Yesterday saw the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communication Bill (aka Salmonds Law) get forced through parliament in an act of bravado from the flabby jawed self styled President Of Scotland.
The Bill has no support from opposition parties and it has been admitted by the Convenor of the justice committee – whose job it was to ensure that this Bill was past – that it’s being implemented to target one particular section of society as the current laws deem their behaviour as not being illegal.
In doing so the have made a one size fits all type law which on the face of it is unworkable and ludicrous. They have criminalised thousands of fans not just the ones they wanted to target.
I could spend all day pointing out the idiosyncrasies but in a year when the Queen recognised the Irish struggle against the crown, when a member of the IRA can sit in parliament and can attempt to become President of an European country we find the best wee country in the world willing to arrest people who mention those 3 letters within the shadow of a football stadium.
In fact you can now be arrested for singing songs readily available from good record shops and ITunes if you are attending a football game (whether or not the songs should be sung is not the debate here).
The Bill has been past to a back drop of destroyed Hate Crimes Data and a fudging of statistics which tried to show Celtic Park as a hotbed of sectarianism.
All it did show that 1 in every 789 away fans who attend CP will be arrested for a sectarian offence.
They also have attempted to pass this off as a reaction to what happened to our manager and the shame game last season (a game that saw 3 R*ngers players sent off and a mass brawl caused by the losing team).
A quick glance shows that the only person to be punished for last seasons events is Neil Lennon.
I’ll have a scoop of ice cream with my paranoia this Christmas while I’m clearing out my Ipod.
A sad day indeed for football. The leveling up of scores began with the EUFA charge and now it will full-steam ahead with this ridiculous law
79p on Itunes, £12,700 from UEFA.
While this new law smacks of inconsistencies I believe we as Celtic fans should use this and turn it into a positive. People need to start realising and fast, that political songs have no place in football. It truly doesn’t matter whether the tag is sectarian , or illicit. Its football for goodness sake. I cringe whenever I hear these songs being sung,or equally so when I hear someone comment that it’s “part of our history”. This is just code for something else entirely.
This also goes for bands that use this political fascination that we seem to harbour amongst our support – those days should be well and truly over. Just as smoking in pubs was once OK , and is not now – we should move with the times.
The biggest tragedy in all this is that Celtic as a club , without all this nonsense , is a truly amazing club. One of the best in the world, especially at fan level. That is the most important thing here – we don’t need all the bile and political rubbish – perhaps other clubs need them more. Now is the time to pull the rug away from under them and show that by the cleaning up of our act. And I mean properly cleaning our act up. Not just pretending to do so to expose “others”.
I go back to my smoking in pubs analogy – Some people might look back fondly and wish they could spark up in the boozer – but tough luck. They can’t.
And to address your point about Neil Lennon being blamed for the cup replay – I was at that game. And I went straight home and watched it on Celtic TV. Ask yourself this – IF Neil Lennon had have remained calm at full time – what do you think everyone would’ve been talking about? Yes that’s right – all that would’ve been left , aside from a fairly poor game and a narrow 1-0 win for Celtic , was how Rangers completely lost their discipline. Lennon should’ve been smarter on the night. His team won, his bitter rivals couldn’t take it – instead of the focus being on that , he had to let his petty squabble take centre stage. Not a popular opinion I would wager from a Celtic fan , but an opinion that I believe wholeheartedly.
As I said in the blog, this not about the singing of certain songs, which I think the blogs view point has been made clear on many occassions: it’s time for them to stop and move on (like you say also) THIS is about the law being changed to suit an agenda to target a section of society and it has been admitted by the person charged with getting the bill through as this.
So, do you beleive that only Lennon should have been charged and punished for his actions during that game?
I was furious when I saw the pictures of McCoist walking down the SFA steps smirking. I could scarcely believe the lack of punishment for Rangers. However , I am more interested now in the facts – Lennon took the spotlight away from Rangers collective lack of discipline. He won. He should’ve laughed McCoist off and showed him how little he cared for his words. I don’t believe McCoist is smart enough to orchestrate that spat to take the heat of his team – However I DO believe Smith is. The fact of the matter is that both players who behaved the worst will never play another cup game with Rangers again , so I’m not going to lose any sleep over that one.
