You will note the most right-winged, left-wing government in history was yesterday resisting attempts to repeal the Offensive Behaviour Act. The Act was sheer populist electioneering by Alex Salmond, who decided after watching several Rangers players dismissed at the end of a game at Celtic Park that something should be done about the 60,000 spectators who attended the game, and its aftermath, left the stadium in an orderly manner.
Football was well covered by policing and the existing legal framework, but Christine Graham MSP hoped to “equalise” non-criminal behaviour at football, specifically by Celtic fans, with criminal behaviour. It was the most uber-right-winged, thought-police, actual-police-backed policy on these shores in decades. Political capital was poured into policing this law, as was significant financial capital.
All other political parties in the Scottish Parliament oppose the Act, due to its fundamental flaws, so on the face of it, yesterday’s initiative by James Kelly MSP, to repeal the Act has a chance, but no more than that.
The Scottish Greens, who have historically opposed the Act, are prevaricating. They are in a position to vote through SNP policy, so hold leverage over the government.
Meanwhile, police numbers in Scotland have dropped to their lowest levels since 2010 and Police Scotland can no longer afford to man traffic signals when tens of thousands of fans leave football grounds. In 2016, we can’t afford a police officer to oversee traffic signals to allow vast volumes of traffic to proceed in the same direction. In Scotland!
We must be the only country in the developed world who can’t afford traffic-signal policing for major events (if you hear someone yelling this on London Road post-game it’ll probably be me, I’ve been known to go on about it).
You are being taken for granted. Don’t be. You can participate in the Proposed Football Act (Repeal) (Scotland) Bill by letting your views be known here.
Scott Brown did well to acknowledge that Aberdeen and Hearts are our most likely challengers this season. The notion that a newly promoted team will come close to Celtic next season is a fantasy.
The Telegraph today run an article on pressure from Spain and Italy to revamp the Champions League. There is a real danger that the already wealthy large leagues will look to further secure their positions by tipping Europe’s top competition in their numerical favour. We should be OK while the current TV deal is in place but all bets are off next time.
The root cause of the demand for change is the pre-eminence of the English and Welsh Premier League cartel, which is slowly colonising not just Scotland, but Spain, Italy and elsewhere too.
The football model is broken pretty much everywhere. Change will happen; let’s hope it’s benign when it comes, as it threatens to finish the game outside of the “top five leagues”. Your clubs will be impoverished and irrelevant, your infrastructure will be denied investment, even the trickle-down of resources to kids football will mean your children are disadvantaged.
Bear that in mind when you cheer Barca and Real Madrid.
I think we’re going to have fun with this Shitov character tomorrow, who thinks there’s nothing new to see about Celtic Park, but needs to dry his eyes because Leigh DIDN’T punch him!
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Bigbones
Apologies. I thought it was Macjay who was shamelessly touting electronic gear on here. :>) You know what he`s like.
BURNLEY78 on 3RD AUGUST 2016 12:37 AM
I keep hearing how important the champions league is for Celtic supporters.
Yet the stadium will only be 80% full for a hugely important game tonight.
Strange.
—————-
loads of sb holders on holiday, and its not on the card.
so they are away, and cant gift their book,
up to the part timers to take up the seats..
you going ?
Before I head to my love chariot I just want to clarify that I meant no disrespect to Painters or Decorators.
Skilled men and wummin that earn an honest wage for their hard labours, unlike the cheating huns who stole when and where they could at every available opportunity.
HH
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 3RD AUGUST 2016 12:38 AM
IMATIM on 3RD AUGUST 2016 12:33 AM
How are you , mate ?
Haven`t seen your good self on here for quite some time.
Re. Lenny.
Ridiculous imposition.
………………………………………………….
I’m good cobber. I’ve never been away.
More lurking than posting these days although I have been sorely tempted on many an occasion lol
Fingers crossed for a good result for the Bhoys Wed night
And, one final thing, I wonder if that wanker ryecatcher, or whatever he calls himself these days when he comes on here to sow discord will be joining us tomorrow in the BV, Paradise, Glasgow etc………I doubt it.
Nite Timdom
HH
ABURNTOUTCASE on 3RD AUGUST 2016 12:36 AM
It is pretty much certain that the Dutch got here ( Western Australia) long before Cook.
Dutch East Indies etc.
The French arrived very soon after Cook and had settlements South of Sydney.
La Perouse .San Souci.
Tasman is the stretch of water between the mainland and Tasmania.
Have never heard of any Belgian involved in “discovering ” Australia .
However , geographically ,where did Belgium stop and Holland start.
European boundaries were never set in stone and depended on whose army was currently in the ascendancy .
I`ll see if I can find some further info.
