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Celtic's pro IRA fans.



Sep 28, 2011
116
The Green Brigade as a groupare involved in the organised singing of pro-IRA chants - and yoiu respect that?! Well, if that's a sign of 'maturity' I'll stick to being immature then!!

Well if they are involved in it, that's a new one on me. That group has always come across with a lot more intelligence then resulting to that, shame if so.
 








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'Vile' sectarian songs embarrass Celtic
Celtic UEFA probe over ‘hate songs’
UEFA order Celtic to play behind closed doors LinkWithin
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Celtic UEFA probe over ‘hate songs’

CELTIC are being probed by UEFA chiefs over claims of sectarian chanting at a Europa League game.
Bigwigs acted after a top cop flagged up alleged offensive behaviour by fans during the match against Rennes at Parkhead.
If the hate song claims are found to be true the Hoops could be fined or their fans banned from European ties.
Last night a club insider said: "Celtic could be in big trouble over this. UEFA can hand down heavy punishments. The club have already pleaded with fans to cut out IRA songs at matches but it looks like some won't listen."
It's understood a senior Strathclyde officer working at the match earlier this month approached UEFA delegates with the chant claims.
A spokesman for the governing body said last night: "We have opened a disciplinary case against Celtic." It will be heard on December 8. In April, Rangers were fined £35,500 and their fans banned from their next away Euro game after they were found guilty of discriminatory chanting in a Europa League tie.


Read more: Celtic UEFA probe over | The Sun |Home Scotland|Scottish News
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Thursday, November 3, 2011
Celtic fan beats lamb to death after defeat

BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Teenager jailed for beating lamb


A teenage boy has been given a three-month jail sentence for battering a lamb with a golf club.

The attack was so severe that the animal had to be put down.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that ramblers on the Campsie Fells witnessed Michael Harden, 16, from Lennoxtown near Glasgow, carrying out the attack.

The father-of-one told police officers that the attack "was just a bit of fun". Sheriff Hugh Matthews QC said that prison was "the only option".

The incident happened in May last year, hours after the Celtic fan had watched his team lose the league title to Rangers.

Emergency treatment

Harden chased the lamb and hit it twice with his golf club.

He then went after another lamb, which got away, and he returned to the first lamb and hit it twice more.

Harden fled the scene and ramblers called the police.

Vets collected the animal and carried out emergency treatment but the lamb had to be put down.

Judith Hutchinson, prosecuting, told the court: "The lamb suffered two broken legs and a series of internal injuries.

"Vets considered that they were consistent to a severe beating having taken place."

Unemployed Harden had earlier pleaded guilty to assaulting the lamb in breach of the Protection of Animals act.

The court was told he had not been drinking or under the influence of drugs that evening and that there had been "no reason" for the incident.

The SSPCA said it was an appropriate sentence.
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Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Police restore order after Celtic drop points at home

29/10/11

Celtic 0 Hibernian 0

As trouble erupted in the Celtic end Police moved in to restore order.

Celtic fans responded by directing sectarian abuse at the Strathclyde force.

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Celtic fans bigoted IRA chanting slammed

By Tom English, at Celtic Park
Published on Saturday 29 October 2011 23:52


http://www.scotsman.com/sport/footba...enge_1_19385

For Celtic, everything was flat, oh so flat. The atmosphere, until the emotion at the end, was as blah as it gets. For the longest time the only noise in the place emanated from those angry sons of Eireann, those stand-up patriots in the Green Brigade who had banged out two glorifications of the IRA within the first nine minutes and followed it up with further guff later on, some standard, and jaded, stick for the SFA and a highly mature take on the government’s secetarianism legislation that required Alex Salmond depositing it where the sun don’t shine. Now that Peter Lawwell is supposedly taking a hard line on these things he might want to have words. It’s not like he needs a compass to find them.
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Celtic fans clash with Police after goal-less draw




