyone else. I only became involved in the discussion to support another poster who was being ‘shouted down’ for expressing the same view as many Celtic supporters from NI have of certain individuals.

  2. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    unew mike,

     

    sorry to hear that, maybe you could branch out into drawing boards :o)

     

    people always need them.

     

    keep plugging away pal, you’ll get there.

     

    hail hail

  3. Paul67

     

     

    I wonder how much Fenian Blood will make up the fabric of an Independent Scotland?

     

     

    One Nation…

  4. hail hail oglach i saw your apology as soon as i had posted and I am sorry for the unecessary hun accusation

  5. The Battered Bunnet on

    From the BBC:

     

     

    Police probe Rangers fan’s Twitter ‘threat’ to Stephen Thompson

     

     

    Police are investigating claims that Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson has been threatened by a Rangers fan on a social networking site.

     

     

    Mr Thompson is also alleged to have been subjected to sectarian comments and abusive remarks about his late father and predecessor, Eddie Thompson.

     

     

    It is understood Tayside Police visited the United chairman after concerns for his safety were raised.

     

     

    Rangers owe the Dundee club ticket money from a recent Scottish Cup tie.

     

     

    The debt from the game, which was played in Glasgow, is thought to amount to almost £100,000.

     

     

    However, Dundee United officials and fans are concerned the club will not receive the money after Rangers went into administration last week.

     

     

    Referring to the alleged Twitter threats, a spokeswoman for Tayside Police said: “We can confirm we are aware of the matter and are investigating it.”

  6. HECTOR - Moonbeams WD. Kano 1000 \o/ Supporting Neil Lennon 100%. on

    Smashy – OUUCCCHHHHH!!!!!

     

     

    Free Jelly & Ice Cream though.

     

     

    What’s not to like.

     

     

    Get conga-ing soon.

     

     

    MWD

  7. Ten Men Won The League on

    If the match delegate at Ibrox on Saturday (Willie McDougall i believe) does not include the sectarian singing in his report, then he should be stripped of his ability to delegate ANY fixture in Scottish football for life

     

     

    We are watching and waiting Mr McDougall

  8. What is the Stars on

    Oglach

     

     

    consider myself an Irish Republican i do not do bigitory, i condem it in all its forms

     

     

    You dont do bigotry good man,glad to hear

     

    Yet you equate Pat Fenlons choice to play for Linfield as being the same as a Catholic joining the RUC

     

     

    You do a good imitation of bigotry all the same

  9. There’s no way we would be allowed to win the league at Ibrox. No way. If it is in any way likely a reason would be found to postpone the game. I still think that the police would be happy if that game never takes place.

     

     

    The atmosphere will be even more poisonous than usual with everything that is happening to them. But if we have the chance to clinch the league as well it would make things even worse. In public order terms it is something best avoided if at all possible.

  10. Jeez…ye mention Orwell and it kicks off!!

     

    I didn’t know he was a grass for MI5….ye learn something every day right enough. He died in Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride jist a short bike ride from where I grew up.15 more minutes on that same bike and ye will arrive on the spot where Rudolph Hess parachuted into seeking to cut a deal to end the war in 1941.

     

    It’s a funny old game Saint….

  11. MWD can get plenty of ice cream over here in Japan just not sure about the jelly in fact i was eating a cornetto when watching big jieis highlight link Once again Neil Lennon was very eloquent in his post match interview Whilst Chas Mulgrew can take a mean free kick theres only one shunsuke nakamura Celtics original Japanese Bhoy

  12. celticrollercoaster says In Neil we trust on

    31003 says:

     

    20 February, 2012 at 12:12

     

    Ghuys…..bit of sympathy required…..smashinmilkbottles has just text me from hospital….broke his foot yesterday dain the conga….I kid you not

     

     

    —-

     

     

    did he keep his party hat on?

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

     

     

  13. Re James McClean

     

    There was a story running recently about him playing for NI U21’s, but only in a friendly, then he chose to play for the Rep.

     

    The NI FA have a pole up their rear ends about it and also about other players from the North chosing to play for the South.

     

     

    Re Barcelona

     

    I was in the main stand with my brother at the 0-0 game surrounded by Barca fans. At 90mins everyone of them who walked past us shook our hands. They coulndn’t have been nicer.

     

     

    SPF

  14. óglach,

     

     

    Don’t put words in my mouth. Your comment about Catholics joining the RUC tells me that you would rather persevere with an “us and them” scenario than see the divisions and attitudes that facilitate these divisions smashed.

     

    Our views are shaped by our experiences and as I do not know what your experiences are, I will not judge you on your views. For my part, I have grown up watching too much sadness caused by small minded people on both sides of the divide who were unable or unwilling to forgive. I notice you use the late Tommy Burns to support your argument. I don’t think you have the right to do that. If he would agree with you or not, I do not know. I do know that he was a very devout Catholic and a man with forgiveness in his heart.

  15. RalphWaldoEllison-is Neil Lennon Season 2011-12 on

    Mort says:

     

     

    20 February, 2012 at 11:13

     

     

    A thread on a Rangers site has quite a number of fans saying that any Catholics (and muslims) employed by Rangers should be the first to be made redundant if there have to be job losses.

     

     

    And still there are Celtic fans who want these bigoted people to survive.

     

     

    Mort. what is one more illegal act in amongst so many others.

     

    Spooky how your point and that thread arises at the time others on here are talking about Pat Fenton and any other Tim working for them…

     

     

    My deceased uncle was a priest, and in retirement. He and a bunch of other retired priests would go out for their Christmas meal together. One year one of them suggested having it at Ibrokes. They went and had their meal, but they did not reveal their trade or religion etc. My uncle was a real ecumenicalist and loved it, but then again they were from a missionary order and he probably considered it all missionary work of a sort.

     

     

    HH

     

    RWE CSC

  16. Reports of Sectarian Singing at Rangers FC

     

     

    It was hugely disappointing to hear reports of sectarian singing at Ibrox from a section of the Rangers support during the match against Kilmarnock on Saturday.

     

     

    “Show Bigotry the Red Card acknowledges Rangers Football Club have condemned those who engage in sectarian chanting and have been very supportive of campaigns like ours which promote equality and respect in society. We know that Rangers will share our disappointment at Saturday’s events which only damage the club’s reputation.”

     

     

    I wonder if the First Minister will share the disappointment…

     

     

    HH

     

     

    We call for all genuine fans to help us spread the anti-sectarianism message by renouncing such displays of religious hatred.

  17. óglach,

     

     

    Just one more thing. I don’t know how familiar you are with the divisions that existed in South Africa. I recomend you watch the movie Invictus.

     

    There is a lesson for all of us in how Nelson Mandela chose to wear the Springbok jersey, until then a symbol of Apartheid.

  18. ArranmoreBhoyLXV11 on

    Hugh Mac Donald In today’s herald describes Ibrokes on Saturday thus..

     

     

     

    “frenzied support descended dreadfully into the worst of the Ibrokes songbook…the expressed hate of fen…n. b…..s…made even worse by the realisation that this was Not the product of a small minority in the crowd.. This was loud and ugly…”

     

     

     

    It trust the Scottish elected politicians , police and first minister read this!!!

  19. Criminal proceedings? No. ‘Friendly’ gestapo there to do some arresting? No. Excuses all round by meejah? Yes.

     

    Is Smoked Salmond an Orange Lodge member? Yes.

     

    This farce is just that : farcical.

  20. There is only one way to make your point to politicians: vote for someone else!

     

     

    We need a concerted reaction to Salmond’s behaviour at the local council elections in May.

     

     

    Maybe Celtic fans should stand as independent candidates?

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