At 21-years-old Tom Rogic should be strongly staking his claim for a central midfield berth at Celtic. The fact that he’s not is a disappointment to the player, and apparently the nation of Australia. It’s also a disappointment to you and me. He has the physique and the passing ability but after some tentatively positive performances last season he hasn’t kicked on as hoped.
There could be lots of reasons for this, it’s not necessarily the ‘fault’ of the player, his ability or the club, but football careers wither on the vine when clubs hoard talent. If Tom can get some game-time under his belt at Melbourne Victory, and potentially get to Brazil in the summer, we will have a better indication if he is the real deal.
Someone just text me, “Rangers need to be a long-term sustainable business and that’s the bottom line. The club needs to change”, from that memorable Craig Whyte interview to The Scotsman in 2012. Groundhog Day….
So Fifa presidential candidate, Jerome Champagne, has proposed the introduction of a sin-bin, to be invoked by the referee brandishing an orange card. What’s your view on this, is there a universal association between sin and orange, or is this another subversive plot by Celtic fans? I have my suspicions.
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BCW
How do we do anything, we will scweam and scweam and stamp our feet on the blogs ?
The Celtic support are quite happy just now, they are floundering, we are winning, the apathy is in full flow.
It will take supporters of the other clubs to effect change, a fact, and the Celtic support will do sfa.
Think about it, when have the Celtic support ever done anything meaningful that affects the game in scotland ?…and the saddest thing is, we have all the power, the green pound, and it’s not used in the slightest, how feckin sad is that ?
HH
From portu_goal
Sad Portuguese TV news report on ex Portugal striker & @celticfc hero Jorge Cadete tonight. He’s penniless, on benefits, lives with parents.
HENR1K
I am really sorry to hear that.
Jorge is up amongst the best strikers ever to wear THE HOOOOOOOOPS,IMO.
Just read an article on twitter there. Jorge cadete is now penniless, claiming benefits and living with his parents again!..
The amount of ex footballers this happens to is mad!
The Bobby Tait thread tonight sent me onto Youtube to dig out some footage of 97/98. A few things stand out:-
Gough waving 10 fingers at the Celtic fans after scoring against us;
A supremely smug Minty Moonbeams waving his crutches in triumph from the tunnel area during a Celtic-Rangers game at Ibrox;
McCoist missing a sitter in the Tait game v Kilmarnock (Sally – a Celtic legend even then);
Everything the huns did that season stank of snideness, supremacist hubris and cheating. And we were still too good for them – even with corrupt refs like Tait doing everything else bar sticking the ball in the net on their behalf.
Huns – GIRUY. Karma is nowhere near done with you yet.
Sad news about Cadete, one of the best finishers I’ve ever seen. He could have been a Celtic Legend.
Thanks for all the info re: Hearts game – Tait, don’t know why I thought it was when Viduka went AWOL, just remember Fergus going daft about Viduka after a game at Swinecastle.
Shame about Jorge Cadete. A lethal striker who brought a lot of happiness to Celtic fans although I didn`t like the way he engineered a move.
But that’s by the by now, he deserves a bit of luck, he came over for Stilian Petrov`s benefit game even though Stan hadn`t been a team-mate of his. I always think one good turn deserves another, hope he gets back on his feet soon.
Coleraine 4 Cliftonville 3 Irish cup
Replay
Were 4-1 down with 15 minutes left and hit crossbar in last minute FFs
Roll on Saturday cup final
Remember bhoys live on sky 5.30 kick off
Off to ma bed
HH
Someone posted earlier that the imbecile de-el voiced on national radio that Carnoustie would be happy with the publicity that fat mouthpiece mccoist and his team of overpaid and much hyped anti-footballing new club would bring. Eh?
What an arrogant ignoramus the wee hun gobshite is. Carnoustie is a name that is legend in the game of golf and sport the world over. Carnoustie is synonymous with all that is right in the world of sport with a long and distinguished list of professional and amateur champions having gained glory on its hallowed turf, each and every one of them including my own son having done so while holding sporting integrity aloft like a beacon.
We don’t welcome comments from arseholes with false tongues telling us that cheats and vagabonds will bring us wealth and publicity. Carnoustie is revered in sport for all the right reasons. The despicable mr mccoist is infamous for other’s of his own making.
Cheeky bastards trying to sully the name of my second favourite piece of grass. We don’t need or want hun publicity to darken our door. Try another one De-el, that one didn’t work.
A CEILER GONOF RUST
It’s not like you to beat around the bush,mate.
ACGR
So you have a wee problem with the voice of Clyde ?
How very dare you, he is the most eliquent hun on the airwaves FFS, get a grip mhan.
HH
One the more remarkable facts is that the reason celtic won the big cup was because big jock realised we needed to be ten times better than the Hun. It’s the epitome of life.
Would be great if our fans and our club organised something to help Cadette.
Emailed Paul to ask if we could organise something to help George our fans are the best in the world and it’s times like this he needs help.
NegAnon2
Aye, and how sad it that, seriously ?
I also think the worst thing he was ever quoted as saying was to stick the ball in the net more times that the oppo, to take away the influence of the referees.
That is one of the worst things I have ever heard in my time on this planet, it’s supposed to be sport, where things are level, aye right.
It’s a joke, and we are contributing to the sham, well some of us are no more, and we get castigated for it, that is even sadder btw.
HH
A Ceiler Gonof Rust, I like the cut of your jib.
Chortle, chortle.
Beware the troll……
I don’t know if my memory is correct here. Celtic playing Hibs at Celtic Park that 1998 season. About 4 or 5 games to go. It just turns 90 mins and someone puts Simon Donnelly clean through on goal. Ref blows for full time. Did I imagine this ? BTW ref was Mr Tait.
Sleep well Timland
HH
KTF
Hope I’m around to see Sally try to get a pint in Carnoustie if ACGR is about!
Bedtime for me.