Two held after football 'disorder'
Two people have been arrested in connection with a disorder during Celtic's home tie against Hibernian.
Eyewitnesses said trouble flared in the Celtic stands at Celtic Park shortly before the end of the game, which finished goalless and left the Hoops 12 points behind Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers.
The match also saw more protests against the Scottish Government's Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill, designed to "eradicate" sectarianism from Scottish football.
Celtic fans waved banners reading "Fans Against Criminalisation" and "Kill The Bill".
The trouble was said to have started around ten minutes before the end of the game in the "Green Brigade" section of the stands. One eyewitness said: "The police started to lift people. Some of the fans started running along the stands, and there was something going on underneath the stands too."
Football fans were also talking about the incident and posting photographs on internet forums and social media websites. Writing on the online forum ScottishFitba.net under the headline "Green Brigade skelped by Strathclyde's finest", user Red777 said: "After a crowd disturbance at the end of today's 0-0 at Parkhead...the Green Brigade decided to leave the ground as one, shadowed by the polis (police).
"More trouble ensued within the stairs/concourse area and the GB were held within the stadium while the police made arrests."
Writing on the fans' forum Kerrydale Street, user Celt88 said: "Police were really heavy handed with the Green Brigade after the game. Wouldn't let them leave and they had to move along to the Jock Stein end to get out. From what I saw the Green Brigade done well not to react as it really looked like it was going to kick off as the police waded into them trying to make arrests."
A Strathclyde Police spokesman confirmed that two people have been arrested in connection with a disturbance in the ground.
Saturday's match is the second meeting between the two clubs in four days, following Wednesday's Communities League Cup quarter-final which also saw disorder amongst fans. Police said Celtic and Hibs fans were involved in "pre-organised football related violence" after the match, which Celtic won 4-1.
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Celtic fans in sectarian chant shame after "sham" protest

Oct 30 2011 Gordon Waddell, Sunday Mail
SPL: Celtic 0 Hibs 0 - The Daily Record
The only early talking point was yet another display of banners, maybe 80 strong, all one message, all saying "Kill The Bill".
Assuming they weren't talking about the popular ITV police procedural, which has been killed already, they were once again protesting against the Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill.
And you almost sympathised with them until eight minutes into the game when the first rendition of "Ooh ah up the RA" and the Boys of the Old Brigade went up and their charge for the moral high ground was exposed as a sham.
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Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Celtic fan fined £1000 for punching steward

Celtic fan fined £1000 for punching steward after Hearts fan approached Lennon - Around the Capital - Scotsman.com


A CELTIC fan punched a steward at Tynecastle during a match between Celtic and Hearts - minutes after Jambo John Wilson tangled with Neil Lennon on the touchline.


Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard today how 19-year-old James Addison struck a steward as a “large melee” broke out in the away stand.


The atmosphere had intensified during the crunch match in May after Wilson ran onto the pitch and approached the Celtic boss.


Addison, a plumber from Cumbernauld, was fined £1000 after pleading guilty to the offence.


He claimed he was trying to help a friend who was being held by steward Graeme McKechnie as bedlam broke out among the Celtic support, who clashed with police.


Sheriff Kenneth MacIver did not hand down a football banning order, but added that the Glasgow club may take their own action.
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Friday, October 14, 2011
Celtic admission over IRA chanting

BBC Sport - Peter Lawwell appeals to Celtic fans over chanting

Celtic's chief executive Peter Lawwell has urged a section of the club's supporters to stop singing pro-IRA songs.

Addressing the annual general meeting at Celtic Park, Lawwell said: "Chants glorifying the Provisional IRA are totally unacceptable.

"It is an embarrassment to the club; We don't want it, we don't need it."

Chairman John Reid stepped down after four years in the role.

Lawwell, who was returned to the board, said the club did not want to be associated with unacceptable chanting.

"One, it is wrong, and it is an embarrassment to the club and embarrassment to the majority of supporters.

"We were inundated by complaints from our own fans after the game at Tynecastle [on 2 October].

"We have dealt with it at Celtic Park and we will do all we can to make sure it doesn't happen home or away.

"We don't want it, we don't need it. We have the best supporters in the world and hold that reputation dear."

Lord Reid, who will be succeeded by Iain Bankier, told the club's annual meeting that their recent record "has not been good enough".

The club have failed to win the SPL title for the past three seasons and trail defending champions Rangers by 10 points this term.

Lord Reid said the board would not "put the club in peril" by overspending.

Describing his four-year reign as club chairman as the greatest privilege of his life, Lord Reid said he hoped to be remembered as a fighter who spoke out against unfairness at the Scottish Football Association.

Celtic and the governing body clashed over refereeing standards during a turbulent season last year.