I agree with you – this isn’t just about songs. It’s about a perceived attitude in football that fans can push the boundaries of what is and isn’t decent.Certain bands have exploited that for money and recognition which in turn leads to the songs in question being sung , so yes , chanting does unfortunately come into it. But it’s much more than that. Its the very definite view by a small majority that football can be used as a vehicle to behave in a way which other parts of society deems unfit. That is why I think this new law should be used as a watershed moment by everybody , especially real football fans. As a real football fan , I am speaking out against those who seek to push their own agendas , using our great club in the process. We all know how we should behave , yet some of think we can adorn a particular set of colours and let these standards drop. I’m not having it. I am by no means a huge advocate of this new law, I see it has its flaws , but I’m not about to start blaming those that are trying to tackle the problem before blaming the people that actively behave in a way that I find appalling. And as we have seen in this last week , a way which is beginning to cost our club real money. When do we stop? Now? or should we wait until we get a travel ban? or home games behind closed doors? points deductions? Banned from competitions? You tell me…
The watershed moment was coming, in fact the tide was changing. This bill could set it back due to the nature of it. This is a red rag to the idiots who want to push their attitudes that they can do what they want as you say.
It’s a farce.
If you do not see this is about targeting a minority in this bigoted country you my friend are nothing short of a fool. The politicians have said themselves it’s about evening up arrest figures from the secterian crimes committed against us. While that lot get away with singing secterian song at the weekend we will be jailed for singing political songs.I don’t know the Celtic symphony never sung it but i know the ad-on. Is it ilegal to buy this song. NO, is the answer. So go back to sleep Uncle tim an get yer timmy arse back in line cause it’s just been put there. The Celtic family aaaaaaye rrrright. Celtic Footbal Club against secterianism, bigotry and oppression until it comes to thier fans. Not once in my lifetime have i seen any Celtic board speak out against such thing, an if those issues aren’t political i don’t what is. By the way, pubs are closing down every week, here’s hoping the football club i love realises what it’s done by selling it’s fan up the clyde.
The club are treading a fine line here. Their action and take will be interesting.
I absolutely applaud your email, and agree with you 100%. We have to stop sticking our heads where the sun doesn’t shine. the reality is those fans who are responsible have sunk to the low level that the scum from accross the city are known around the world. We have never competed with them before, why start now?
We are not competing with them Joe we are being dragged to join them. That is what is wrong.
The bigots are the ones that are against the bill.
I really don’t understand what you people see when you read the bill. It’s unbelievable you’s think it’s as dangerous as you’s do.
Don’t act like a fanny and you won’t be treated like a fanny.
If anyone thinks that you’re going to get the jail for simply crossing yourself, singing about Ireland’s independence, calling the ref a fud and so on then they are seriously deluded.
Time to grow up bhoys and ghirls.
The accusations that only bigots are against the bill is almost as laughable as the bill itself. It’s dangerous as it’s airy fairy and undefined. In the hands of polis and the justice system that’s what makes it dangerous. Really, do you trust them to implement it correctly when they have failed for a number of years to enforce the current laws?
I have read the bill and it makes thousands potential criminals if someone takes offense to you. Does that not worry?
MAYBE people won’t be arrested for crossing themselves, however we are talking about a desperate for funding police force, the more arrests the more funding, it is as simple as that.
Then if you look at Lennons attacker miraculously getting off, the 17 year old Celtic fan getting locked up for days for singing a song that mentioned the ira while a Rangers fan who shouted “fenian bas***d” in front of police whilst inside a stadium getting completely let off in court because apparently nobody in earshot was “offended” by his remark, you have to question the judiciary system.
Hopefully your right, but it comes down to those implementing a confusing law that can be interpreted at will.