An interesting article for the moon howlers to play about with:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-2543521/MARTIN-SAMUEL-Chelsea-saying-Manchester-United-spent-force-selling-Juan-Mata-They-wrong.html
Night Timdom.
HH jamesgang
Just checked the wiki page. I was wrong. Ref was George Simpson. Don’t know how I could possibly have mistaken him for Tait ?????. And the Simon Donnelly incident was an offside (even though I think he started the run from his own half) I was just a paranoid kid back then.
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
23:26 on 21 January, 2014
Based on what Morrisey 23rd is saying that Carnoustie hotel better get its bill payed from Sevco in the next 3 weeks or that new club that isnt the old club (you know the one that that died and stitched them up previously) will be getting Zombie stitched pronto. Again!
I hate being Zombie stitched twice. Pisses me off.
Cliftonville Celt
Saw the Ville result tonight. Win on Sat plus still all to play for in league although Portadown result last Sat did us no favours. Harry Trainor unbelievable guy. Taught me 10 years prior to you being at La Salle RIP.
HH Cliftonville Celt. Belfast is Green and White ( with maybe a smidgen of Red)
can i have raspberry on that champions league ice cream
21:58 on 21 January, 2014
!!bada bing!!
21:33 on 21 January, 2014
Raspberry-Weet-hoping to make PTs night out on Friday.
See you there
Be there mate
HH
Well sew much for that!
Maggie, you know I hold your wee H Bomb in very high regard. He’s in the know. If he thinks these despicable new huns are unlikely to survive:
a. I’ll put money on it.
b. I’ll organise a party.
c. You’re on ra babychams.
Carnoustie needs no hun propaganda to be world renowned, less that of a wee shite hun nerdowell.
We Are Golfers
Ha haaaaaaa!!
The Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland (‘the Group’) was established in August 2012 by Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, to provide Scottish Ministers with impartial advice on developing work to tackle sectarianism in Scotland. The Group is entirely independent of the Scottish Government and we are grateful to the Minister for giving us a free hand to take forward our remit and for her strong and consistent support throughout this process.
Our work focussed on three elements:
• meeting with organisations and individuals to gather evidence on the understanding and impact of sectarianism in Scotland;
• examining the existing research base for evidence of sectarianism in Scotland; and
• looking at what can be learned from the many existing projects that are working to tackle sectarianism in Scotland.
We would like to thank everyone who gave up their time to meet with the Group and for the honest, frank and open way in which they approached these discussions. Hearing personal experiences from many of those we met was often very moving, and the strong desire for Scotland to move away from its sectarian past was overwhelming. We fully recognise that without the cooperation and involvement of all these people we would not have been able to take our remit forward and we are grateful to them all.
Between the members of the Group there is a considerable amount of experience of work to tackle sectarianism. However, we all felt that our involvement in the Group, and our meetings with everyone from community-based organisations to statutory service providers and MSPs, has increased our depth of understanding on this issue and how it impacts on the lives of people in communities across Scotland.
It is clear that we are at the beginning of a journey to eradicate sectarianism in Scotland. This report is intended as a step on this journey, one which aims to raise the level of debate from accusation, insinuation and avoidance to one of evidence-based rational discourse and acceptance of personal, organisational and community responsibility. The Group has been left in no doubt that Scotland is weary of the lingering impact of sectarianism and is ready to change. To do this we need to ask some difficult questions, search deep within ourselves for the answers and build empathy and understanding, so that our diverse communities can live together harmoniously.
While we recognise that sectarianism in Scotland is a complex social issue which needs to be addressed in a wide range of ways, we also have a great deal of hope for the future and believe that it is well within the capabilities of people from across Scottish society to tackle sectarianism once and for all. It is, perhaps, not surprising that the deep rootedness of sectarianism in Scotland has led to a culture which fluctuates between silence and sensationalism, while other equality issues have been driven forward in a more holistic and coordinated way. But what has been obvious to us is that sectarianism has had its day in Scotland, and there is an increasingly large groundswell of people who are tired of its worn-out rhetoric and the way in which it manifests itself in exclusionary and confrontational behaviour.
Scotland is a country of many cultures and diversity must be respected. But expressions of diversity which are not inclusive and which seek to create barriers and emphasise ‘in and out’ groupings are harmful to society. We are certainly not advocating a homogenised society where culture and identity cannot be expressed and would strongly oppose any such moves, but we do need to move away from expressions which fuel the kinds of bitterness and resentment that lead to the marginalisation of others. The only barrier we have to tackling sectarianism is our own reluctance to become involved. Sectarianism is not someone else’s problem; it is our problem, a problem we all share and a problem that can only be resolved by working together. Our work over the last year has made it clear to us that speaking openly and honestly about sectarianism is nothing to be feared if we approach such discussions with open hearts and generous spirits. Everyone who has made Scotland their home is part of Scottish society and it is up to all of us to make that society a better place for all of Scotland’s people.
Dr Duncan Morrow
Chair of the Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland
Executive Summary
1. The findings, conclusions and recommendations contained in this report reflect the evidence gathered over a year by the Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland (‘the Group’). This advice also reflects the collective views of the Group based on this evidence. The specific form of sectarianism we have considered is that arising from the Catholic-Protestant tensions that are part of the historic legacy of Scotland.
2. The breadth of views, opinions and experiences expressed to us has been striking and left us with the complicated dilemma of how to work through these to provide advice on the future development of work to tackle sectarianism in Scotland.
3. It is our aim to raise the level of discussion and debate on the issue of sectarianism in Scotland so that we can tackle it effectively, and it is our sincere hope that this report will be used by a wide cross-section of Scottish society to help achieve this aim. We believe Scotland is ready and able to shed its sectarian past and build a more inclusive society for all those who make Scotland their home. By embracing positive change, rather than resisting it, we can shape our future together.