Reform at the SFA achieved what Celtic wanted in terms of accountability and transparency, he added.
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Thursday, October 13, 2011
Celtic fan accused of shouting sectarian abuse at Aberdeen’s Pittodrie Stadium

Evening Express - Article - Man accused of shouting sectarian abuse at Aberdeen’s Pittodrie Stadium

Published: 12/10/2011
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Thursday, October 6, 2011
Match abandoned as Celtic fans riot










WATCH VIDEO HERE
Description:
Ibrox pitch invasion during the second half of the 1962 Scottish Cup Final semi-final match between Celtic and St Mirren, match abandoned and mounted police arrive. [Celtic were losing 3 - 0 to St. Mirren at the time].
Credits:
[commentator Alec Cameron]
Shotlist:
No credits. brief shot of play; shots of fans swarming over the pitch; c/u nucleus of fighting on stands; play ends (0.52) shot St. Mirren end: St. Mirren Goalkeeper tries to persuade young fans to move back to the terraces; Billy McNeill refusing to sign an autograph (2.32) mounted police arrive, and ride behind the fans who return to the stands; stretcher being wheeled to an injured spectator, behind ranks of morris minor cars (3.08) gvs referee and players waiting, mounted police riding by (3.38) shot of a new 'charge' from terraces (3.57) referee abandons the game; young Celtic fans celebrate; officials escorted from pitch by policemen; gvs disorder; v/o reviews game, and comments on violence. (6.51)
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Labels: RIOT
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Police launch new sectarian singing probe

http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/news/home-news/police-launch-new-sectarian-singing-probe-1.1127555
Published on 5 Oct 2011
MARTIN WILLIAMS


POLICE have launched an investigation into the singing of sectarian songs at the SPL game between Hearts and Celtic at the weekend.
Officers have begun a post-match investigation after receiving complaints away fans sung pro-IRA songs during the side’s 2-0 defeat at Tynecastle Stadium. It is understood the police are also looking into the singing of anti-Catholic songs by Hearts fans.
Police have confirmed one fan was arrested and charged with breach of the peace “with a sectarian aggravator” at Sunday’s match, which was shown live on Sky Sports.
Songs reported to have been sung by Celtic fans included Ooh Ah Up The Ra, said to be a pro-IRA song, The Boys of the Old Brigade, which celebrates the role of the 1920s IRA in the Irish War of Independence, and Roll of Honour, an Irish rebel song that commemorates the participants in the 1981 Irish hunger strike.
A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: “We are investigating complaints about the singing of sectarian songs and there is a post-match investigation under way. Anyone who is found during these inquiries to be committing an offence will be brought to justice.”
The new probe was compared by the police to that carried out when trouble flared at the Hiber-nian v Sunderland pre-season friendly in August. As of last week, 12 men have been arrested and charged with breach of the peace, some of which were aggravated by religious prejudice.
Sunday’s game was expected to lead to high tensions as it was the first since Celtic manager Neil Lennon was confronted by Hearts fan John Wilson on the touchline in May.
Mr Wilson, an unemployed labourer, was jailed for eight months after being found guilty of a breach of the peace at the game in May, although there was uproar over a not proven verdict returned by the jury at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on a charge of assault aggravated by religious prejudice.
Safety measures introduced for Sunday’s match included “clear zones” between the two sets of fans and police and stewards around the dugouts.
Security guards escorted Lennon closely in an attempt to prevent a repeat of the scenes.
While there was no sign at the match of Wilson, who was banned from Tynecastle for life after charging at Lennon, the Celtic manager was taunted by some Hearts fans who wore face masks of Wilson.
There were also reports schoolboy football team Livingston Hearts were subjected to abuse from Celtic fans when they took to the field at Tynecastle.
Scores of supporters were seen making obscene gestures at the youngsters as they jogged past on a lap of honour during the half time interval.
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Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Celtic fans hurl abuse at kids on Tynecastle lap of honour


http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Celtic-fans-hurl-abuse-at.6847421.jp


Published Date:
04 October 2011
By ADAM MORRIS


A SCHOOLBOY football team was said to have been left "shaken and shocked" after being subjected to foul-mouthed abuse from Celtic fans when they took to the field at Tynecastle.
Scores of supporters were seen making obscene gestures at the youngsters as they jogged past the away stand on a lap of honour during half time of Sunday's big match.

The boys club involved - Livingston Hearts - branded their treatment a disgrace and claimed a large section of the away support took part in the booing - although other Celtic fans did attempt to drown out the abuse with applause.

It is understood club officials even warned the children to steer clear of the Celtic end in case of abuse being levelled at them while a stadium announcement reminded fans of the age of the team.

The under-13 side, which has players as young as 11, had been treated to a training session with Hearts players earlier in the week, which was followed by a short game during the interval.

Coach Robert Hardie said: "It is such an exciting day for them, they get to run through the tunnel in front of a packed stadium. Then for that to happen put a real dampener on it, you could see some of them were really shaken and shocked by it.

"Fortunately they're kids, so they will bounce back, but it was a disgrace."

Although the West Lothian outfit does have links to Hearts the players have a range of allegiances.

