There are times when every single person in the blogosphere over-exaggerates a little bit in trying to score points.
There are times when our condemnation of how our rivals and enemies conduct themselves is a little bit contrived and a little bit fake. I like to think I don’t do it often, but I would be lying if I said that it wasn’t all part of the game.
I don’t have to exaggerate here. I don’t have to gild the lily at all.
Kris Boyd, writing in a national newspaper column, suggested today that Ibrox’s players should have sought to inflict a serious injury on our captain during the game on Wednesday night.
He laments that nobody “(tested) his face mask” and if Celtic allows that I will be astounded. If they don’t demand an apology from the newspaper which published it and make it clear that Boyd is not welcome inside Parkhead then I would have to ask why.
Writing his column in The Sun, this is what he said;
“Look at Celtic. Callum McGregor played with a fractured cheekbone. The fact he managed to get through the 90 minutes without anyone testing out that face mask is another story, but his commitment to the team was tremendous.”
We are all genuinely entitled to be furious by that paragraph.
We are all entitled to be disgusted that a national title published those words.
It is scandalous. It is beyond the pale.
Even if it was written in jest – which I don’t believe and I will not allow him to use it as an excuse – it is a deplorable thing for a pundit to write. That action needs to have consequences.
That comment, however he thinks it was intended, reeks of bitterness and hatred.
The idea that Boyd would have wanted to see that, or urged it, or perhaps even volunteered for the job himself if he had been out on that pitch, is what marks him out as an aberrant individual even within our hyper-partisan media sphere.
I cannot imagine that Keith Jackson or Chris Jack or any of the other writers out there who wear their disdain for our club on their sleeves would ever have written such a thing or expressed such a sentiment.
You would not have heard or read it from Ally McCoist or Neil McCann or Kenny Miller or Barry Ferguson either, all ex-professionals, all of whom have more respect for others in the game.
They would all have known where to draw the line, even if you think that the thought ever entered their heads in the first place, which I don’t believe it would have.
That could only have come from Kris Boyd and it goes beyond a lack of professionalism and ventures into the sphere of delinquent character. By publishing that, The Sun has crossed its own line, which shouldn’t really surprise us when we consider the sordid history of that paper and its prior coverage of high profile incidents within football such as Hillsborough and the way they cover certain players.
They may not have any issues employing this football version of Kate Hopkins, but Celtic should not allow their representatives into our stadium whilst they do.
I am due to take part in a number of media interviews with Ange Postecoglou in the next couple of weeks, but I’ll be making it clear to the club that I won’t participate in any event at which persons associated with The Sun are also taking part; I would never ask the club to take a stand I wasn’t prepared to take myself.
Because that is too far, and this is too much, and if we’re going to allow pundits to say such things we’re going to find our game – the whole of Scottish football – in a very bad place indeed.
We can either put a stop to this kind of commentary or watch as it poisons everything.
Boyd is just a fat pie eater, and a 1st class bigoted hurting hun. HH
Ban him from Parkhead.
Then ask Sky TV do they let one of their football hosts to behave like this.
What is the young players learning from a person like this.
What will the football world have to say about a former professional player saying such a thing we know SKY SPORTS and the SUN or the SMSM could not careless what this idiot has to say ….But FIFA and UEFA should put pressure on SFA/SPFL “because they will have to” they won’t do it until there is pressure from above. But it should be known publicly FIFA and UEFA condemn this article and HIM
Words fail me where Kris Boyde is concernened he really has stooped to a new low with this one, he couldn’t lace Callum McGregors boots let alone clean them. Its time his sort of trash was left where he should be out in the cold with no job. Not only should the sun appologise Sky should fire him
Ban the idiot and threaten legal action on the paper they will soon drop him
No they won’t. That’s good copy for them and will increase circulation amongst their target audience. You can threaten legal action if you like. You’d have to be pretty sure you’d be successful because you’re paying big either way. And you probably wouldn’t be.
Celtic could issue a statement about the distasteful and irresponsible nature of the glib (and ghost-written) comment but I hope they don’t because that’s such a whiny, snowflake Sevvy thing to do.
Nothing surprises me what low boyd will go to get attention I new it was 2 good 2 by true being so nice about how celtic deserved the win on Wednesday I will never ever have the TV on when his ugly face appear. S on TV he is the lowest of lowest breathing today he is scum but you no what thy say carma is a wonderful thing
James
This idiot of the highest order should be banned.
Perhaps the bloggers and our fans can contact the club and highlight how we feel about this clown and the rag he writers for….. no true Celtic fan should but the Sun or daily rag
HH
To sit and watch Celtic absolutely blow them away was brilliant it made the half time analysis a thing of joy I just love to see the look on his big bawface .he is an absolute cretin and yes I would ban him from Celtic park .
“Don’t BUY the Sun or Daily Rag”
Apologies typo in previous post
As I said the SMSM will play this down if they even mention it. I looked at the daily record online “sorry” and no mention of this disgraceful comment by HIM. You would have thought that rag would have went ott in ridiculing a rival “the Sun”……oh wait a minute that would mean connecting “the rangers”
This is unacceptable
Who does this clown think he is
Is he another who thinks biting ankles,and testing face masks ,is part of the sport of football
With the likes of Keevins, my take on it is just to ignore him as he’s just a Pied Piper of pond life commercial radio which only idiots pay attention to.
Boyd is the voice of Scottish football on Sky Sports TV which has exclusive live broadcasting rights to our game.
I have said it before and I’ll say it again. If you haven’t done so already, cancel your subscription to Sky Sports and tell them why.
Bazza, the pricks prick wouldn’t say that? He asked his whole team to kick Celtic!
Disgraceful even for him we all know he’s a blue nose but suggesting bringing additional harm to a player is clearly reprehensible and the Newspaper should act forthwith as should Sky Sports
A disgrace but does not surprise me he is a bigot of the highest order
100% agree with your stance.
I would ordinarily say dont give him the time of day, but this is just going too far. As stated earlier an idiot of the highest order. Surely Sky sports have a selection of names who can communicate their opinions clearer and much better than this clown. He tries to be the wind up merchant but often his brain does not engage. Simple outcome from our club should be, ban the clown and ask Sky sports to explain themselves as to why he is on their panel.
This is the very same half wit who claimed on live TV that Celtic’s first goal should have been disallowed and the game stopped due to a head injury to a Rangers player a millisecond before the ball hit the net! Double standard’s or blind hatred?
Av been a Celtic supporter for 40 years now,and nothing surprise’s me anymore with the rangers.In 2012 Glasgow rangers went into liquidation,that was the end for Glasgow rangers!!!!!
When they won the league they celebrated with the chants that Glasgow rangers had won the league 55 times!!!!!
How could they be, as Glasgow rangers died in 2012!!!!!
There that thick they would believe anything.
As for Chris Boyd, what can you say about the fat plebb
Very bitter man,who thinks the rangers is the best team in the league (no there not plebb)
They are a bunch of cheats.there used to be a saying that was directed at the rangers.
(IF IN DOUBT CHEAT YOUR WAY OUT)
That was the rangers philosophy!!!!!
Meaning do what you can, that meant injure your opponent at any cost!!!!!
It was said on clyde radio as well, Thursday night. Disgraceful…
Celtic has had plenty of times to get him out of Celtic Park did the manky mob not say they couldnt guarantee the safety of Chris Sutton /Neil Lennon in or near there park , so why not do the same ,and dont give me the old chestnut about the t.v. companies they all want the Celtic games if sky sports told boyd he was out then his big fat arse would be moved no doubt about it .
Same club that constantly moan about the Neil Simpson tackle, irony isn’t lost on them