Bhoycott

Following the Green Brigade debacle earlier this season, another group of Celtic Supporters have managed to infuriatine me, with their sheer ignorance. Below is a statement from the Celtic Supporters Association, written by Joe O’Rourke;

It would appear war has been declared on more than one front, not only are bullets being sent to the Celtic manager and two players, we are also getting bombs from the outdated SFA with their totally unfair and over the top six match suspension of Neil Lennon. Add to that the articles being written by that bitter bigoted clown Leckie in the Scottish Sun; I think we have a fight on our hands.

The threats coming from the North of Ireland are nothing new, they have been going on for a long time now; the only reason it got any media coverage at all was because the PSNI released the information to the press; there has been many occasions when members of Celtic’s staff have received threats; but obviously the media deemed those threats not as serious as someone making a phone call to a Scottish referee; or shouting at one in the street.

As for the Scottish Sun; I have said here on many occasions; the only way to stop these people is to stop buying their publications. That means not only you as a Celtic fan; it also means your family and friends; your work mates or people you see in the pub; in fact anyone you can influence to stop buying it; then do so.

That takes me to the SFA and their treatment of Neil Lennon yesterday. I wrote a couple of weeks ago about the revenge for Dallas and Dougie; well they have now stepped up their unfair treatment of Celtic FC and our staff. Stewart Regan has been talking about the need for the overhaul of the systems; which we have been pushing for; well yesterday was another example of that unfair treatment when our manager was suspended for 6 matches for a first offence; as the Celtic statement said “Unprecedented”.

Celtic have already appealed and it’s in the hands of their lawyers, but we as supporters have a part to play as well. We keep saying we won’t accept unfair treatment; but we keep going back and doing exactly the same things as we have been doing; obviously in support of our team. But continuing to support the other teams in Scotland is just the same as continuing to fund the Sun newspaper.

I believe that one of the four man panel who dealt with Neil was the Kilmarnock Chairman Michael Johnston. Well we are scheduled to play Kilmarnock on March 2nd; a Wednesday night, ideal for a bhoycott by the Celtic supporters; it would give us the opportunity to let these people know exactly where they would be without the financial input of the Celtic support.

But let’s be honest about this, a bhoycott would only succeed with the backing of all the Celtic supporters; I know some people will say, I haven’t missed a game for twenty years, but there needs to be a sacrifice by us; to make these people realise that without us; a team like Kilmarnock would by playing against the likes of Dalry or Largs in the A*rshire Junior League.

At this stage the Association has not voted on this policy, I will put it before the EC and member branches very shortly. I would be delighted to hear the thoughts of all the other supporters groups; and of supporters who travel independently to gauge the level of support for such action.”

I have chosen to embolden part of the text, as this incensed me on a more personal level.

The fact that Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnston was on the panel which disciplined the Celtic manager, was rather irrelevant. This tirade by Joe O’Rourke, and that’s what it is a tirade, fails to mention Stephen Thompson and Scott Struthers; Chairman of Dundee United and Secretary of Hamilton Academicals also sat on the board. Why focus on the Kilmarnock chairman? Regardless of the motive, they have singled this game out as perfect for a boycott. Interestingly, they picked out a midweek away fixture to Kilmarnock as a boycott last year. Until of course it transpired it would be Robbie Keane’s debut match, then any thought of a boycott went out of the window.

I’m sure the few thousand Rugby Park regulars would be more than happy to see the

Killie Chairman faces a boycott

Celtic fans boycott this game. The environment and atmosphere when either half of the Old Firm come to visit is antagonistic, unpleasant and intimidating. Maybe this no-show would encourage more home fans to come out, knowing they won’t have to suffer this horrendous atmosphere on their own doorsteps.

I would however like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Celtic fans for sticking to their principles;

But continuing to support the other teams in Scotland is just the same as continuing to fund the Sun newspaper.

That’ll be the reason they didn’t sell their allocation for the Berwick game then, good on them.

I am choosing not to respond to the remark about Kilmarnock FC’s credentials as a Junior team, as any self respecting Scottish football fan will dismiss this remark as the nonsense it so clearly is

The self proclaimed greatest supporters in the world, looking for yet another excuse not to support the team.

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Celtic Speak out against Green Brigade

Following the events of the weekend, detailed in yesterdays blog, Celtic have released a statement;

“The actions of this small minority have no place at Celtic Park and, clearly, we apologise for any offence caused.”

A spokesman later added: “The club is currently carrying out an investigation into this matter. When it is concluded, it is the club’s intention to ban those identified as responsible from Celtic Park.

“Celtic fans have rightly earned a magnificent reputation for their positive behaviour and backing of the club.

“It is extremely disappointing that the actions of a small minority have embarrassed Celtic and tarnished the club in this way.”

It’s encouraging to see the Club taking action against theses fans, and I hope it is carried out as suggested by Celtic. With any luck they’ll be banned from every other SPL ground too, oh well I’m allowed to dream.