"There were even a couple of Celtic fans in the team who were really looking forward to going up in front of the fans," Mr Hardie added.

"I'm a season ticket holder and this has never happened before. Even when we play Hibs the fans always give the lads a good reception."

Hearts fan, John Lee, wrote to the Evening News to voice his displeasure. "I have never seen anything in over 25 years attending football matches that has appalled me so much," he said.

"When Hearts play Hibs, Rangers and any other club the youngsters at half-time receive a warm round of applause from both sets of fans."

Sunday's match was always likely to lead to high tensions between supporters as it was the first encounter since Celtic manager Neil Lennon was confronted by fan John Wilson on the touchline in May. Several Hearts fans were spotted wearing John Wilson masks during the game to taunt rival supporters.

Police said they had not received any specific complaints about the incident involving Livingston Hearts, but were investigating other matters in relation to crowd behaviour at the game.

A Celtic spokesman said: "This has to be put into context in terms of the small number of people involved out of a crowd of around 3000.


"However small a minority, Celtic absolutely condemns such negative behaviour. We do hope photographs of the home support wearing 'John Wilson' masks receive the same level of analysis."

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Thursday, September 15, 2011
UEFA order Celtic to play behind closed doors

After the violence by Celtic fans at Celtic Park and Old Trafford at previous matches against Rapid Vienna, UEFA ordered Celtic to play Atletico Madrid behind closed doors.



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Labels: UEFA RIOT
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Police probe hate campaign against former Celtic teenager

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Police-probe-hate-campaign-against.6836599.jp



Published Date: 15 September 2011
By Cameron Hay


Police are trying to trace Celtic supporters who launched a hate campaign against a promising 16-year-old footballer because he moved to an English club.
Hundreds of offensive comments were posted online by people angered by Islam Feruz's decision to move from the Parkhead club to Chelsea.


Officers from Strathclyde Police and the newly formed Football Co-ordination Unit for Scotland and are investigating following complaints from a number of fans.


A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the comments and the matter is being looked into with the appropriate action being taken by officers."


Hours after it was announced that the Somali-born player had left Celtic to join the London club, Feruz was subjected to hundreds of comments from so-called supporters.


On a Facebook page dedicated to the player - dubbed the Scottish Wayne Rooney - hundreds of hate-filled posts, littered with expletives, accused him of dishonouring the late Celtic legend Tommy Burns.


Others even wished the teenager serious injury for turning his back on the club.


Feruz arrived from Somalia in 2001 and made his first senior outing for Celtic in 2009.


He has joined Chelsea on a reported £2,500 per week.


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Chelsea-Bound Islam Feruz Racially Abused By Angry Celtic Fans

Chelsea-bound Islam Feruz racially abused by angry Celtic fans | Scotzine
Just hours after it was confirmed that striker Islam Feruz was swapping life at Celtic Park for the riches of Stamford Bridge, the Somali-born 16-year-old has been the victim of vile abuse by angry Celtic fans
On a Facebook page dedicated to Islam Feruz, hundreds of posts have been aimed at the youngster by disgruntled Celtic fans angered at his apparent dishonouring of Tommy Burns.
One such disgruntled Celtic fan, John Paul Monaghan stated: “Ya dirty wee c***, I hope you have a bad injury and never play fitbaw again ya wee p***k for everything the club has done for you and your family you go and sign for that shower of scumbags, consider yourself no longer part of the celtic family as a player or a fan, greedy wee f***ing p***k, HAIL HAIL.”
While another, Kevin Coll foamed at the mouth, saying: “Hope u break ur leg and end up back in somalia f***ing scum bag!!”
The late Tommy Burns helped lobby government officials in a bid to prevent Feruz and his family being deported back to war-torn Somalia after they fled to the UK in 2001. After Burns’ death the Somali striker made his first ever senior outing for Celtic in the Tommy Burns’ memorial game in 2009, where he gave the Parkhead crowd glimpses of the talent that Burns though very highly of.
However, as we reported exclusively last month, Feruz was lured by the bright lights and riches of the English game and signed for Chelsea on a reported £2,500 per week wage, despite being eligible to sign professional terms with Celtic when he turned 16 – this month – the 16-year-old decided upon a move to Stamford Bridge where he will have to wait one more year to sign pro-terms with the English side.
Feruz’s agent Rui Alves confirmed the deal earlier today saying: “It is a massive step for Islam and for Scottish football. Now for him personally it is the beginning of a major adventure, he will have to work, work and work and raise his own level. Playing for a top club like Chelsea, where the major word in the squad is quality, will oblige him to show his own quality and deliver his best and convince the staff that he is more than just a major prospect.”
“He is looking forward to starting his career with Chelsea, but he would love to thank Celtic for all they did for him and his parents, he is Scottish and will one day score goals for Scotland.”
With Celtic set to receive a minimal compensation fee, this has enraged some of the clubs fans further.
Peter Mitchell fumed: “Money grabbing c*** I hope your family are proud of u where would they be if it wasnt for celtic and tommy burns ya ungrateful wee d**k.”
While Kev Kerr raged: “You’re a wee d******d Islam. Tommy Burns saved you from cowering from soldiers in a mudhut to give you a chance and you piss all over that mans grave. I’ll never cheer you in Scotlands colours you turncoat p***k.”
The level of abuse aimed at the 16-year-old footballer mirrors that aimed at Irish international Liam Miller who enraged the Celtic fans for choosing the riches of Manchester United over life at Celtic Park.
However the abuse has intensified from comments like ‘Judas, traitor and turncoat’ to derogatory and racist abuse. One hate-filled individual, Lynne Williams, said on Feruz moving to Chelsea: “This has confirmed one thing – you can’t trust Africans.”
Shay Kerins stated: “Your a scum bag, we fought for you to keep you in the country! wish you stayed in somalia, and get r***d by some pirate!”
Tommy Burns, the man dubbed Mr Celtic, would be turning in his grave over the abuse that his former protegé was receiving at the hands of those so-called Celtic fans, who he adored.
A Celtic spokesperson was unavailable for comment.
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Monday, September 12, 2011
Celtic fans' militant drift 'damaging club'

