As everyone now knows, during our midweek game against Aberdeen, the Green Brigade put up a tribute.
At the match, I initially thought it was for Evan Williams, but it turned out to be for the Irish Republican Bik McFarlane, who had passed away just a day or two before. That, predictably, drew the usual howling from sections of the right-wing media and a bunch of atrocious Ulster politicians.
You know what? I don’t care about the perceived rights and wrongs of whatever banner the Green Brigade put up. That’s their right. We live in a democracy, and we have freedom of speech—up to a point.
And because I’m in no mood to stomach any of the hypocrisy of the far right, those whining about it can pipe down. Since they and their American icons are making such a big play about free speech, well—guess what? This is what it means. It means sometimes hearing things you don’t want to hear.
As I’ve said before, the right are the biggest hypocritical bitches on the planet, especially those who have recently tried to reinvent themselves as free speech crusaders. It makes me laugh. It genuinely does.
Because these are the last people who will ever fight for free speech, and this is just more evidence of what I mean.
They talk about cancel culture and all the rest of it, then pull little strokes like they did this week—demanding police investigations because they don’t like what someone scrawled on a bedsheet. They’re absolutely pathetic.
Those of us who genuinely favour free speech are at least honest enough to say that it will always come with restrictions, and it must.
There’s no such thing as unfettered free speech, nor should there be. Even in the US, where the First Amendment protects all sorts, there are still legal limits on what you can say, and those limits exist for very good reasons.
So, honestly, I couldn’t care less that the Green Brigade did this. If Celtic takes them to task for it, I’ll understand why—because it happened under the club’s roof. But no one else has any right to take us to task. No one else can point their fat fingers and protest when we know full well that they remain silent on other forms of speech—including the most loathsome, detestable stuff—which should be punishable and should result in sanctions and consequences.
Leaving aside their staggering hypocrisy and ludicrous public stance on this, the reaction of the fans across the city is what I find most interesting. They took the time out of their lives to scrawl their own response to it—on the bedsheets they apparently keep piled up in some dingy warehouse somewhere in the city.
They called McFarlane a coward. Which is rich, coming from people whose own courage was on full display in Glasgow city centre earlier this year, when they fought running battles with women and kids. Or when they raided the Gallowgate at its busiest time—at eight in the morning. In their gimp outfits.
It’s difficult, indeed, to take these people seriously when they lecture on free speech or courage. But that’s not what made me laugh about their banners.
I put up a piece yesterday about their long history of ignoring clear warning signs about things and individuals—even when those warnings were being screamed at them and all in their benefit. In some cases, the media itself was harassed for daring to tell them the truth. That just about sums them up. They’d rather not hear bad news, even when that bad news could forewarn them of disaster.
One of the most memorable incidents I talked about at length was when Mark Daly at the BBC unveiled the truth about Whyte. They had two choices at that point. They could have protested at Ibrox to get him out. Or they could have blamed the broadcaster for shattering their little fantasy. Predictably, they turned on the BBC.
And that is what baffles me. Any organisation that tells them the truth is targeted for it. It shows what a skewed view of the world they hold and what their bizarre priorities boil down to.
Their club is in turmoil right now—genuine, real, honest-to-God turmoil. That interim management team is like someone’s idea of a bad comedy sketch. They don’t know what’s going on with the takeover because the fans have been utterly excluded from those talks. Their entire club is about to be sold from under them, and they don’t know who’s buying it or for what purpose—except that Keith Jackson told them everything will be all right.
So where are the banners demanding answers? Where are the protests demanding that the fans be consulted before the takeover goes through? Where are the demonstrations against being completely excluded from the most important discussions about their club since it crawled out of Rangers’ grave 13 years ago?
If you want to talk about skewed priorities, there they are. Instead of demanding accountability for their own club’s chaos—its dysfunction, its uncertain future, and the fact that it’s about to change hands without them having a clue what’s coming next—they’re out there protesting against Celtic fans.
Absolute madness.
I find it astonishing. I find it mind-numbing. I cannot imagine that in a similar situation, our own supporters would be peering over the garden fence. I cannot imagine that if this were happening to us, our fans wouldn’t be demanding answers, that the blogs wouldn’t be unified in wanting to know what the hell was going on.
I cannot imagine that our supporters wouldn’t be willing to march on Celtic Park to get those answers if all we were getting were some vague, wishy-washy statements in the press—and not a single one of them coming out of Celtic Park itself. And we haven’t even been through a 2012-style trauma.