4. There are four main findings which underpin our approach to this report. These are, that:
• sectarianism has left a complex imprint on life in 21st Century Scotland which varies markedly by geography, by class, by age, by gender, by occupation and profession, and by community;
• there is no doubt that sectarianism is a real problem within many communities but one that has evolved over time and the ways in which it manifests itself, and the impact that it has, varies from community to community. Our approach and proposals for the future development of work in this area has been to recognise that all of these manifestations are important and that constant vigilance is required to ensure that the needs of all are considered;
• additional complexity appears when religion is no longer a ‘live’ element; that is, when the people involved are not necessarily active members of a faith community, or even claiming religious affiliation or religious motivation. They may be ‘culturally’ Catholic or Protestant but the factor of explicit doctrinal difference is either very weak or completely absent. What remains is largely the belief or perception that the ‘them’ and ‘us’ opposition is still alive and well and the negative consequences of that world view; and
• three assumptions need to be challenged: that sectarianism can simply be equated with overtly aggressive bigotry; that it is entirely the same as anti-Catholicism; and that it is entirely the same as anti-Irish racism. The adoption of any of these could lead to a simplistic understanding of sectarianism in Scotland which serves to enhance the unhealthy and unhelpful ‘them’ and ‘us’ opposition.
5. A healthy society requires leaders to be inclusive in their approach and honest when weaknesses in relationships or understanding persistently emerge. Leaders must be willing to take action which may require change in long established procedures and habits. Progress will only be achieved through open dialogue and leadership and the fostering of a spirit of generosity, leading to a decisive cultural sea-change against sectarianism based on a new culture of responsibility-taking rather than avoidance.
Our conclusions and recommendations
Definition
6. We recognised the importance of finding a clear definition of sectarianism which accurately reflects the experiences of those living in communities across Scotland. Based on the evidence and information we have gathered, we have constructed the following working definition (paragraph 3.9):
Sectarianism in Scotland is a complex of perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, actions and structures, at personal and communal levels, which originate in religious difference and can involve a negative mixing of religion with politics, sporting allegiance and national identifications. It arises from a distorted expression of identity and belonging. It is expressed in destructive patterns of relating which segregate, exclude, discriminate against or are violent towards a specified religious other with significant personal and social consequences.
7. We recommend that this definition of sectarianism should be tested by the Scottish Government, those delivering work to tackle sectarianism in communities and other stakeholders to establish whether it accurately reflects all of the sectarianism being experienced in communities and whether it allows us to form a common understanding of sectarianism in Scotland (paragraph 3.14).
Leadership
8. We were concerned by the apparent reluctance of many senior and influential people across Scottish society to show the kind of leadership that is required to tackle sectarianism. Therefore, we concluded that leadership is required at political, organisational and community levels which refuses any temptation to use sectarianism for political purposes and creates a permissive environment within which sectarianism can be acknowledged and addressed (paragraph 1.5.1). We additionally concluded that such leadership needs to challenge the environment of friendly indulgence or passive acceptance of sectarian ‘banter’ in a manner akin to modern approaches to racism, gender inequality and homophobia (paragraph 6.8.1).
9. It is essential that political parties and independent MSPs pro-actively pursue work to tackle sectarianism and that all political parties continue to show leadership on the issue and commit themselves to working together visibly across party political boundaries as a means of modelling good practice (paragraph 6.19). To enhance co-operation, the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament should work together to ensure a cross-party approach to the future development of the agenda on tackling sectarianism and to build good community engagement (paragraph 6.19.1).
10. The need for robust leadership is, of course, not confined to politicians in the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament. Those in positions of responsibility, including those in organisations and institutions where sectarianism has played a historic role – such as the churches, local authorities, football clubs, public services, the professions, journalism, schools, parading organisations, community organisations and youth services – should develop pro-active, visible and sustainable approaches to identify and address both persistent and residual sectarianism in their organisations, communities and areas of influence (paragraph 1.5.4). We have specifically concluded that those with responsibility for activities which bring large numbers of followers, supporters and spectators onto the street, including football clubs and march and parade organisers, must actively and publicly disassociate themselves from anything which would appear to give license to violence, or other forms of unlawful and abusive behaviour, and must be willing to take active steps to prevent the development or recurrence of such behaviour (paragraph 6.8.3).
11. There is no doubt in our minds that all local authorities should embrace the issue of tackling sectarianism with the conviction and confidence with which they have approached other equality issues, and should develop a ‘whole council approach’ which can be tested and applied across Scotland as good practice emerges and independently evaluated to determine impact and effectiveness (paragraphs 6.31, 6.31.1 and 6.31.2). Leaders of Christian communities also have an important role to play and should prioritise inter-church relationships at an institutional level to include a focus on sectarianism, perceptions of religious disadvantage and the building of mutual understanding (paragraph 6.55.1). In addition, we recommend the development of a toolkit to promote and deliver better and stronger co-operation on matters of concern at parish level (paragraph 6.55.2)
.
12. We recommend that:
• while the Group has promoted the development of community-led activity, the longer-term future of work to tackle sectarianism should be a concern of all public authorities, and such authorities need to be actively engaged in tackling this issue in partnership with the communities they serve (paragraphs 6.86 and 6.86.1);
• the Scottish Government should engage across Scottish society in a way that encourages and supports people to change the ‘default button’ from avoidance towards acknowledgement, diagnosis and relevant action (paragraphs 6.15 and 6.15.1); and
• if sectarianism is to change from its current position as an issue characterised by emotive language and a defensive and reactive blame culture, it is crucial that the media in Scotland deal with sectarianism in a considered and honest manner, prioritising ‘light over heat’ and evidence over sensationalism at all times (paragraphs 6.23 and 6.23.1).
13. One of the key ways in which leaders can commit to tackling sectarianism is through the provision of strategic financial support, from both public and private sources, to enable creative community activity that can address and reduce sectarianism at grass-roots level. This should be with a view to developing good practice and to ensuring that sectarianism is tackled through mainstreamed community development activity (paragraph 1.5.5).
Marches and parades
14. We recognise the right to political and cultural expression and to participate in marches and parades. However, these rights must always be balanced with the rights of communities to go about their business undisturbed. No rights are absolute in themselves and they should always be enjoyed with regard to the impact they have on others. A balance must be struck and we are pleased that in response to our views the Scottish Government has commissioned independent research from the University of Stirling on the impact of marches and parades on communities.