11 September 2011

By Martyn McLaughlin
Scottish Christian.com Maintenance Mode


ONE of Scotland's most high-profile Catholics has warned that some of Celtic's fanbase is causing "untold damage" to the club's reputation by expressing support for international extremist groups.

James MacMillan, the celebrated classical composer, said he is worried about the "militant drift" some followers of the Glasgow club have taken and suggested its founder would be "turning in his grave" at the development.

He added that while the fans' celebration of Irish nationalism is a "good thing", it is time to rid the matchday repertoire of "pro-violent" songs linked to fringes of the nationalist movement.

His views are aired in a new book being published this week which charts the experiences of well-known Celtic supporters in Scotland and abroad.

In We Are Celtic Supporters, written by journalist Richard Purden, the Kilwinning-born composer adds to the debate surrounding sectarian songs at football matches by suggesting Celtic fans should refrain from certain lyrics.

He warns that the sentiments expressed recently by some fans go against the principles espoused by Brother Walfrid, the Irish Marist brother who founded the side after coming to Scotland in the 1870s.


MacMillan states: "I sometimes worry about the militant drift that some Celtic fans have taken. Obviously the support for Irish nationalism is a given, and that has been a good and defining thing in many ways, but a tiny minority have held on to the support for violent republicanism and that has done untold damage to Celtic's reputation and still does today.

"Those people are now drifting to support other extreme nationalists in the Catalan district, Basque country and, God forbid, the extremists of Hamas and Hezbollah. Brother Walfrid (the founder of Celtic] will be turning in his grave."

MacMillan, who famously described sectarianism as "Scotland's shame" during a 1999 lecture he gave at the Edinburgh Festival and decried anti-Catholic bigotry, said Celtic should be viewed as both a Scottish and Irish institution.

He explains: "The whole Celtic experience has been shaped by Irish history and that is an inescapable and generally very good thing, but I think we have got to a stage where Celtic fans need to have a really good look at their repertoire of songs, and if things are offensive for no good reason other than they are traditional songs, then we should ditch them.

"All the pro-violent stuff should go. The truth is that they are going, they are gradually being filtered out. All the Irish cultural stuff is fantastic, but if there is any hint of songs giving succour to the more violent fringes of Irish nationalism then we should lose them."

MacMillan stops short of naming the songs that are his target, but he condemned the "malicious attempt" in some quarters to have Celtic's support stop singing The Fields Of Athenry.


He says he regards it as a "beautiful ballad" which people should "nurture" and "be proud of".

He adds: "There needs to be a careful scrutiny of the words and what they represent. Irish rebel songs aren't sectarian; there's nothing wrong with centuries of legitimate political engagement giving rise to that sense of rebellion, but you absolutely must weigh up how things are affecting us now."

The debate surrounding sectarian singing has intensified following on and off the field problems surrounding recent Old Firm fixtures. Two men are to stand trial charged with a parcel bomb plot to kill Celtic manager Neil The Bigot and high-profile supporters of the club.