I said in my lengthy piece last week—these people let their club die. I know they don’t like to hear that, but it is a fact. They let their first club die. It happened on their watch.
The media wasn’t going to help them. Too many of them played a role in getting Craig Whyte through the door in the first place. And before that, they played a role in propping up David Murray. The governing bodies were of no use whatsoever—they were in on Whyte’s scheme back when he thought it would end in a simple debt switcheroo.
It was down to their own fans to solve it, to stop things from getting to that point. It was down to them to do their own due diligence, to warn their fellow supporters about what was coming, and to get together to prevent it.
And they didn’t do it. And even with the current board in absolute free fall, with its regime tottering, what is their response? Not to lead a campaign for change, but to sit back and wait for someone else to come along. And now that someone has—and they know nothing about these people except that they were brought to the table by Dave King. That alone would worry me.
But they’re not worried at all. They’re excited. They can’t wait for the new owners to get their hands on the place and for the transfer kitty to start swelling.
Although, as we’ve pointed out on multiple occasions and in multiple articles, there really isn’t a great deal of wiggle room for new owners to put money into the transfer fund. And these guys—if it turns out to be the ones we think—aren’t exactly known for splashing big sums on transfer fees anyway. Especially not when the club is seriously indebted to them and they’ll want to clear that first.
They will never learn. These people will never learn. They won’t know that Ibrox is being bulldozed for a Tesco until bricks start hitting them on the back of the head. But they got themselves in the papers today with their little protest against Celtic fans, and I can’t help but think—if I were some predatory venture capitalist looking to take over a football club and loot it—this is exactly the kind of news story that would draw me in. Like a wounded animal attracting a vulture.
Gullible people, focused on all the wrong things. Hallelujah.
Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images
I’d love to hear others opinions on this or yourselves James but do you guys feel that the conservative movement in the UK or just Scotland have hijacked patriotism or free speech as a guise to push their agenda? I used to live in an overwhelmingly pro Trump pro MAGA community in the states and you could pick out who voted for him based on if an American flag was flying outside of their homes. My whole block every single house except mine had an American flag waving 24/7/365. Recently at a town hall meeting a women spoke and got arrested because the conservative movement didn’t like what she had to say so the hypocrisy is crazy. James I’ll leave a link for it below because like you said the silencing is abhorrent.
https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/wireStory/idaho-town-hall-meeting-turns-chaotic-after-woman-119134397
That club and its support we know, are the last ones tae try and gain some sort if moral high ground. And who can forget their recent and ridiculous, banner tribute tae American, anti-irish, anti- catholic, racist, murderer bill poole. Nothin whatsoever tae dae with football or their club. Tho the ‘significance’ their pathetic, bigoted support were highlightin is right there. Sectarian and racial hatred. They thought they were bein ‘clever’ with that one. Although ah totally agree, it should be our own support and club who should be sayin, or doin somethin about anythin that happens at our ground and certainly no anybody connected with that club, or its media. If anybody wants tae be associated with this type of thing, thats their choice, tho keep it for functions, clubs and pubs that cater for it. Ah don’t think ahm alone in sayin it should be kept from football grounds. Nae place for it.
Like you James the GB banner didn’t bother me a bit, I don’t entirely agree with it, but at the same time I wouldn’t condemn it. I don’t honestly know the background story to Brendan McFarlane’s conviction, but I do know that hundreds of Irishmen were wrongly convicted by their British oppressors for many years, and so I tend to disregard their accusations as propaganda and a possible distortion of the facts.
Whether it has a place on the Celtic terracing is debatable, and I personally I would say no to that. I do though object to the bigoted politicians from Belfast having a go at our club, we all know what their agenda is, and they can rumpff that right up their shiter.
And there was me trying to be delicate with my words. 🙂
That banner should be nowere near Celtic park, the guy has killed innocent people, the same as Michael stone and other loyalists and republicans. Celtic should be banning these clowns for life. They want to condemn loyalist songs getting sang at ibrox, but don’t want to say anything about the dinosaur pro ira songs that are constantly getting sang. Both clubs should ban the imbeciles for life, and let the people who have been on a waiting list for years get tickets. I was talking to a taxi driver on way to work the other day, and he can’t get an away ticket to watch Celtic, he like me, said these bigots that follow our club, seem to be getting the tickets, I want to know why this is. James you should be asking Celtic this, why are these trouble makers constantly getting tickets, when decent people seem to be getting nowhere. You and Joe should be asking the club this, it’s an absolute disgrace.