Great point.
for me that’s a different point.I am not going to second guess how the new law is applied. If it becomes a targeted approach designed to criminalise catholics and let protestants carry on with bigotry (might as well say what everyone else is hiding from saying) then that is the time to make a noise about it. For now , I welcome the fact that it has now become law to not act like a dickhead for no other reason than you are in a crowd of thousands and think you are above the law in this setting.
I think the why it has been implemented gives the stench of that is how it will be carried out.
There might have been a need for some sort of new legislation, if all of the data and statistics were made available and an open honest debate would have occurred then people would have been able to form an informed opinion. Sad and a little bit unnerving that at the very least those 2 things were not allowed to happen.
The other problem for me is why the police, judiciary system and politicians have refused to use existing laws to tackle the problem surrounding football, if existing laws were being rigorously implemented and not working then it would be right to try something else. Again, strangely this didn’t happen.
As you say though, hopefully it will be positive and football can start benefiting. The average Celtic and Rangers fan, every football fan in Scotland wants to focus on the game and not offensive songs. Scottish football needs a new start one way or another.
There is of course , one surefire way of not being affected by this new law. You can always in your own head not make a distinction about where you are. You can always make a pact with yourself to behave the same way at the football as you would in any other public place. Just a thought…
Going back to the cup replay. I was at the game , thoroughly enjoyed the passion , sung the songs I deem acceptable , got caught up in the drama , laughed my head off when Diouf got sent off , and stayed within the confines of the law. It’s not actually that difficult…
The Celtic support were always within the context of the law until yesterday.
Can’t belive the attitude of some poster’s on this matter. Are you rang’jeers indisguise seems to apply. This is 1 big important step on controlling a specific section of the population and targeting those with different political opinions from that of the ruling authority. If this offencesive behaviour bill was truley impartial would orange marches and other anti catholic orders be allowed to parade threw streets and town centers where the population is opposed to presance.as for the police allowing themselve’s to be dragged into a political vote winning ploy . There’s and old irish nationalist song .we are the Impartial police force. Our retribution should come at the polling booth. Forgive the spelling mistake’s and grammer .in a rush but had to comment due to being well pissed off.
Another point that is forgotten in all this. The same songs that you will be arressted for at a football ground you will be freely available to bang out in certain weekends in July without fear or favour.
The people defending the ‘ra chants just dont get it. If- and it’s a big if- this law is implemented in the way some people fear, to specifically target Celtic supporters, then it’s crucial, for three reasons, that we never hear the ‘ra chants at Parkhead again.
First off, these chants are embarrassing and damaging to Celtic- our football club. They alienate us from our friends all over the world. I’ve even seen posts from Celtic supporters from NI and Eire who are insulted and embarrassed by them. Do you really want to be seen as just the mirror image of the darkside ? ” They do it, so I’m going to do it too”. Pathetic attitude.
Secondly, these chants are splitting our support, at a time, when more than ever, we need to be united.
And lastly, without the chants, we can all be united in protecting our supporters and our club’s Irish heritage against this ill-thought out law.
Why are Celtic people wasting their breath and their energy defending the indefensible? We might soon have bigger, much more important battles to fight. Let them have the chants. We’re better off without them. Without them, we can stand together- and make sure they get nothing else.
Could not agree more. Less focus on indefensible chanting and more focus on winning the league and imposing our brand of football on the rest of Europe with unity and decency. Starting from tonight. Mon the hoops!
I don’t see many posters defending the indefensible, in fact I see none that have come on and stated that singing ‘up the ra’ is acceptable at the fitba’ anymore.
Yes, these chants are embarrassing and our club has been bismirched by a fine but in the wider context the cringeworthy factor for me is that this bill has been brought in because the Polis have stated that before they will take mass action on bigotry that has been heard for 150 years you have to make sure we can arrest those who have been on the end of this bigotry and make it look like it’s all their fault.
That is the sad state of affairs in a supposed civilised country.
I dont disagree with that aspect. I know it’s not fair. It’s reprehensible. And it makes me angry too. But rather than complain at the injustice, we need to concentrate on the best way to defend ourselves. We need everyone singing from the same hymnbook, if you like, so we can stand together against the real bigots.