On Wednesday, the Scottish Government announced its intention to create a new offence to tackle offensive behaviour at football matches by the end of the year.

Also last week, former Scotland international Pat Nevin told MSPs he was "driven away" from Parkhead after hearing IRA songs from Celtic fans.

But Dr Jeanette Findlay, chair of the Celtic Trust, an organisation of supporters and shareholders, said MacMillan was wrong to "dictate" to Celtic fans which political causes they should support.

"James MacMillan is entitled to say he does not approve of songs he does not like at Celtic Park. That's a perfectly reasonable debate, but a problem with a lot of these discussions is that people are unwilling to say specifically what they mean.

"I don't think it's for him to dictate to people what their political views should be on international issues or issues closer to home."

A spokeswoman for Celtic FC said the club would not comment on the issues raised by MacMillan.

We Are Celtic Supporters will be published by Hachette Scotland on Thursday.
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Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Celtic Supporters Trust defend support use of sectarian slur

The Courier - chief tells committee


'Hun' not a sectarian term, Celtic fans' chief tells committee

Calling opposing football fans "Huns" is not sectarianism, the chairwoman of a Celtic supporters group has told MSPs.

Jeanette Findlay, of the Celtic Trust, made the controversial claim to the Scottish Parliament's justice committee while giving evidence about Alex Salmond's planned crackdown on football-related bigotry.

"It's never been used to refer to a Protestant or any member of any religious group — it refers to a Rangers supporter," she insisted.

"And up until a few years ago Rangers supporters referred to themselves as Huns. It doesn't have any religious connotation whatsoever, it never has."

Ms Findlay compared it to Celtic fans being known as Tims, which she didn't find offensive, the committee heard.

"Sometimes it refers to Hearts because we call them the wee Rangers," she added. Her comments came as former Scotland player Pat Nevin revealed he had stopped taking his son to Celtic matches because of sectarian chanting in praise of the IRA.

Mr Nevin, who played in the 1980s and 90s for clubs including Chelsea, Everton and Motherwell, said he had been "driven from the club he loves" and hoped "good legislation would go through".

Meanwhile, Mark Dingwall, board member of the Rangers Supporters Trust, said Ibrox fans felt particularly targeted by the proposed new laws.

"What our fans and organisations have started to say is if we have to clean up our act, everyone else has to do the same."

"Fair game"
"So, therefore, everything that is offensive, by any football club, whether it's under regional rivalry, or under sectarian rivalry, or whether it's just winding up the opposition, then it's all fair game because if it's going to happen to us it's got to happen to everybody."

Derek Robertson, a former communications director at Dundee United, also gave evidence to the committee in his current role with supporters group ArabTRUST.

He urged for a clearer definition of what constituted a sectarian crime and claimed growing up in Dundee he had "never been exposed" to sectarianism.

Greig Ingram, board member of the Aberdeen FC Trust, also questioned the wisdom of criminalising chants without a specific definition of what was not acceptable.

He said: "Would somebody chanting about my predilections for alleged activities with farmyard animals be offensive?"

Fans of Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts football clubs were also represented at the session. And Abertay University sociology and criminology lecturer Dr Stuart Waiton said the bill risked creating an "authoritarian and illiberal society".

He also repeated claims, first made in The Courier, that the resultant bill, if enacted, risks being seen as a "snobs' law".

"Snobs' law"
"We have a form of west-end dinner party etiquette being demanded at football. This is genuinely what's happening. This is a snobs' law, potentially. We're targeting, specifically, football fans."

The committee has already heard evidence from security chiefs at both Rangers and Celtic as well as Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland and the chairman of the Scottish Police Federation.

The bill will create two offences on football-related behaviour regarded as offensive and threatening. One deals with disorder around matches, with the other relating to serious internet threats.

The legislation comes in the wake of high-profile incidents of football related sectarianism.

The SNP originally wanted to pass the bill before parliament went into recess ahead of the football season kicking off.

However, opposition parties raised concerns over the speed of change and First Minister Alex Salmond agreed it would not be rushed through.

Instead, the plans were opened up to further scrutiny with an aim to be in place on January 1.
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Pat Nevin driven away by Celtic bigots

http://www.scotsman.com/news/Celtic-fans39-IRA-chants-drove.6831927.jp?articlepage=2


By SCOTT MACNAB
POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT


Former Scotland international Pat Nevin has told MSPs he was "driven away" from the football club he loved after hearing sectarian chants from Celtic fans when he was at Parkhead with his young son.
He also revealed the "intimidation" he felt after being targeted by the club and its fans when he criticised their chanting live on air at this season's Scottish cup final.


