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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Full floodlights on at the moment in Celtic Park where Astana are no doubt plotting.
I’ve still got a bit of red ash in my knee from when I was tackled from behind in Glasgow Green, a gazillion years ago.
Useless Info CSC
Great goal Aiden Nesbitt
1 – 1 u20’s
1-1
Aiden Nesbitt
Great goal
BR, CD, JK & SW all watching the u20’s at cappielow.
John James article today very good. Worth a look.
Among many other things his assessment of Barton and kranjcar is not quite as gushing as the smsm.
I’ll keep saying it but for those two read graveson and ljungberg. But in Bartons case not as good as graveson. Who was ok but well past whatever his best was.
Shooie et al
The thing is that it is not just football supporters that are getting ripped of by BT/SKY in order to overpay the EPL it is everyone who uses, for whatever purpose, the BT landline, (Sky/Post Office etc) many of whom are older customers. The present charge of £18.99 per month is a license to print money, and it will be near enough £20 in the not too distant future. Not even the energy supply companies would dare apply the equivalent as a standing charge. Blatant misuse of a private monopoly position.
Celtic signed anyone yet? Naw did t think so.
Still is t it great to concentrate on getting rid of people.
I mean. Think of the balance sheet.
2 – 1 to young hoops
Another great goal- Regan Hendry from good work by Ralston
Yessssssssssss
2-1 Celtic
Hendry
Another well worked goal
The weans are doing the biz, some superb fast flowing football
Good evening CQN
Sun City Bhoy yes home safe and sound thanks
Fight back from Dublin full of Tims
Sorry not been on for awhile due to bad connections and the tourists bits
No fancy cars just open top busses
It was great to meet you
Tried the e-mail address you sent me
But it bounced back you can get my e-mail address from Paul67
We all had a great time in the sun loads of fantastic memories
Back to rain and cold and reality
Went to St Pauls and St Patrick’s in New York
Lit a load of candles for all the CQN sick and bereaved
Family members of CQN god bless you all
Lit a couple for DD for his Wee mammy for a speedy recovery
And for Kev Jungle stay brave my friend in Celtic
While at St Patrick’s going through the security checkpoint the pass keeper/ security man
Going through my back pack said he love the scarf that was in my back pack
He is now the proud owner of a Kano scarf
And said he will wear it with pride on St Patrick’s day
Went to Jack Dempsey’s and the Parlour bars to meet some of our USA Bhoys
Disappointed not to meet any of them
Left a load of Kano scarfs and badges, t-shirts for the NYCSC members of both bars
Hoping for some photos from both bars for the Kano web pages
So if any of you guys know any of the NYCSC members can you ask them
To send photos to myself or the Kano foundation wearing the Kano
Scarfs and T-shirts
left my E-mail address with Bar staff in both bars
Hail Hail
Mt
Dessy Bhoy and Celtic Mac
Of course Sky don’t spend their money on the EPL it’s our money they spend.
Would love one of the fan groups to lead a drive for change.
Scott Allan has been on loan at five clubs, two fewer than Scott Sinclair.
Really good inter-passing from the wee Celts even though they get outmuscled at times by the more experienced Annan men.
Good show from Ralston, McCart, Ajer, and Nesbitt but the standout for me is Regan Hendry- very comfortable on the ball and spraying passes. Joe Thompson, who looked so promising last year is being overshadowed by him.
SHOOIE on 2ND AUGUST 2016 8:14 PM
Dessy Bhoy and Celtic Mac
‘Of course Sky don’t spend their money on the EPL it’s our money they spend.’
###
No one is forced to subscribe to Sky.
I presume people do it because they like the product.
What I don’t understand is why some people who subscribe to Sky then moan about the effect that Sky has had on football, as if it’s all someone else’s fault and nothing to do with them.
3:1
Headed goal by Aitchison from a great Calvin Miller cross.
goal, 3-1 to the young hoops
Dynamo Zagreb
Vitoria Plezn
APOEL Nicosia (3 goals in injury time v Rosenberg)
All through to last qualifier
Pray for Dundalk….
The young team are very impressive. Annan using agricultural tactics not gazing them.
They also seem more prepared and organized than previous youth teams..
3-1 young Atchison from great Miller cross
Any chance young Miller could coach Izzy on the art of crossing? :-)
Bada Bing
I’d like to knock Legia out again.
Ludogorets 4-3 up away from home HT on agg
SFTB
Agree young Hendry is the conductor.
MT
Welcome home. At my mammy’s just now. She is incredibly humbled that a man who recently lost his beloved wife, would light a candle for her in New York. Thanks pal. You have made her week.
HH
Millars’ crossing is top notch
HH BB
Ernie Lynch
I am guilty as charged, only have to watch Celtic, I know I’m wrong and should cancel.
HT 3:1
Cumbie reunion then tonight?
My first away game was going on the Lizzie bus on my own to Tannadice, I was aged around 11 at the time. I doubt that would happen now.
CALL_OF_JUAREZ on 2ND AUGUST 2016 8:02 PM
Does anyone know when the Cleland bus leaves tomorrow night? Thanks.
—–
depends where its going to ?
-))))
Henry, Miller, Aitchison and Nesbitt all before Sinclair, for me.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 2ND AUGUST 2016 8:02 PM
I’ve still got a bit of red ash in my knee from when I was tackled from behind in Glasgow Green, a gazillion years ago.
Useless Info CSC .
===========
lady octavia ash park still has a bit of my knee,
tackled by joe dow,
well i say tackled
Brendan and his team must be impressed by the U20s first half. After losing a goal inside first minute they are well on top and playing some fast and incisive football.
I’ve always been an advocate of ‘second ‘ teams playing in the lower divisions as they do in most of Europe’s top leagues. Gives the players the experience of playing against SPFL teams week in , week out and should help them develop more quickly instead of having to go out on loan.
Also give fans who can’t travel to all Celtic games the opportunity to see a Celtic team play locally.
Young Hoops Goals from first half
1-1. https://twitter.com/celticgoals/status/760553124532715524
2-1. https://twitter.com/celticgoals/status/760554133963366400
3-1. https://twitter.com/celticgoals/status/760558239469547520
HH
ernie lynch
No one is forced to. But anyone who relies on a landline for any service, does not have to involve football, is paying the price of BT paying over the top for the EPL. Cross subsidy, abuse of monopoly position, call it what you want, all customers are being ripped off.
Like the cut of this young team’s jib.Miller and Hendry especially.Not sure if it’s a good or bad thing but Ajer doesn’t stand out amongst them.