15. We recommend that:
• CoSLA (the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) and individual local authorities should take action based on the findings from the University of Stirling research work to ensure that the balance between the right to march and the right of communities to go about their business in peace is achieved (paragraph 6.64.1);
• where the balance of rights between march and parade participants and communities is not being achieved, individual local authorities should give urgent attention to rectify this through dialogue and co-operation. Sincere and generous attempts to achieve such a balance are incumbent on all parties, including local authorities, march and parade organisers and the police (paragraph 6.64.2);
• march and parade organisers should develop and implement robust codes of conduct for action to be taken in response to sectarian behaviour. Action should always be taken in response to any sectarian conduct (paragraph 6.64.3); and
• local authorities, march and parade organisers and Police Scotland should co-operate on the further development of effective stewarding, building on existing initiatives to train stewards from within march and parade organisations to a professional level and allowing the ‘freeing up’ of police resources to support other policing priorities (paragraph 6.37.1 and 6.64.4).
Football
16. Football is an integral part of Scottish life and has a powerful influence and impact. However, it is impossible to ignore the fact that sectarianism continues to exist at many levels in Scottish football. We need to go beyond tokenistic and superficial gestures to deeply embed an anti-sectarian ethos into, and across, every area. There are good examples of where this has been done and Scottish football’s governing bodies should consider how anti-sectarian work can become deeply embedded in this way (paragraph 6.73.3). In addition, we believe that Scottish football’s governing bodies and clubs should financially support work to tackle sectarianism through grassroots football, including pro-active work to tackle sectarianism within youth, amateur and junior football (paragraph 6.73.1).
17. We also believe that sporting sanctions should be introduced and applied to clubs where sectarianism persists. We recommend that Scottish football’s governing bodies introduce a system of penalties for football clubs along the lines of the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) anti-racism guidelines (paragraph 6.73.6).
18. We also recommend that:
• Scottish football’s governing bodies and clubs should provide active support to allow coaches and officials to tackle any sectarian behaviour they encounter (paragraph 6.73.2);
• Scottish football’s governing bodies, clubs and supporter groups should publicly recognise that sectarianism belittles everyone involved in football and actively work to define football clubs in a positive rather than negative way (paragraph 6.73.4);
• football clubs should clearly and publicly disassociate themselves from sectarian behaviour, both inside and outside the grounds, through positive, public cross-club engagement and by becoming role models of anti-sectarian behaviours (paragraph 6.73.5);
• Police Scotland should be given full support by football’s governing bodies and clubs to deal with criminal football-related sectarianism in appropriate and proportionate ways and to standardise the policing of such behaviour across Scotland (paragraphs 6.73.7 and 6.37.3).
Research
19. Finding effective ways to tackle sectarianism is dependent on building our understanding of the issue, including the many ways in which it manifests itself and the impact that it has on communities across Scotland. The current evidence base on sectarianism is insufficient. We have, therefore, concluded that in-depth research to monitor sectarian attitudes and activity should be increased and attention given to evidence rather than allegation. There should be a commitment to robust action, where necessary, on the basis of that evidence (paragraph 1.5.3).
This work should include:
• the use of existing funded community projects as a ‘data resource’ and, in partnership with researchers, a consideration of the evidence gathered from these projects on the perceptions and/or experiences of sectarianism within those communities (paragraph 4.15.1);
• the extension of existing surveys, such as the Scottish Attitudes Survey, to include questions on sectarianism in order to broaden our understanding of key issues (paragraph 4.15.2);
• undertaking advanced quantitative analysis of these sources in order to tease out the effects of religion as opposed to gender, age and other factors (paragraph 4.15.3);
• the development of nuanced qualitative work, as a priority, to allow a greater understanding of how sectarianism can manifest to form part of the everyday experiences of, for example, communities or institutions (paragraph 4.15.4);
• consideration of further research, in conjunction with business and trade unions, into the culture of work in Scotland to explore the existence, or otherwise, of sectarianism (paragraph 6.75.1). This should include research to establish whether or not the culture of professional life in Scotland still reflects any ‘glass ceiling’ or ‘closed shop’ on sectarian grounds (paragraph 6.77);
• the development of independent evaluation for all of the community programmes currently funded by the Scottish Government to tackle sectarianism, with a view to establishing both what works and what is less successful in practice (paragraphs 4.15.1, 6.49.1 and 6.88); and
• the exploration of need for further research to definitively determine any links between sectarianism and violence(paragraph 6.8.2).
Legislation
20. Ending sectarianism will not be achieved through legislation alone, and we do not propose the introduction of any new legislation or any changes to existing legislation. Existing equality, human rights and hate crime legislation should continue to be actively applied to incidents of sectarianism (paragraph 1.5.2). This should be done in conjunction with monitoring of the relevant legislation to ensure that it continues to be used effectively and is having the intended impact (paragraphs 6.11.1).
21. We have not addressed any issues specifically relating to the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012. We are aware that a review of the Act is to be undertaken at the end of this football season and a report submitted to Parliament.
22. The main thrust of this report is to propose work that is preventative and designed to build mutual trust, respect and understanding.
23. We recommend that:
• the Scottish Government should examine the impact of sectarianism through a human rights perspective and monitor progress towards equality and good relations in this area (paragraph 6.81 and 6.81.1);
• ‘good relations’ work should be a central and identifiable element in the public funding and support of community work, community education, schools and youth work in Scotland (paragraph 6.81); and
• the development of this work should be effectively monitored to ensure that all equality issues, including sectarianism, are addressed appropriately and that the culture of avoidance, or the promotion of a false harmony, is not accidentally enhanced by supporting work which tackles the easier issues rather than the necessary ones (paragraph 6.81.2).
