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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Houl yer wheest
You should find a link to it here tomorrow evening.
http://idimsports.eu/
Always wondered who that punter was in the middle of the street shouting at the wind: “them huns cannae even spell amortisation”.
Mountblow Tim-
I hope you and the family are back home safe and sound, and enjoy once more the Scottish temperate climate.
:-)
HOUL YER WHEEST on 2ND AUGUST 2016 6:34 PM
Does anyone know how to watch tomorrow’s game on tv?
Switch it on?
Couldn’t resist…..see post above its on Celtic TV UK subscribers too mate
English ESPN football commentator: “And Celtic need a win to go through”.
Erm, naw we dinnae. Stick to your bloated, overrated league please.
ROWLEY BADA BING
Thanks
Ajer turining out for the U20’s tonight. Game live on Premier Sports I believe.
So no Ajer tomorrow then?
Chances of Kolo Toure getting a start increasing.
WEEMAN67
As a wean/youngster I was brought up in Crown Street then Govanhill – you could see and smell the ‘Blazes’ most days.
The old ‘red sky at night’ didn’t necessarily mean good weather the next day – many a night you could see the red glow at midnight! :-)
Have to say this,the new 3rd kit is howlin’.Does not bear any resemblance to a Celtic strip,imo.A marketing monkey’s soulless creation.Abomination.
Rant over.
HH
Where can I sign the opt out option from buying any Celtic merchandising?
Dixon’s Blazes…
Took a wee look at an old (1859) map of Rutherglen there and to my surprise, the burn that gave the pitches their name is noted as Mall’s Mire, as opposed to Molls/’s.
Good old Dixon eh. He created the foundation upon which so many Glaswegian football careers were built. Literally.
The slag from the furnaces of his “Govan Iron Works” on Crown St was dumped there and was subsequently levelled to create the ash football parks at Toryglen, on both sides of Prospecthill Rd. Mall’s Mire being the larger of the two areas.
For a history of William Dixon and his heirs – and you might be surprised by where he came from – see this, published in 1901: http://www.scottishbrickhistory.co.uk/william-dixon/
i think the pink Celtic kit would be more effective if marketed as a cancer awareness strategy. Worldwide appeal and very relevant.
Praecepta, yer dating yersel’ there…
THE BATTERED BUNNET on 2ND AUGUST 2016 7:02 PM
Praecepta, yer dating yersel’ there…
====================
Is that a euphemistic way of calling him a self-abuser? ;))
45 minutes will do Ajer tonight, could be a useful sub tomorrow
TBB
The NHS might be carbon-dating my bones when I go for a check-up next week! :-)
P67
Have to agree with your analysis of the Tartan Tories / Nats.
They are a bunch of control freak / neo Con economic chancers.
OBAF was bad and showed them the way, the Named Person debacle shows them at their worst.
The Auld Reekie CS have a history of uber rationalism and patronising the plebs and currently St Nic is just lapping it up as it suits her student politics vibe. Not sure what will happen next?
Poor school results — Teachers thrown underneath the bus.
Poor policing / complaints of poor performance — Will the police be next?
When it happens the Nat civil war will not be pretty.
So, William Dixon is to blame for the black ash pitches and the scarring on my legs!
Can I sue his descendants?-:)
St stivs
Great idea for the airport – even better extended to paradise!!
Hh
Caught the comments about the third strip.
At the moment it all stinks of corporate profit gouging.
It should be linked to the charity efforts.
£10 per jersey passed on as a gift to the foundation.
Help to keep it credible and also generate some extra funds.
Ha!
Reckon there’ll be more Chromium 6 than Carbon 14 in those old bones.
Just on and saw JAMESGAN NOTIFICATION…. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMESGANG. HOPE TO GET YOU ANOTHER PINT SOMEDAY……
Bit of Nat bashing tonight.
Seems not too long ago that posters on here were condemning Celtic Board for its enthusiastic cooperating with the Polis in enforcing OB Act.
Just saying like.