Nevin was giving evidence yesterday to Holyrood's justice committee on new laws to crack down on bigotry in the game.


Supporters branded the new laws "dangerous and anti-football" and warned that they have been introduced in a climate of "hysteria".


Nevin, now a media pundit, told MSPs he had grown up in the east end of Glasgow, where the club is based, and was part of the area's Irish catholic Diaspora.


"I supported Celtic for most of my life," he said.


"But one day, I found myself sitting in the stand with my son, who had started to take an interest in football, hearing the song Ooh ah, up the RA.


"I could not accept bringing up my son alongside that, so I was driven away from the club that I loved. I was very disappointed about that."


Nevin was commentating for the BBC at this year's cup final between Celtic and Dundee United when he provoked the ire of the club when he hit out at a section of their fans over their chants.


He told MSPs: "The song went something like, 'As a young man, I'm going to join the IRA - provisional wing'.


"It offended me and I do not want to hear it at a football ground.


"I was shocked and surprised that Celtic Football Club and a great number of fans complained to the BBC, because I expect to hear them say that they do not want to hear that sort of song at their ground."


He also voiced disappointment at the club's "refusal to accept that there are problems" in recent years.


The Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill aims to stamp out abusive behaviour from football fans whether they are watching matches in a stadium, in the pub or commenting online.


It would raise the maximum jail term from six months to five years, but was delayed amid concerns that it was being rushed through earlier this year.


But football fans yesterday dismissed the need for legislation.


Jeanette Findlay, chair of the Celtic Trust said: "It's unclear what types of behaviour would be criminalised.


"We think it's unhelpful that the bill would criminalise football fans - that would be young men up to the age of 25 who are already disproportionately presently in prison.


"We think it's dangerous. We think it's anti-football and it has no justification and any of the behaviours of a serious type are already covered by existing legislation."


She also clashed with Nationalist MSP Humza Yousaf over the use of the word "Hun" in chants at games, claiming it was not an offensive term.


"It's never been used to refer to a Protestant or any member of any religious group - it refers to a Rangers supporter," she said.


"And up until a few years ago Rangers supporters referred to themselves as Huns. It doesn't have any religious connotation whatsoever, it never has."

Mark Dingwall, board member of the Rangers Supporters Trust, told MSPs that fans have collectively decided that they are not going to be the only ones in the spotlight of this law,

He said: "If we see something that offends us. We're going to go after the opposition fans in the way that people have gone after us. So, you reap what you sow.

"The debate around football has been conducted in an air of unreality, both in regard to the behaviour of football clubs and the nature of Scottish society. But around football, we have this hysteria that paints Scotland as a very dark place to live."

Greig Ingram, board member of the Aberdeen FC Trust, said the legislation is already covered by a whole range of other legislation and said there needed to be a far clearer explanation of what sectarianism is.

"You don't make a rule that you can't enforce and it would be dangerous if this bill was passed just now because its unenforceable."

Dr Stuart Waiton, lecturer in sociology and criminology at the University of Abertay, Dundee, added: "This is a snobs' law, potentially.

"We're targeting, specifically, football fans.

"Not comedians, not anybody else, football fans - particularly rowdy football fans, ie rough, working-class blokes and lads who shout and sing songs for 90 minutes, and then go home to their Catholic wife and Protestant grandparents and so forth."
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Friday, September 2, 2011
Celtic fans' assault on Police Woman




The Digger 1/09/11


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Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Students accused of Israel flag racism



Two St Andrews University students committed a racist breach of the peace by insulting the flag of Israel, a court has heard.
Chanan Reitblat, a Jewish student, said Samuel Colchester, 20, and Paul Donnachie,18, called him a terrorist during the incident on 12 March 2011.
He told Cupar Sheriff Court how the pair entered the halls at 01:30 to see another student who shared the flat.
Mr Colchester and Mr Donnachie, deny the charges.
They are accused of acting in a racially aggravated manner intended to cause alarm or distress to Mr Reitblat by placing their hands on their genitals before rubbing them on the Israeli national flag while making comments of an offensive nature.
They also deny an alternative charge which alleges they behaved in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause a reasonable person fear or alarm.
Mr Reitblat, a chemistry student at St Andrews on a one-term exchange from the Jewish Yeshiva University in New York, said he felt "violated and devastated" by the incident.
Mr Reitblat, 21, now shortly to enter Harvard, said he had the 4ft by 3ft (1.2m by 0.9m) flag on the wall of his flat after being given it by his brother, an Israeli Defence Forces soldier.
He said he knew Mr Colchester and Mr Donnachie "vaguely" and they were aware he was Jewish.
He said: "They were extremely drunk and smelled of alcohol, falling over a lot as they walked in.
"Paul noticed that I had a flag, at which point he said Israel was a terrorist state and the flag was a terrorist symbol.
"They both then unbuttoned their trousers.
"Paul put his hands down his pants, pulled off a pubic hair and rubbed it over my flag. Sam did the same thing.
"Sam started urinating in my sink. He asked me if I wanted him to jump on me. I said no, but he did it anyway."
'Nazi, fascist'