Community activity
24. The development of good-quality, effective, community activity is a basic building block for the development of good relations within communities. The use of intra and inter-community projects, focused on the building of new relationships and supporting social capital, should be encouraged. In addition, we have concluded that action should be taken to ensure that tackling sectarianism is an integrated part of community planning, funding and action, and there should be further development of toolkits and training support for community workers and educators (paragraph 6.49).
25. The community-based projects supported by the Scottish Government since 2012 provide excellent opportunities for learning. We need to establish what does and does not work in practice to allow informed decisions and meaningful interventions. In this respect, it is critical to understand that the impact of some initiatives can lessen over time if they are simply repeated without being refreshed. Work to tackle sectarianism should, therefore, evolve as our understanding of sectarianism in Scotland develops (paragraph 6.88).
26. We specifically recommend that the progress of, and learning from, the community-based projects supported by the Scottish Government since 2012 should be thoroughly and independently evaluated, with a view to establishing both what works and what is less successful in practice (paragraphs 6.88.1 and 6.88.2). The Scottish Government should review the project work now underway to establish how it could contribute directly to the development of toolkits to support communities and organisations seeking to find practical ways to address sectarianism and build their capacity and skills to handle contentious but important matters in an appropriate way. These toolkits should be available online and be subject to testing and monitoring (paragraph 6.88.3).
27. One of the issues frequently highlighted by communities was the way in which social media is being used and the fact that there often appears to be little, or no, moderation of the information being posted online, or constraint on the part of those posting it. While we do not think that policing on its own will tackle such problems, we are clear that Police Scotland must tackle criminal social media activity to ensure that those who peddle sectarian hatred online meet the full force of the law (paragraph 6.37.2).
Education
28. We do not believe that sectarianism stems from, or is the responsibility of, denominational schooling, or, specifically, Catholic schools, nor that sectarianism would be eradicated by closing such institutions (paragraph 6.38). However, we fully recognise the important role that education plays in addressing social issues and bringing young people together. We have concluded that those involved in the delivery of education should develop opportunities for engagement, co-operation and relationship building (paragraph 6.44).
29. All schools should be encouraged to create imaginative anti-sectarian partnerships and develop opportunities for pupils to share classes and facilities. Local authorities should encourage the exploration of the curriculum to achieve this. It is important to monitor the success of such projects in the years ahead (paragraphs 6.41 and 6.44.4)
30. We also recommend that:
• local government education authorities should provide training support for principals, head teachers, deputies and teachers to develop partnerships and build capacity to tackle sectarianism (paragraph 6.44.1);
• Education Scotland should continue their work to ensure that resource materials are developed and are made available to schools at the appropriate level through the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) (paragraph 6.44.2);
• Education Scotland should work with local authorities across Scotland to embed into the curriculum the type of approach taken by Sense Over Sectarianism (SOS) and Glasgow City Council and extend such approaches within schools, adult and community education across Scotland (paragraph 6.44.3);
• long-term models of practice should be developed to support youth workers and young people in communities to engage creatively and actively with anti-sectarian programmes beyond the school setting (paragraph 6.44.5); and
• consideration should be given to the creation of a group, independent of any individual delivery body, to explore the potential for the establishment of a national educational standards framework, delivered at a Scotland-wide level, within the next few years. Such a framework should be developed in conjunction with robust and independent evaluation procedures (paragraph 6.88.2).
Also from Section 2: Historical Background:
2.4 The Reformation period in Scotland was characterised by bitter and violent religious struggle and, ultimately, by the marginalisation of Catholicism in Scottish life. In the 17th Century, Presbyterianism became the established religion of Scotland and shaped the history of the Church of Scotland and its relationship to politics, law and public authority in specific and important ways. The Act of Settlement in 1701 established a particular relationship to the monarchy and prevented the monarch from marrying a Catholic. Other churches had their own distinct histories but none of them had such a close relationship to political power in Scotland. As elsewhere in Europe, Protestantism’s struggle with Catholicism played a specific and important part in this historic development and left a deep legacy in Catholic-Protestant relationships. In the 18th Century, the intellectual movement now known as the Scottish Enlightenment established a culture of both secular and theological liberalism among many of the elite in Scotland, contributing to a distinctively Scottish combination of religious, class-based and philosophical attitudes.
2.5 In the 19th Century, mass migration from Ireland brought the deep divisions of Ulster into this already complex and conflictual mix. Sectarianism became an integral part of the industrial history of Scotland, fused in complicated but inextricable ways with issues of class and ethnic anti-Irish sentiment. It was also strongly local, with distinct differences in experience and outcomes but always leaving a marked and measurable impact on religious life, politics and the labour market. In many communities, churches – especially Catholic parishes – played an important role in sustaining the community, shaping identity and nurturing and educating the next generation.
2.6 Although Scotland did not experience the intensity of political rivalry around nationality and religion that tore Ireland apart in the 1920s, sectarian tensions were persistent and visible in public life until well after World War II. Anti-Catholicism and anti-Irish rhetoric was not limited to the shipyard or the football terraces but was openly advocated in Protestant Churches, including the Church of Scotland, and was part of the currency of political and community life in many workplaces and professions.
2.7 Changes in the economy and the rise of the welfare state undermined some of the most blatant aspects of sectarianism, especially in working class life and in the public sector. The outbreak of civil conflict in Northern Ireland in the 1970s both highlighted the dangers of sectarianism and served to distinguish the Scottish experience from that across the water. Although there was evidence of social, community and institutional connection, any potential for violence was largely contained and prevented, although the symbolism of Irish religious and political rivalries continued to dominate the football terraces and the culture of parading. In public, sectarianism was no longer overt and was generally frowned upon or dismissed in many circles. In the mind of much of the public, sectarianism was reduced to an embarrassing private legacy which was only made visible on a Saturday through the residual association of Rangers and Celtic Football Clubs with their origins in different communities. While it reduced the public significance of sectarianism, this ‘out of sight, out of mind’ approach also prevented active efforts to eradicate residual sectarianism where it continued to shape community and institutional life.