Do you really expect anyone to take you seriously snowflake, especially when only last week you told us you were pro Israeli and pro Palestinian, I mean how fkn fkn unlikely is that? I do know though why you are pro Israeli, it’s because their flag is the same colour as your big blue hooter.
And another thing, you have an anti British and anti West Point of view. You should piss off over to some Muslim country, or over to Ireland and give the rest of us peace. Hey , you’d soon be wanting back, that’s for sure.
While I have no desire Thegoodghuy to get involved with the conflicting opinions of yourself and Johnny, l do need to take you to task over advising him to piss off to The Island of Ireland and that he’d be wanting back very soon ‘for sure’ –
I’m in The Island of Ireland quite often and I’m very very sorry having to leave it’s beautiful green Glens and green valleys, it’s brains, it’s music, it’s culture – The native Gaelic is so peaceful and calm – I don’t think Johnny like the rest of us would be in any hurry to be leaving that positivity in any hurry…
It is a beautiful island indeed and even the villages and hamlets where the residents are asylum seekers would be beautiful save for the sight of tattered Butchers Apron’s flying from every lamppost and really poor quality painters splattering GPO telecommunications cabinets arising from the ground in red, white and blue runny daubed paint.
Artwork is not their strongest point though their muralists are reasonably skilful even though it is very much the wrong message that they send out to tourists and nationalists of the island…
As for Johnny going to Muslim countries and hurrying back – I simply cannot Covent on that as I’ve never been and never will be there…
But The Island of Ireland I have been to and can and will most certainly comment on that from my own very positive experiences there and positive perspective !
Ignore him if you can Clach, he has been a regular on here, on and off for a few years in different guises. He pretends to be a Celtic fan but often lapses into anti Celtic rhetoric and gives himself away. More to be pitied than scorned?
Being pro Israeli, and pro Palestinian is being pro human, you mental case, you that stupid you don’t understand that. A government should want peace for both people, those of us with a level of education know that. You have not got a clue what you’re talking about half the time. Your very biased with your opinions.
Well ghoodguy that was one bite and a half….meltdown!
Not at all, I work in the railway, this is a daily occurrence. You can’t call people snowflakes though, if you’re going tonto about what’s getting sung at ibrox.
I take it, since it’s the human thing to do, that you are pro Rangers* and pro Celtic as well?
Celtic and rangers are a football rivalry, Palestinians and Israelis are people. Any normal person would have sympathy for innocent Israelis and Palestinians. They are no different from any other people. Hamas killed innocent people at music festival, Palestinians have been innocently killed as well, yous have to have something wrong with you not to feel for both sets of people. I’m a great guy, that’s why I fell bad for both sets of people. In fact I’m the nicest person who comments on this blog, there is too many people who only want to see one side of the story. Us “ goodghuys” are still spreading Jesus’s love. We love thy neighbour .
Boak!
Celtic and ‘rangers’ aren’t a football rivalry any more Thegoodghuy…
As’rangers’ died in 2012…
Celtic and Sevco perhaps though could be seen by some as being rivals ?
But not the two that you have named at the start of your post !
“I’m the nicest guy who comments on this blog…” by jove I’ve figured him out. With that level of self regard Thegoodghuy is none other than Donald Trump!
I have sympathy for all the innocent people caught up in the war. It was horrific when Hamas killed and kidnapped innocent people attending a festival. It was evil and thoughts went out to family’s but the response by Israel has been nothing short of barbaric with no thought to innocent Palestinians. Thousands killed, displaced and have turned a country into ruins. It is a genocide and ethnic cleansing disguised under bringing hostages home. As said have sympathy for all innocent people but 2 wrongs don’t make it right.
The people who are attacking Celtic and our support over this are the same people who burned people out their homes, bullied and assaulted people out their jobs, and supported a regime akin to apartheid. Brendan McFarlane stood against them in support of his family, friends and oppressed countrymen. Go gcoinni Dia i mbos A Ithaimhe air (may God hold him in the palm of his hand).
Well said buddy.
