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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Brendan Rodgers is at the U20’s match tonight. Incentive.
“I’ve still got a bit of red ash in my knee from when I was tackled from behind in Glasgow Green”
Bsr,
All in your ‘experimental’ phase no doubt. :)
Ooherrnatron csc
Dundalk score 1-1
Matron even. Doh.
Happy birthday big Jimmys gang.
Hope you had a great day today but an even better one tomorrow.
HH
All three first half goals in one link…….with thanks @celticgoals
https://twitter.com/celticgoals/status/760561043701690368
HH
LYMMBHOY
You’re a diamond mate always popping up with the goals.
Thank you
HH
does anyone know where i can earn £80 an hour for sitting on my arse ?
Evening,all.
My lurking sister has decided at the last kick to join the family outing tomorrow night.
Anyone got a spare ticket,can either pick up at CQN Corner or The Crown Creighton on Duke St.
Cheers in advance.
SAINT STIVS SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 2ND AUGUST 2016 8:48 PM
does anyone know where i can earn £80 an hour for sitting on my arse ?
Lennoxtown
we cant read too much into a performence of under 20s against annan.
that would be like suggesting the 2nd rangers will win the top division cos they are petrofac cup holders
!!BADA BING!! on 2ND AUGUST 2016 8:49 PM
Contact Big Bobo, he earned even more
Bampots are interfering with my rubbish posts on here. I am a Russian spam merchant and my email will be posted, if I don’t beat it. I have been advised that there is a lovely site perfect for me at followfollow.com so I’ll not be back. Up the R…ussians!!!
ABBIEBELL
I don’t get my Marigolds on for less than £81 an hour. Sorry. Try one of thae cash strapped hillbilly sites.
Dundalk score on HT to level aggregate with potential top unseeded team in Friday draw, Bate Borisov.
Apoel scored 3 goals in stoppage time to go through against Rosenberg or Bate would have moved to a seeded team.
Ludogorets 2-2-4-4 on aggregate
ABBIEBELL.
Over £80 per hour for feck all?
Are you Derk Boerrigter?
GLENDALYSTONSILS on 2ND AUGUST 2016 8:53 PM
ABBIEBELL
I don’t get my Marigolds on for less than £81 an hour. Sorry. Try one of thae cash strapped hillbilly sites.
————–
JIMMYBELL1690
i am earning £8.00 an hour, driving a bus, picking up jock-straps, and jobbies afe a fitba parks, find out the secret of my success at …………
www,losteverythingintheliquidationeventhappytopretendistillhaveadepentureseat
Jamesgang: Breithlá sona.
Craven Zvedza 2 – 2 Ludogorets after 65 mins – 4-4 on aggregate.
Both teams down to 10 men (Ludogorets one of our possible unseeded opponents)
SAINT STIVS SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 2ND AUGUST 2016 8:57 PM
LOL Cracker!
“does anyone know where i can earn £80 an hour for sitting on my arse ?”
St stivs,
If you had two young children to do some work for you my mate abbie might be able to help you.
Shooie
get yourself one of thay Android boxes. I picked one up in Singapore (Unblock tv), has sky, BT, Bein sport etc. About 800 chinese/Korean channels but are probably making more sense than Tanner & McCann. Box worked ok in Indonesia and presently watching under 20 sitting here in Montrose. Just plug & play, no set up
HH
SS -VG :))))
Fess19-I’m watching Dundalk game on a stream -Castaway app
How does Dembele’s slow start compare with other Celtic strikers?
Bloody Record headline. We’ve had three competitive games,ffs.
Personally tmoro night I’d like to see :
————————C.Gordon———————-
Jancko. Lustig. Toure. Tierney
——Rogic. Brown. Armstrong——
—–Roberts. Griffiths. Doumbele —–
Although i think we are more inclined to see :
———–Lustig. Toure. O’Connell————-
Roberts McGregor. Brown Armstrong. Tierney
—————-Griffiths. Doumbele——————
FESS19 on 2ND AUGUST 2016 9:00 PM
Shooie
get yourself one of thay Android boxes. I picked one up in Singapore (Unblock tv), has sky, BT, Bein sport etc. About 800 chinese/Korean channels but are probably making more sense than Tanner & McCann. Box worked ok in Indonesia and presently watching under 20 sitting here in Montrose. Just plug & play, no set up
HH
——————————————————————————–
The cost of a return flight to Singapore would outweigh any saving for quite a while.
DD hope she is feeling a lot better
God bless her wish her all the best from me
Hope you are well and your holiday was great
We had a ball meet a load of great Tims on my travels
Sin City Bhoy is a top class CQN Tim
The daughter and I are up at the caravan at St Andrews
She works in a school and gets the school holidays
A few more weeks to rest after big holiday
Will meet up with you soon for a beer
Hail Hail
Mt
MON at Dundalk game
my wife Abbie has been earning lots of money at home when I`m down the pub. Haven`t a clue how she does it, but whatever it is it seems to be quite lucrative.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE 8:29 PM
“Bada Bing
I’d like to knock Legia out again.”
If my memory serves me well, Celtic never ever knocked Legia out. UEFA and Legia knocked Legia out.
More rumours of Sinclair and his agent going to game tomorrow
The weans don`t know either, she puts them in the spare room every time there’s a knock on the door.
Wife came home from a night out with £85.10,I asked where she got the 10 pence …”they all gave me 10 pence….”
#frankcarson
Aiden Nesbit makes it 4-1 to u20s against Annan
BILLYBEAR on 2ND AUGUST 2016 9:06 PM
500 pound return to singapore = +- 6 month SKY.
sensible people would try Amazon as it’s even cheaper
ZBYSZEK on 2ND AUGUST 2016 9:09 PM
True
HH
4-1 Young Hoops
https://twitter.com/celticgoals/status/760569832899223553
HH