The membership of the Advisory Group is:
• Dr Duncan Morrow: Chair of the Advisory Group, Dr Morrow is Director of Community Engagement at the University of Ulster and has ten years previous experience as member and Chair of the Community Relations Council in Northern Ireland.
• Dr Cecelia Clegg: Dr Clegg is a Senior Lecturer in Practical Theology at the University of Edinburgh and has published extensively on sectarianism.
• Ms Margaret Lynch: Ms Lynch is the Chief Executive of Citizens’ Advice Scotland and a board member of the Conforti Institute.
• Rev Ian Galloway: Rev Galloway is a Church of Scotland minister based in the Gorbals, Glasgow and is a board member of Faith in Community Scotland.
• Dr Michael Rosie: Dr Rosie is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Edinburgh and has published extensively on sectarianism.
click here for full Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland report
hen1rik 23:35 on 21 January, 2014
Would be great if our fans and our club organised something to help Cadette
…………………….
What’s happened to Jorge?
I meant to highlight paragraph 17, under football, but I missed it so if nobody minds I’ll just repeat it:
17. We also believe that sporting sanctions should be introduced and applied to clubs where sectarianism persists. We recommend that Scottish football’s governing bodies introduce a system of penalties for football clubs along the lines of the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) anti-racism guidelines (paragraph 6.73.6).
6.73.6 Scottish football’s governing bodies should introduce a system of penalties for football clubs where sectarianism persists, along the lines of the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) anti-racism guidelines; and
6.73.7 Police Scotland should be given full support by football’s governing bodies and clubs to deal with criminal football-related sectarianism in appropriate and proportionate ways and to standardise the policing of such behaviour across Scotland.
Underfire MUFC manager David Moyes has moved decisively in the transfer market today to strengthen the widely criticised midfield of the faltering EPL champions by signing Scots’ whistler Brian Colvin.
“People down here often deride the quality of the game back home – but I’ve just seen the highlights of Saints versus Jambos and if there is anyone in world football right now who can rival Brian’s ability to create clear goalscoring opportunities from seemingly innocuous midfield situations, well, my scouts aren’t aware of him.”
ACGR
Now penniless, living back home with his folks !
Am sure whoever is suggesting raising money for Jorge has only the best intentions, however surely there are much better causes for people to raise money for that an ex-footballer who earned a fortune then spent it all ! It’s not as if he spent his career at Celtic sacraficing bigger paydays elswhere like Paul McStay – the guy got out of here immediately upon smelling a bit more money elsewhere. It’s always sad to see someone struggling financially, however the only way out of the situation is for him to take responsibility for his actions and get a job – no need for charity.
DERRYDAVE
Have a heart,mate.
While much of what you say is correct-re The Maestro,for example-Jorge left mainly because Fergus had not been 100% fair with him,he couldn’t stand Jock Brown,and his wife hated Scotland.
I don’t think he deserves a benefit match as he was only with us for about a year,but he certainly deserves our sympathy and support.
Plus he was instrumental in getting rid of Farry….
Why are some people talking about organizing financial aid for Jorge Cadete? There are many, many thousands of people in Scotland in a similar position who never earned the kind of money he did.
It is sad to hear of the former Celt’s plight, but let’s have a bit of perspective here.
BMCUW –
The benefit match was not for Cadete himself. It was part of the transfer fee that brought him from Sporting Lisbon. The Portuguese club were promised a friendly and were allowed to keep all the proceeds from the gate.
I always hated how Celtic used to do that, ie getting the Celtic support to finance part of the transfer fee.
Bobby,
Sympathy, yes to an extent. Financial support, absolutely not !
Jorge left for more money elsewhere. He’s probably earned more playing football than most of us will earn working hard for 40 / 50 years. All the rest is just nonsense and ‘leetle problems’ from one of the three amigo’s – would he have left if he hadn’t had bigger money on offer elsewhere – no way – he would have stuck with his contract.
He’s a grown man who has blown all the money he earned ( a fortune by the way) – the only answer in that situation is to work hard and earn more money – there’s nothin wrong with the guy, he has no disabilities – time to face up to life and get a job – it’s hardly the end of the world for him !
Rules of working class kids football
“Duration
Matches shall be played over three unequal periods: two playtimes and a lunchtime. Each of these periods shall begin shortly after the ringing of a bell, and although a bell is also rung towards the end of these periods, play may continue for up to ten minutes afterwards, depending on the nihilism or “bottle” of the participants with regard to corporal punishment met out to latecomers back to the classroom. In practice there is a sliding scale of nihilism, from those who hasten to stand in line as soon as the bell rings, known as “poofs”, through those who will hang on until the time they estimate it takes the teachers to down the last of their gins and journey from the staffroom, known as “chancers”, and finally to those who will hang on until a teacher actually has to physically retrieve them, known as “bampots”. This sliding scale is intended to radically alter the logistics of a match in progress, often having dramatic effects on the scoreline as the number of remaining participants drops. It is important, therefore, in picking the sides, to achieve a fair balance of poofs, chancers and bampots in order that the scoreline achieved over a sustained period of play – a lunchtime, for instance – is not totally nullified by a five-minute post-bell onslaught of five bampots against one. The scoreline to be carried over from the previous period of the match is in the trust of the last bampots to leave the field of play, and may be the matter of some debate. This must be resolved in one of the approved manners (see Adjudication).
Parameters
The object is to force the ball between two large, unkempt piles of jackets, in lieu of goalposts. These piles may grow or shrink throughout the match, depending on the number of participants and the prevailing weather. As the number of players increases, so shall the piles. Each jacket added to the pile by a new addition to a side should be placed on the inside, nearest the goalkeeper, thus reducing the target area. It is also important that the sleeve of one of the jackets should jut out across the goalmouth, as it will often be claimed that the ball went “over the post” and it can henceforth be asserted that the outstretched sleeve denotes the innermost part of the pile and thus the inside of the post. The on-going reduction of the size of the goal is the responsibility of any respectable defence and should be undertaken conscientiously with resourcefulness and imagination.