The Green Brigade

I do not believe that football is the place for politics, and as such I keep them apart. However, I have never been so disgusted and section of a football support as when I saw this image:

Evelyn Beatrice Hall who said “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” had clearly never experienced anything as morally corrupt as this performance by a section (which was a minority) of the Celtic support.

Remembrance Sunday is not about glorifying war. Nor is it about glorifying the British Army. It is about honouring the fallen.

 

Multi Cultural

Celtic claim that they are a multi-cultural club and they respect other people’s beliefs (yet I remember a Palestinian flag being displayed by the Celtic support at Rugby Park, despite Biram Kayal and Israeli being in their squad) pity some elements of their fan base, primarily the Comrades and the Green Brigade, continue to shame the club with their anti-poppy protests.

I am not suggesting that everyone needs to agree with the Poppy Scotland Campaign, nor am I suggesting that everyone should donate. It would however appear that a little respect, is too much to ask.

 

Celtic Critical

The Green Brigade have in recent years done a lot of good work, in terms of their anti-racism and anti-facism work, though this performance may have undone a lot of that. Judging by the reaction on message boards and in todays newspapers, even the Celtic support have been critical of this performance.

The official statement by the Green Brigade was as follows;

At half-time during today’s match against Aberdeen we displayed message banners calling for ‘No bloodstained poppys on our hoops’ in protest at the Club’s decision to once again wear the poppy on our shirts during next week’s game at St Mirren (a match our group will not attend because of this decision). This is in support of an appeal by Poppyscotland to all SPL clubs. Poppyscotland describes its role as ‘supporting heroes’ and state that ‘the poppy has become a symbol of remembrance and for the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces’. Our group and many within the Celtic support do not recognise the British Armed Forces as heroes, nor their role in many conflicts as one worthy of our remembrance. Earlier this year, the Saville Report on Bloody Sunday confirmed that 14 unarmed civilians were murdered in Derry in 1972 by the Paratroop Regiment. They were among hundreds killed by the British Army during the most recent phase of conflict in Ireland. More recently, the British Armed Forces have murdered and maimed many thousands more innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan. The poppy remembers not just our grandfathers who fought the Nazis but also those who bombed the Belgrano and brutally occupied the streets of Belfast and Basra. While we recognise the right of individuals to remember their dead and that many within the Celtic support will wear the poppy in memory of family and friends lost in WW2 and other conflicts, we cannot accept the imposition of the poppy onto our shirts.
As far back as April, representatives from the Green Brigade, Celtic Supporters Association and Celtic Trust met with Peter Lawwell to express our united opposition to the Club imposing the poppy on the first team jersey. We also know that the AICSC and many other individual supporters had called on the Club to reverse their position of previous years and take the poppy off the shirt. Following our meeting in April, the Club were contacted on several occasions for further dialogue on the issue but informed us that they were still considering their position and would get back to us. The first any group knew of the decision was after it had been made, and publicly announced. We share the views of the AICSC whose recent statement on the poppy stated that ‘to see the jersey being used as a medium for such a divisive symbol and the message it communicates is deplorable’, and that it showed a complete lack of respect for the support, further highlighted by repeated declarations on the official website of Celtic’s delight to be wearing the poppy and supporting Poppyscotland. It appears rather than leave his politics at the door, chairman John Reid, the former Armed Forces Minister and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Defence, has forced his onto the first team jersey.

As you may have noticed at today’s game, we mistakenly missed out the ‘D’ in ‘bloodstained’. This happened in the rush to finish two displays for todays game (with our ‘Show the SFA the red card’ action before the match). The real mistake, however, is the Club forcing the poppy onto our shirt.”

It would appear then that, they have taken issue with the murder of innocent civilians amongst other things. Last year during the Falkirk v Celtic game on November 8th, Celtic fans (from outside the ground) sang so-called rebel songs over the minute’s silence. I guess it’s okay to glorify murdering innocent civillians if it goes to a jaunty tune.

And this is what it is vital to remember. Nobody is wearing a poppy to support war or bloodshed. But to commemorate the lives of the fallen, who fought for our freedom. And still are fighting for our freedom today. The number of Scottish soldiers who died in WWI alone, works out as over 100 soldiers per day for 4 years. Imagine the heartbreak and suffering it caused. Nowadays the Poppy appeal is helping soldiers who served and are serving in Afghanistan, just because this is an ‘unpopular war’ is irrelevant, foreign policy is not dictated by the military.

Our right to exercise an opinion and have freedom of speech was protected and fought for by the people we commemorate, and far be it from me to deny this group of fans their right to protest. If you don’t agree with the politics behind it, like the Green Brigade themselves stated – “leave it at the door.” Don’t buy your poppy, don’t donate your money and if it causes you such strong ill feeling, stand outside until the minute’s silence is over.

No comment as of yet from the Celtic Chairman

The silence from former Defence Secretary and now Celtic Chairman, John Reid is deafening. And this, says a lot more about the politics of Celtic FC than any statement ever could.

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