Regarding the banner at Parkhead on Tuesday…
While I’m not sure Parkhead was the place to display it given the furore that there has subsequently been regarding it’s presence there by the usual suspects of course it is indeed extremely disturbing to see the reaction from MLA Phillip Brett and that tramp MP of East Derry Gregory Campbell for sure…
Brett has of course ran like a wee primary school child to Peter Lawwell, to The SFA, to Police Scotland and to UEFA about it and he’s not likely to receive anything more than a token acknowledgement if any at all for his ‘troubles’…
Campbell is altogether a more treacherous loose cannon and it’s not the first time that this retrobate has poked his big filthy blue nose into things that happen far away from his constituency in Scotland and involving Celtic and her supporters…
He is also a pathological LIAR – He wanted to raise a motion in The House of Commons to Sevco for being the most successful club in the world when it was an Egyptian club that was – Jeez they weren’t even the most successful in Scotland at that point far less the fuckin world !!!
Also – A total cunt like him simply does not get to lecture any Celtic supporter far less The Green Brigade…
He is an utter creep who trawled James McLean of Derry on twitter and admitted “I’ve been watching him closely and knew that he’d slip up sooner rather than later” and McLean got banned from twitter thanks to him – For What – admitting that he liked a fuckin song for goodness sake…
Campbell also stopped production of a Kia Car from being unveiled at The Geneva Motor Show Because it was to be called ‘Provo’ !
So that’s England and Switzerland that he’s poked his stinking big nose into so far as well as Scotland too…
He is also an anti black racist and was forced to apologise for his anti black racism in 2021 for describing Songs of Praise singers who were people of colour as ‘The BBC at it’s BLM worst’
So he’s anti Catholic, anti persons of colour, anti Celtic, anti Gaelic and it’s language, anti whatever is normal out there in society of course…
So no That Old Decrepit yet Dangerous Bastard does not get to lecture Celtic FC, it’s supporters, or The Green Brigade – Absolutely Fuckin Not – Not Now Not EVER !
I ought to be pro life but this is one exception to the rule and The sooner that Gregory Lloyd Campbell meets the same fate as his beloved dead Glasgow ‘Rangers’ (as they were known as then) – The better society as a whole will be for his demise !
Just sayin like !!!
A cracking post Clach, very well put.
Clach. I didn’t think you had it in you to be so articulate.
Well said sir
That was a brilliant post clach, very informative well done pal.
Many thanks Folks !
Taking the time to post to acknowledge any post is much appreciated indeed…
Slainte Math – Fae Clachnacuddin and The Hoops !
I am not in favour of our club being used as a vehicle for a minorities view especially when that view can be turned and used against us.
Knock yourself out with your views and commemorative displays but do it your own time and hang out your own window not out the clubs
Not sure if you’re post was directed at myself of just a general generalisation Moisey17 but I don’t go to Parkhead since Lawwell never challenged Doncaster for saying The Pathological Lie that the dead ‘rangers’ were the same club – Absolutely –
So I most definitely wasn’t in amongst it all…
And yes indeed it does give our sworn and dangerous enemies – the pair that I’ve named and others as well – an open goal to dance on us from a great height which they of course have done with utter glee…
As for Brendan McFarlane the very last thing he’d have wanted was for Celtic FC to be in trouble in his name…
He was a gentleman that I met in North Belfast Pubs a few times in ma hey day across there in The Island of Ireland and he was a proud defendant of The Republican and Nationalist community in The Six Occupied Counties in said Island of Ireland…
He naturally never said much about his operational role in his younger days but he certainly would not want trouble for Celtic FC in his name – That much I do know from having had the pleasure of his company…
R.I.P. Brenainn NicPharthalain…
Incidentally I ABSOLUTELY stand by my views on the individuals that I commented on on The Celtic Blog and it was done in my own time and not posted on any club website !
As said earlier proud of our Irish heritage…club founded to help irish immigrants and gave us an identity…I sympathise with everyone who suffering same discrimination and its right to highlight it to help but also to a point as celtic and all our fans should always come first…agree as founded for immigrants should support others but rarely seen any flags or show of support in past and where does it stop?…not a criticism at all but haven’t seen same support for other countries like Ukraine the odd flag and banner, Afghanistan, Kurds, Iraq etc getting into minefield that doesn’t belong at football…
I am proud of our irish heritage and totally agree the hypocrisy from that mob is laughable. I dont agree with the timing of banner display when we were wanting to show our respect and appreciation of a club legend. I’ve said before love Green brigade noise, colour and support however as they recently acknowledged some really poor decision making that needs to change. Right now there is little respect and a massive dis-connect with the ordinary fan which was summed up by critising us for not joining in with singing. Guarantee if done the above, engaged and showed we are one then would follow there lead with songs. Welcomed the GB statement and will have full support if acknowledge we are all celtic.