In the absence of a crossbar, the upper limit of the target area is observed as being slightly above head height, although when the height at which a ball passed between the jackets is in dispute, judgement shall lie with an arbitrary adjudicator from one of the sides. He is known as the “best fighter”; his decision is final and may be enforced with physical violence if anyone wants to stretch a point.
There are no pitch markings. Instead, physical objects denote the boundaries, ranging from the most common – walls and buildings – to roads or burns. Corners and throw-ins are redundant where bylines or touchlines are denoted by a two-storey building or a six-foot granite wall. Instead, a scrum should be instigated to decide possession. This should begin with the ball trapped between the brickwork and two opposing players, and should escalate to include as many team members as can get there before the now egg-shaped ball finally emerges, drunkenly and often with a dismembered foot and shin attached. At this point, goalkeepers should look out for the player who takes possession of the escaped ball and begins bearing down on goal, as most of those involved in the scrum will be unaware that the ball is no longer amidst their feet. The goalkeeper should also try not to be distracted by the inevitable fighting that has by this point broken out.
In games on large open spaces, the length of the pitch is obviously denoted by the jacket piles, but the width is a variable. In the absence of roads, water hazards or “a big dug”, the width is determined by how far out the attacking winger has to meander before the pursuing defender gets fed up and lets him head back towards where the rest of the players are waiting, often as far as quarter of a mile away. It is often observed that the playing area is “no’ a full-size pitch”. This can be invoked verbally to justify placing a wall of players eighteen inches from the ball at direct free kicks It is the formal response to “yards”, which the kick-taker will incant meaninglessly as he places the ball.
The Ball
There is a variety of types of ball approved for Primary School Football. I shall describe three notable examples.
1. The plastic balloon. “The Wembley wind blower” An extremely lightweight model, used primarily in the early part of the season and seldom after that due to having burst. Identifiable by blue pentagonal panelling and the names of that year’s Premier League sides printed all over it. Advantages: low sting factor, low burst-nose probability, cheap, discourages a long-ball game. Disadvantages: over-susceptible to influence of the wind, difficult to control, almost magnetically drawn to flat school roofs whence never to return.
2. The rough-finish Mitre. Half football, half Portuguese Man o’ War. On the verge of a ban in the European Court of Human Rights, this model is not for sale to children. Used exclusively by teachers during gym classes as a kind of aversion therapy. Made from highly durable fibre-glass, stuffed with neutron star and coated with dead jellyfish. Advantages: looks quite grown up, makes for high-scoring matches (keepers won’t even attempt to catch it). Disadvantages: scars or maims anything it touches.
3. The “Bladder”. Genuine leather ball, identifiable by brown all-over colouring. Was once black and white, before ravages of games on concrete, but owners can never remember when. Adored by everybody, especially keepers. Advantages: feels good, easily controlled, makes a satisfying “whump” noise when you kick it. Disadvantages: turns into medicine ball when wet, smells like a dead dog.
Offside
There is no offside, for two reasons: one, “it’s no’ a full-size pitch”, and two, none of the players actually know what offside is. The lack of an offside rule gives rise to a unique sub-division of strikers. These players hang around the opposing goalmouth while play carries on at the other end, awaiting a long pass forward out of defence which they can help past the keeper before running the entire length of the pitch with their arms in the air to greet utterly imaginary adulation. These are known variously as “poachers”, “gloryhunters” and “fly wee bastarts”. These players display a remarkable degree of self-security, seemingly happy in their own appraisals of their achievements, and caring little for their team-mates’ failure to appreciate the contribution they have made. They know that it can be for nothing other than their enviable goal tallies that they are so bitterly despised.
Adjudication
The absence of a referee means that disputes must be resolved between the opposing teams rather than decided by an arbiter. There are two accepted ways of doing this.
1. Compromise. An arrangement is devised that is found acceptable by both sides. Sway is usually given to an action that is in accordance with the spirit of competition, ensuring that the game does not turn into “a pure skoosh”. For example, in the event of a dispute as to whether the ball in fact crossed the line, or whether the ball has gone inside or “over” the post, the attacking side may offer the ultimatum: “Penalty or goal.” It is not recorded whether any side has ever opted for the latter. It is on occasions that such arrangements or ultimata do not prove acceptable to both sides that the second adjudicatory method comes into play.
2. Fighting. Those up on their ancient Hellenic politics will understand that the concept we know as “justice” rests in these circumstances with the hand of the strong. What the winner says, goes, and what the winner says is just, for who shall dispute him? It is by such noble philosophical principles that the supreme adjudicator, or Best Fighter, is effectively elected.
Team Selection
To ensure a fair and balanced contest, teams are selected democratically in a turns-about picking process, with either side beginning as a one-man selection committee and growing from there. The initial selectors are usually the recognised two Best Players of the assembled group. Their first selections will be the two recognised Best Fighters, to ensure a fair balance in the adjudication process, and to ensure that they don’t have their own performances impaired throughout the match by profusely bleeding noses. They will then proceed to pick team-mates in a roughly meritocratic order, selecting on grounds of skill and tactical awareness, but not forgetting that while there is a sliding scale of players’ ability, there is also a sliding scale of players’ brutality and propensities towards motiveless violence. A selecting captain might baffle a talented striker by picking the less nimble Big Jazza ahead of him, and may explain, perhaps in the words of Linden B Johnson upon his retention of J Edgar Hoover as the head of the FBI, that he’d “rather have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in”.
Special consideration is also given during the selection process to the owner of the ball. It is tacitly acknowledged to be “his gemme”, and he must be shown a degree of politeness for fear that he takes the huff at being picked late and withdraws his favours.
Another aspect of team selection that may confuse those only familiar with the game at senior level will be the choice of goalkeepers, who will inevitably be the last players to be picked. Unlike in the senior game, where the goalkeeper is often the tallest member of his team, in the playground, the goalkeeper is usually the smallest. Senior aficionados must appreciate that playground selectors have a different agenda and are looking for altogether different properties in a goalkeeper. These can be listed briefly as: compliance, poor fighting ability, meekness, fear and anything else that makes it easier for their team-mates to banish the wee bugger between the sticks while they go off in search of personal glory up the other end.