I’m all for helping charity but incorporate (any lurking Sevconians check out what that word means) the pink ribbon into our jerseys.Stick to green,white,gold,and sometimes black for our strips.That new roaster isn’t even pink,it’s some kind of salmon ice lolly colour.Mingin’ and not Celtic-y.
Very disappointed Allan is leaving albeit on loan.I know Brendan knows best but always believed Scott had more vision and natural ability than serial hiders Forest,GMS and McGregor put together.The only reason these players along with Efe are still at the club is because suitors are proving extremely hard to find.Just my opinion mind.
PRAECEPTA
I was born in Dennistoun just a block or two from Blochairn……..then we moved to the Prefabs at Ally Park, the red ash pitches were my back yard……
BABASONICOS71 on 2ND AUGUST 2016 7:29 PM
I’m all for helping charity but incorporate (any lurking Sevconians check out what that word means) the pink ribbon into our jerseys.Stick to green,white,gold,and sometimes black for our strips.That new roaster isn’t even pink,it’s some kind of salmon ice lolly colour.Mingin’ and not Celtic-y.
Always thought that Celtic jerseys should be green and white.
Anything else, a load of mince.
Kristoffer Ajer and Jack Aitchison are in the Celtic Development side for tonight’s Irn Bru Cup tie with Annan Athletic at Cappielow.
CELTIC: Ross Doohan; Anthony Ralston, Jamie McCart, Sam Wardrop, Aidan McIlduff; Kristoffer Ajer, Joe Thomson; Aidan Nesbitt, Regan Hendry, Calvin Miller; Jack Aitchision
SUBS: Conor Hazard, Dan Higgins, Mark Hill, Theo Archibald, PJ Crossan, Mikey
Live on Premier Sports ko 7:45 pm
EPL and Sky
We the Scottish football fan have a triple to play in the money Sky pay the EpL.
When the contract is renewed and increased by £billions what happens next is the Sky subscription fees go up to pay for it.
In Scotland the vast majority of fans suck it up and pay.
What we need to do is cancel our subscriptions until our game receives its % share of revenues.
Are we prepared to do it ??
Triple I meant role
QUONNO on 2ND AUGUST 2016 7:34 PM
BABASONICOS71 on 2ND AUGUST 2016 7:29 PM
I’m all for helping charity but incorporate (any lurking Sevconians check out what that word means) the pink ribbon into our jerseys.Stick to green,white,gold,and sometimes black for our strips.That new roaster isn’t even pink,it’s some kind of salmon ice lolly colour.Mingin’ and not Celtic-y.
Always thought that Celtic jerseys should be green and white.
Anything else, a load of mince.
==================
Here,here.
1-O
Annan after 56 seconds
Shooie
Or at least contact them and tell them you will be cancelling as the vast majority of the money goes to the EPL, they then come back to you with a discount, at this point you decide is it worth it, I agree if the whole of Scotland got their act together and cancelled SKY they would need to heed this and it would blow a hole in Doncasters theory of increased interest due to a dead club.
Hail Hail CQNers
Interesting few posts this evening.
WEEMAN67
I used to play dominoes with my young brother in Dixon Blazes pub on corner of Crown St and Rutherglen Rd. That was mid 70s. he lived in Camden St. Enjoyed going round all the ‘local’ pubs testing our prowess(?)
I never had any connection with the Ironworks…must have been well closed by then .
Whilst reading back I stumbled across a link to Celtic v St Etienne 1968. What a great night that was. I watched the game in the Jungle that night. What a special treat that was for me, I usually parked myself and pals behind the goal. I also forgot that we played in an all-white strip that night. Compare and contrast with the Pink strip presented to us now!
Now I’m sure some of our more learned friends can enlighten us as to who we might meet after we defeat the Kazakhs tomorrow night. Any clues boys?
It’s been a pleasant afternoon/evening looking forward to tomorrow and backwards to triumphs of yesteryear.
Hail Hail
Anyone else having problems logging into CelticTv?
Brendan at the game tonight
Does anyone know when the Cleland bus leaves tomorrow night? Thanks.