ABURNTOUTCASE
No offense taken
HH BB
Ignore me, I’m sleepwalking….
billybear….those birds your on about wouldnt happen to be magpies……..well you know what they are notorious for…..thieving !!!!! could their be a slight comparison thereabouts with your claim on titles.
IMATIM on 3RD AUGUST 2016 12:46 AM
Yeah , mate.
Lurking is safer.
Particularly with my attitudes.
:-)
Big big game.
I`m afraid I`m assuming we will win. A dangerous assumption.
See ye , China.
Stivs
I have it on good authority that Robert the Bruce couldn`t speak English, and that his wife Elisabeth de Brugh (Burke) modelled herself on the beautiful Maureen O`Hara.
ABURNTOUTCASE on 3RD AUGUST 2016 12:42 AM
Bigbones
Apologies. I thought it was Macjay who was shamelessly touting electronic gear on here. :>) You know what he`s like.
======================================================
Yep.
A capitalist.
Unlike the multitudes on here who pretend they`re not.
Macjay
Don`t start. I didn`t mean that,and you know it.
ABURNTOUTCASE on 3RD AUGUST 2016 12:57 AM
Just joking , mate.
Like you.
Macjay
Naw! You would have ended wae a smiley thing if you were joking.
Anyhoos,I read that Abel Tasman was a Belgie.
ABURNTOUTCASE on 3RD AUGUST 2016 1:02 AM
Fair enough.
Many a true word is spoken in jest.
Still nae smiley hing. You in the huff? :>)
According to Wiki.
Abel Jans Tasman was born in 1603 in Lutjegast in what is now the province of Groningen, the Netherlands.
( N.B “now the province ” ? previously Belgian ? )
An employee of the Dutch East India company.
Case.
Lutjegast way North of Holland , therefore unlikely to ever have been part of Belgium.
ABURNTOUTCASE on 3RD AUGUST 2016 1:11 AM
Still nae smiley hing. You in the huff? :>)
===============================================
Never.
Enjoying the chat , mate , but I gorrago .
Smiley thing.
:-)
Macjay
Thanks for that. Did you know that the Dutch East India Co. was the first company in the world to offer shares in their company to the general public?
ABURNTOUTCASE on 3RD AUGUST 2016 1:19 AM
I didn`t mate .
However , I heard that it was a Jock ( and a disreputable one at that ) who created the whole concept of shares .
Had a lot of dealings in Italy and owned half of what became Louisiana.
MACJAY
Can’t remember the name of the company,but stock was first offered in Toulouse about 800 years ago.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 3RD AUGUST 2016 2:01 AM
Niall Ferguson told me different.
Mmmm. Who to believe.
:-)
Mets beat the Yankees 7-1 tonight.
It’s a sign I tell you.
MACJAY
Believe him-he’ll have researched it,I just vaguely remember reading it somewhere.
Bobby
My memory on the subject is kinda vague too.
Good morning CQN
Wet morning In St Andrews this morning
Come on you Bhoys in green and white
Looking forward to the game
Hail Hail
Mt
Good Morning Timland.
Massive night for Celtic,if you can get yerself
up tae the game,we want the place rocking.
Any word fae Kevj?
Away tae earn a crust,have a great day and fantastic
night.
” BURNLEY78 on 3RD AUGUST 2016 12:37 AM
I keep hearing how important the champions league is for Celtic supporters.
Yet the stadium will only be 80% full for a hugely important game tonight.
Strange. ”
Even more strange that a Celtic supporter would come on here and describe what will be the biggest crowd in Europe tonight as `only`. There will be over 50,000 there tonight in spite of the weather forecast. I will be one of them. I have my doubts that Burnley 78 will be there.
I realise most of our games have been Friendlies but there is evidence of all round improvement and greater solidity in our team.
Off to the golf. Will have a look later to gather a sense of the mood .
Cheerio for now.
JJ
Is Hobo still sleep-walking?
Good morning friends and welcome to Matchday from a fairly bright though drizzly and damp East Kilbride.
Were you pacing the streets Jobo?!!!
HH jamesgang
Dull but dry here at the moment but the forecast is dire. Could that work in our favour tonight? Hope so. I’ll take any advantage. All that matters is that we get through to the next stage………..
Congratulations once again to the young bhoys last night. Would be great if they were allowed to play in the lower leagues regularly.
Looking forward to tonight’s game. Any victory will do – the important this is to progress. Expect the Astana mob to be divers looking for an over zealous referee to be carding Celtic players. Broonie needs to keep the heid.
On a another topic, it is important that as many as possible respond to the consultation paper on repeal of OBAF Act. No point in moaning on here if you don’t. Still think it would be helpful if one of the campaigners against the Act posted a list of the points which should be submitted in response to each of the questions posed. HH
just got word from ORANGEBAWN in LONDON is game on tv.