Well, the football was a non-event last night. But the off-field performance of the Ibrox supporters was exactly what we expected. It was precisely as predicted for most of the game: they were dead silent, because when they don’t have bigotry, bile, and sectarianism to sing about, they have very little else in the songbook.
In the latter stages of the game, when they looked like they might grab a draw, that’s when the old party tunes came out. And I hope UEFA was listening.
The Ibrox club has put itself in a bit of an awkward position here. The American investors were at the game. And their fans went full “up to the knees in Fenian blood.” We even got a few rousing choruses of the old “kill a fenian before I die” song, which has to be one of the most scandalous heard in stands across Europe.
Now, if the Ibrox club hadn’t mentioned the songs in their last missive to the fans, this whole thing might have passed by with only people like us talking about it. But they did mention them. They explicitly brought up the issue. They sent a clear message to their own supporters about what was and wasn’t acceptable.
And large sections of the stadium blatantly ignored that request.
Here’s the thing—we’ve all had a lot of fun with the Union Brats these past few weeks and months, especially as they’ve repeatedly made fools of themselves. But let’s be clear, and let’s be honest: that wasn’t just them last night.
I’m sure they were up to their knees in the blood of Catholics, just like a lot of their brethren around the ground; but that’s the point. A lot of their brethren were similarly invested in belting out those tunes.
So in focusing on one section of the fanbase, let’s not forget that this is a problem that extends far beyond them. It always has. The Ibrox sectarian song problem existed before the Union Brats, and it will be there after them—unless it is completely eradicated from the support.
Completely eradicated.
Now, under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t hope for that. You wouldn’t expect that ever to be a priority for anyone on the Ibrox board.
But let me repeat—they explicitly mentioned the songs in their statement after the UEFA sanction for the Union Brats’ banner. They’re the ones who brought it up. They’re the ones who threatened action if those songs were heard.
Well, last night, in a major UEFA match, they were heard.
So, every single person in the Scottish media who claims to care about removing those songs from our game now has an opportunity—an obligation—to challenge the Ibrox board directly on how they intend to handle that. Will they keep to their own word? Or will they again try to dance around this issue?
If the Ibrox club is not prepared to act on the songs, if they’re not even prepared to condemn them, then the media should be asking why not. They should be asking if the board is singling out one section of the support whilst giving the rest a free pass, and if that’s the case, then they are scapegoating the Union Brats.
Now, I’ve got no problem with scapegoating that mob.
If any supporters deserve to be scapegoated, it’s them. But I do have a problem with the double standard. I have a problem with the idea that if they’re being made the poster boys for problems that exist across the stadium, then the club isn’t serious about tackling the real issues. They’re simply paying lip service to them.
The American investors who were in the stands would do well to think very carefully—very carefully—about what they heard last night. Because that is what they are being asked to invest in. That’s what they’re being asked to put their money behind. That’s what they’re being asked to align themselves with.
And if they are minded to try and deal with that, it will take a Herculean effort. It will take an effort of awesome proportions.
And they have to be minded to deal with it, because a stink like that will follow them long after they’ve departed these shores.
So the first thing they should do is ask the board—those who remain at the club, some still trying to flog their shares—how they intend to respond.
Whether they intend to respond at all.
I’m tired of a media that ignores this stuff. I’m tired of a club that tolerates it. I’m tired of switching on the TV to watch football and hearing songs about killing Catholics, Fenians, and the Irish.
I’m sick and tired of a section of this country preaching ethnic cleansing from the stands at Ibrox every single week and getting away with it. I’m sick and tired of the media that won’t comment on it. I’m sick and tired of the governing bodies that allow it. I’m sick and tired of the police force that can’t seem to stop it.
And I’m also sick of UEFA, who were once good on this issue—who once went where no one here dared to go—now turning a blind eye and a deaf ear.
Well, the blind eye spotted that banner. If the deaf ear heard that singing, then a hard rain is going to fall. And it is way overdue.
As with the Cerny assault the SFA will do exactly SFA and neither will the press and media who will be lapping up the thought of going to another all expenses paid EL Final.
Apparently the aisles were also crowded again last night so along with the songs it will be left to UEFA to apply the punishment for the Ibrox side’s complete defiance of UEFA’s demands
If they don’t then they will be seen as toothless and paying only lip service plus it will give the green light to the hordes to continue. They showed again last night they will anyway, totally ignoring the “ threats “ from their own Board.
Their Board will also give them another chance as if they get to the semi final etc then they will want their team cheered on by that world renowned atmosphere their wonderful fans create, plus the dosh of course.
The US guys have been to a few of their games now so they must know what goes on and that the fans have no intention of changing. The fact they were there again last night would suggest it isn’t a major issue?
Every time these songs are heard a complaint should be made to the police and / or uefa. That would be every week of course. If we all did this every week something would have to be done about it. Imagine having to sift through 100k emails every week.
They could make these songs illegal, oh wait, they did. What was the point in that? It obviously never had the huns in mind. And as for McCoist, they shouldn’t give him tribute act games to commentate on, it’ll only accelerate the downfall of his public persona. Sometimes I think he’s just playing up to the zombie followers but maybe he’s just a complete tit.
Sadly it’s not just a section of this country, it’s a section of a ‘United Kingdom’. Hence the authorities or governing bodies, government and those that are supposed to police it are repeatedly inactive in their not even veiled attempts to oversee and prompt law keeping and positive change.