Tactics
Playground football tactics are best explained in terms of team formation. Whereas senior sides tend to choose – according to circumstance – from among a number of standard options (eg 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 5-3-2), the playground side is usually more rigid in sticking to the all-purpose 1-1-17 formation. This formation is a sturdy basis for the unique style of play, ball-flow and territorial give-and-take that makes the playground game such a renowned and strategically engrossing spectacle. Just as the 5-3-2 formation is sometimes referred to in practice as “Cattenaccio”, the 1-1-17 formation gives rise to a style of play that is best described as “Nomadic”. All but perhaps four of the participants (see also Offside) migrate en masse from one area of the pitch to another, following the ball, and it is tactically vital that every last one of them remains within a ten-yard radius of it at all times.
Stoppages
Much stoppage time in the senior game is down to injured players requiring treatment on the field of play. The playground game flows freer having adopted the refereeing philosophy of “no Post-Mortem, no free-kick”, and play will continue around and even on top of a participant who has fallen in the course of his endeavours. However, the playground game is nonetheless subject to other interruptions, and some examples are listed below.
Ball on school roof or over school wall. The retrieval time itself is negligible in these cases. The stoppage is most prolonged by the argument to decide which player must risk life, limb or four of the belt to scale the drainpipe or negotiate the barbed wire in order to return the ball to play. Disputes usually arise between the player who actually struck the ball and any others he claims it may have struck before disappearing into forbidden territory. In the case of the Best Fighter having been adjudged responsible for such an incident, a volunteer is often required to go in his stead or the game may be abandoned, as the Best Fighter is entitled to observe that A: “Ye canny make me”; or B: “It’s no’ ma baw anyway”.
Stray dog on pitch. An interruption of unpredictable duration. The dog does not have to make off with the ball, it merely has to run around barking loudly, snarling and occasionally drooling or foaming at the mouth. This will ensure a dramatic reduction in the number of playing staff as 27 of them simultaneously volunteer to go indoors and inform the teacher of the threat. The length of the interruption can sometimes be gauged by the breed of dog. A deranged Irish Setter could take ten minutes to tire itself of running in circles, for instance, while a Jack Russell may take up to fifteen minutes to corner and force out through the gates. An Alsatian means instant abandonment.
Bigger boys steal ball. A highly irritating interruption, the length of which is determined by the players’ experience in dealing with this sort of thing. The intruders will seldom actually steal the ball, but will improvise their own kickabout amongst themselves, occasionally inviting the younger players to attempt to tackle them. Standing around looking bored and unimpressed usually results in a quick restart. Shows of frustration and engaging in attempts to win back the ball can prolong the stoppage indefinitely. Informing the intruders that one of the players’ older brother is “Mad Chic Murphy” or some other noted local pugilist can also ensure minimum delay.
Menopausal old bag confiscates ball. More of a threat in the street or local green kickabout than within the school walls. Sad, blue-rinsed, ill-tempered, Tory-voting cat-owner transfers her anger about the array of failures that has been her life to nine-year-olds who have committed the heinous crime of letting their ball cross her privet Line of Death. Interruption (loss of ball) is predicted to last “until you learn how to play with it properly”, but instruction on how to achieve this without actually having the bloody thing is not usually forwarded. Tact is required in these circumstances, even when the return of the ball seems highly unlikely, as further irritation of woman may result in the more serious stoppage:
Menopausal old bag calls police.
Celebration
Goal-scorers are entitled to a maximum run of thirty yards with their hands in the air, making crowd noises and saluting imaginary packed terraces. Congratulation by team-mates is in the measure appropriate to the importance of the goal in view of the current scoreline (for instance, making it 34-12 does not entitle the player to drop to his knees and make the sign of the cross), and the extent of the scorer’s contribution. A fabulous solo dismantling of the defence or 25-yard* rocket shot will elicit applause and back-pats from the entire team and the more magnanimous of the opponents. However, a tap-in in the midst of a chaotic scramble will be heralded with the epithet “poachin’ wee bastart” from the opposing defence amidst mild acknowledgment from team-mates. Applying an unnecessary final touch when a ball is already rolling into the goal will elicit a burst nose from the original striker. Kneeling down to head the ball over the line when defence and keeper are already beaten will elicit a thoroughly deserved kicking. As a footnote, however, it should be stressed that any goal scored by the Best Fighter will be met with universal acclaim, even if it falls into any of the latter three categories.
*Actually eight yards, but calculated as relative distance because “it’s no’ a full-size pitch”.
Penalties
At senior level, each side often has one appointed penalty-taker, who will defer to a team-mate in special circumstances, such as his requiring one more for a hat-trick. The playground side has two appointed penalty-takers: the Best Player and the Best Fighter. The arrangement is simple: the Best Player takes the penalties when his side is a retrievable margin behind, and the Best Fighter at all other times. If the side is comfortably in front, the ball-owner may be invited to take a penalty.
Goalkeepers are often the subject of temporary substitutions at penalties, forced to give up their position to the Best Player or Best Fighter, who recognise the kudos attached to the heroic act of saving one of these kicks, and are buggered if Wee Titch is going to steal any of it.
Close Season
This is known also as the Summer Holidays, which the players usually spend dabbling briefly in other sports: tennis for a fortnight while Wimbledon is on the telly; pitch-and-putt for four days during the Open; and cricket for about an hour and a half until they discover that it really is as boring to play as it is to watch.”
My boss is Peter Principle –
An excellent read and for once a very long post that at least has some purpose to it and is worth the time spent absorbing it.
When I played street, or “back-green” football as a kid, the penalty-taker was the player who caused the penalty, eg I was tripped, I took the penalty or if it was my shot that was illegally handled, it was my penalty.
No argument.