Mr Reitblat added: "They were in my room for just a few minutes, it happened very fast.
"Down the stairs I could hear them shouting 'Nazi, fascist, and terrorist'.
"I was trying to collect my thoughts. I was deeply disturbed, humiliated, shocked, and violated.
"It caused me a lot of anxiety. I feared for my safety. I couldn't eat and I couldn't sleep, so I couldn't study."
He said the next day he saw messages on Facebook from Mr Donnachie, including one saying there was a Zionist in his hall.
Mr Reitblat, who flew from New York to give evidence, said he struggled at his exams afterwards, viewed his term at St Andrews as "a flop", and stopped feeling safe at the institution.
He went to stay with a friend in Glasgow before going to St Andrews police station, accompanied by a friend from the Jewish society at the university, to report the alleged incident.
The summary trial, before Sheriff Charlie Macnair, sitting without a jury, continues.


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Some recent Headlines from If You Know Their History regarding Celtic's "Best Fans":

Archive of Celtic's History
▼ 2011 (80)
▼ November (7)
UEFA investigate ‘offensive’ Celtic songs
Celtic UEFA probe over ‘hate songs’
Celtic fan beats lamb to death after defeat
Police restore order after Celtic drop points at h...
Celtic fans bigoted IRA chanting slammed
Celtic fans clash with Police after goal-less draw...
Celtic fans in sectarian chant shame after "sham" ...
 


Storer 68

New member
Apr 19, 2011
2,827
This seems to have slipped under the radar a bit but what are people's thoughts on this? I know that haven't been found guilty yet but they have been charged with singing pro IRA songs on 3rd November in a UEFA cup game.

I don't think a fine is sufficient for this and they should be kicked out of the UEFA cup at least If the SPL had any balls they would kick them out as well. . I see the club still claim to have the best fans in the world so must be condoning it although publicly they say otherwise.

Well as celtic consitute HALF the interest in the SPL, I think it unlikely that If the SPL had any balls they would kick them out as well.
 




Acker79

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Nov 15, 2008
31,921
Brighton
Well as celtic consitute HALF the interest in the SPL, I think it unlikely that If the SPL had any balls they would kick them out as well.

Would probably be better for the SPL in the long run. As celtic and rangers dominate it, they constantly get the european money, which allows them to improve more than the rest, so they cement their spot. Get rid of celtic, there woould be a new second place this year, who would then get the uefa money and improve, but lack of experience may make the european matches a distraction which allows a third team to get the uefa money next season, and so on, then you have more competition.

All theoretical of course.
 




bazbha

Active member
Mar 18, 2011
309
Hailsham
I would love to see Rangers in the English league but I guess you can't have them without the other lot. Make more sense for them to play in the League of Ireland though as so many of them wave the Irish tri-colour.
 








Tom Hark Preston Park

Will Post For Cash
Jul 6, 2003
72,395
I've never got my head around why so much sectarian bigotry exists in the Glasgow derby or in Glasgow itself?

Its not just confined to Glasgow. Although born there, I was brought up in Perth and there were Protestant schools and Catholic schools and bad feeling between the two. FTP and 1690 was commonplace graffiti on the walls.
 






Gully

Monkey in a seagull suit.
Apr 24, 2004
16,812
Way out west
I would love to see Rangers in the English league but I guess you can't have them without the other lot. Make more sense for them to play in the League of Ireland though as so many of them wave the Irish tri-colour.

Why? We can survive without the deep seated sectarianism that plagues the old firm, leave them to fester and fight amongst themselves where they belong, they deserve each other...we don't!
 






ATFC Seagull

Aberystwyth Town FC
Jul 27, 2004
5,358
(North) Portslade
See no evil, hear no evil?

Sent from my wardrobe whilst watching Susannah Reid and Sian Williams enjoy a clam sandwich.

Sorry to disappoint mate, I'm sure you can find some reason to hate Ireland from somewhere else, but you won't find a mention of the IRA around Republic of Ireland fans, and that is a fact.
 






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