Let’s not get mad; Let’s beat them at their own game.
I’m at the knee jerk stage at the moment. Give me 24 hours and I’ll completely agree with the keep one step ahead of them mantra.
nail on the head. excellent. The victims are the perpatrator’s.from the estabishments point of view. They cant erase there history.so they’ll sulley our name today.
Any one see the itv lunchtime news today there story on tougher laws for rioters on there video wall was a massive picture of a young lad in celtic jersey and celtic scarf wrapped round his face petrol bomb in hand about to use it I dont know how to contact the club and let them know about this
A we memo for some of the younger posters….
Big Jock back in the 60’s left his dugout and careered around the track and entered the terraces.. A few clippin’s around the ears and hey-ho a sound of silence…
Criminalisation… ? Only those who cannot behave like many I see on public transport have anything to fear.. As a Celt for many years and proud of my green and white heritage we kid ourself on we are all perfect.. Blind and deaf come to mind for anyone who believes that..
I love my club much more than some whose behaviour is indeed insulting. Vomiting
The trap has been set by the unionist media and what I see is leadership from brain dead donkeys leading a few ass’s..
Celtic supporters have nothing to fear any more than others. Lets say Hearts for example?
I cringe when watching the news when we have a so-called fan asking wit songs can a no sing..
Education failures seem to be getting prime time TV at this mom.
I’m afraid the associations electioneering is doomed to failure .
Celtic has been my life just like many others and in that time we have had little protection from the powers that be. Indeed Bias against us has been endemic.
Legislation is essential and only those who misbehave whatever the colour have anything to fear..
BEHAVE and let the others swallow the punishment..
Hail Hail fellow Celts.
I also cringe at the what song can we sing debate. FFS, it’s like leading a horse to water.
Don’t say you weren’t warned.
I banged on for years about the growing danger of censorship, which was much supported when directed at the currant buns.
You either support freedom of speech for all, or you don’t support it at all.
Sadly, too many of our support were too short sighted to see the future they were helping to usher in.
In a way we have caused our own downfall. That’s if it is a downfall. I’ll call it more a growing up and moving on.
As has been pointed out on numeous occasions previously, IRA-related chants have absolutely no connection to Celtic Football Club. For anyone to claim that they’re “part of our history” is absolute codswallop. Celtic never, at any time, supported the IRA or its actions, so these chants are NOT part of our club’s history and should not be voiced at a football game.
They may have been ignored in the past, but times change and new laws are introduced. (See the
previous reference to smoking in pubs.) So grow up and move on.
The people who want to voice these chants and songs DON’T have to voice them at football matches, and it’s obvious they don’t have our clubs best interests at heart, as our club has requested on many occasions that they refrain from voicing these songs and chants to prevent UEFA sanctions — but the “political activists” ignored these requests and this resulted in a fine.
If you feel it’s your right to ignore UEFA rules, then maybe you should also consider the rights of the majority of other Celtic fans who don’t want to have to listen to these chants. They have rights too, and since they are the majority, maybe you should save your NON-football political chants & songs for political rallies, your sister’s wedding, or other places where they’ll be appreciated.
And indulging in hypothetical situations and “whitaboutery” isn’t going to change anything.
I got a load of abuse when I said we were guilty using UEFA’s guidelines as my gauge. While I agree with most of your post it doesn’t mean I can’t be raging at our government.
the laws were in place to deal with secterian behavour so why does the scottish gov want to try and make new ones. the snp won’t be getting my vote again
I have always said that there is no place for IRA songs ,chants and add ons the same way there is no place for poppies or minutes silence but we still have,nt banned the poppy ..do Celtic support the British Armed Forces who murdered my friends and neighbours Tim Alloy .. Also i keep hearing that this law is wrong that is wrong . for my own education ..why is Celtic being used to fight the cause of every unjust law in Scotland surely there are other places ,people and organizations who should be fighting this fight along with all of us who feel this is wrong .. but Celtic Park is not the place to fight this fight ..i hate any politics at any game , one mans terrorist ETC ..none of us are right but we are never wrong ..lets talk football