Orange bands are allowed to parade the streets across the UK, passing their bile as cultural heritage and are in effect encouraged.
Whether overtly or covertly supported by the many they are widely followed. As a very minimum even those that don’t necessarily agree with this behaviour allow its existence. UEFA too, maybe ?
If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem
Nothing will be done, and unless someone is explaining to the Americans what a lot of those songs are about, they won’t have a clue how hateful the words are. The media in Scotland consistently ignore these songs of hate, and for a while some in our support have played right in to their hands, with the sectarian Roamin in the Gloamin parody and some of the offensive IRA chants especially at away games. I’ve noticed recently this hasn’t been happening as much, this stuff should be left to the history books.
As an auld guy I’ve got a lot of time for the GB [except for the pyros] I think in the collections for food banks and other charitable causes and there support for persecuted people around the World, they reflect what our support have always been about.
I know we as a support are on the whole better than them, but we shouldn’t give the media any chance for the whataboutery they hide behind.
Wallow Wallow is a good barometer of their fan’s mentality…
Apparently they were to have a ‘party’ (What for – Goodness only known as they’ve won fuck all) at The ‘Copeland Stairs’
They had put ‘bunting’ up and a contractor allegedly aligned to Sevco took it down to much petulant anger and ire against Sevco, Police Scotland, Glasgow ‘Fenian’ Council, and Patrick ‘Paddy’ Stewart as well…
An odd one accepted that it may have been because UEFA take over the club ‘stadium footprint’ on match days but as I say this person was the exception to the rule…
These ‘peepil’ simply don’t give a Continental Fuck about Sevco to an extent as to how a significant number of our own ‘ultras’ don’t give a Fuck either about the consequences of their actions create for Celtic FC…
It’ll be interesting to see what action against them, if any unfolds…
Probably Fuckin None !
I’d be very surprised if there was any action taken against these morons, as it continually gets overlooked.
The fear of upsetting that club and its unintelligible fans, is very apparent within our “governing” bodies ( term used very loosely) smsm ( biased sycophants) and many other bodies. UEFA should be the exception to this !!!
It is hard to comprehend why any group or body of people would choose to invest in Ibrokes and its associated bigotry !
Their full fanfare of party tunes were clearly heard, as always, so again, there is no excuse for it to be ignored and subsequently dealt with!!!
It was good to hear the Bilbao fans singing about Celtic and just a pity they couldn’t celebrate a goal or two as well.
I suppose it keeps the tie alive and it can only be hoped that Sevco are “pants” in the Basque region and Bilbao win comfortably! HH
As i and others on here have posted in the last week or so …the communications supposedly to the UBs was really to the wider fan base . Let no one be fooled by that
A very significant % of the fans at that stadium are completely INCONTINENT when it comes to expressing themselves in the only way they know how . They do not and will not care what anyone says or thinks . They will do their own thing.
The ‘relatively benign’ chats (apart from the Sash) of the 50s and 60s have gradually given way to absolute ‘malignant’ poisonous hatred and bile attacking Celtic and anyone connected to it from every possible angle . The composers and strongly active choristers are what could only be described at best as recidivist bigots and at worst simply human detritus .
Those foot tapping humming and swaying along should be ashamed as should the media and authorities who are terrified to do a thing about it .
The Americans will have no clue that they are about to invest in global footballs version of the Ku KLux Klan … I would assume due diligence will flush it out though as surely these folks are serious M and A ( Mergers and Acquisition) professionals.
If UEFA and the TRFC Board do nothing after last night …we can only assume that the bigots have won what hopefully will only be a pyrrhic victory as the day of reckoning will only be delayed .
When i was growin up. Through ignorance, the word ‘fenian’ was used as a derogatory term for a Catholic. Ah believe the same ignorance is still there with a lot of them. Its either, or either with them now. Irish republican sympathiser, or Catholic, any one will dae. Both, even better. Would be somethin, if it was brought tae their buyers notice exactly what they were singin about. Give their ‘catholic’ buyers an idea of their whole fucked up psyche.
I am 69 and this appalling racism and sectarianism is still being tolerated is still being tolerated and condoned by so called ‘progressive Scotland. I grew being called a fenian and enduring the hate fest that surrounded Celtic v Ibrox games. And yes there are some Celtic fans who are sectarian – but the vast majority of the GB songbook is political,not personal.
When I think that the SFA were discussing shutting down Celtic for flying the tricolour in the early fifties, yet this still continues no surprises. I live in Dundalk -and friends with families to had to flee from the consequences of the singers of these repulsive songs. Perhaps we cannot expect those empty vessels to know any better, but the club and their directors have monetised this for a long time without sanction or reproach.
What is despairing is the absence of any Scottish Parliamentary voice from the SNP or Labour calling this out and demanding action -it is also connived at, avoided or seen as a ‘plague on both your houses’ by so-called quality journalists and broadsheets. It is Scotland’s not so secret shame -and so glad I don’t live there anymore.
As myself and plenty of others that have previously responded in your blog James regarding the hate fest , any other race creed or colour they would be hammered, but not by the foot tapping sing along SFA , no it takes UEFA to intervene, hopefully now the sanctions kick in BIG style, the klanbase support is nothing more than a racist bigoted rally dressed up as football supporters.