ian1964

http://player.stv.tv/programmes/scotland-tonight/2011-12-13-2230/

The Scotsman did mention previous events: Earlier this month, the SPL decided to take no action against Celtic after investigating a report of pro-IRA chanting during the match against Hibs at Parkhead on 29 October. The SPL stated that it was not in dispute that “a small number of Celtic fans engaged in singing and chanting in support of the IRA” but ruled the club had taken “all reasonably practicable steps” to prevent them. Uefa have taken a harder line on an issue which Lennon has stated could “tarnish the reputation” of his club in Europe. It is the fourth time Celtic have been punished by Uefa for the conduct of their spectators within the past five years, although the first for any form of chanting. In March 2007, the club received a nominal £420 fine for two incidents of plastic bottles being thrown towards the pitch at the San Siro Stadium during a Champions League match against AC Milan. Seven months later, Celtic were found guilty of improper conduct by supporters and lack of organisation during another Champions League game against Milan at Parkhead which saw one fan enter the pitch and confront visiting goalkeeper Dida. Celtic were fined £25,000 on that occasion, half of the amount suspended for a two-year probationary period, while Dida received a two-match suspension for unsporting behaviour for reacting theatrically to the incident. In November 2008, a supporter was able to invade the pitch once more during Celtic’s home Champions League match against Manchester United. Uefa found Celtic guilty of improper conduct again, with a late kick-off to the match also cited as reason for the punishment, and fined them £42,400. http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spl/celtic_to_appeal_illicit_chanting_fine_1_2005365

This Les Gray is a tool,he should state what sectarian songs he heard. Wank of a man.

The Portland club is excellent,I was up there working last season and was at the Rangers game,1-1 game,hassle free up there

http://leggoland2.blogspot.com/

Maybe it's because he doesn't really like the guy

Without slagging him off he didn't do a very good job,saying that I couldn't do much better,but then again that's why I wouldn't do it.

John McMillan representing rangers

scotlandTonight ScotlandTonight @kevinmcguigan Our discussion is on the Offensive Behaviour Bill. We are offering fans reps a platform to participate in this discussion. 22 minutes ago via TweetDeck https://twitter.com/#!/ScotlandTonight

DORIN GOIAN today revealed he would be willing to end his career at Rangers by signing a new deal with the Ibrox club. The Romanian defender arrived at the SPL champions at the beginning of the season when Ally McCoist snapped him up from Italian side Palermo in a £700,000 move. But his impressive performances at the heart of the defence have forced Rangers to already open talks as they look to dangle the carrot of improved terms â?? as long as he is willing to sign a long-term deal. Goian penned a two-year deal in the summer, so would not be out of contract until the end of next season. However, he has admitted he is so happy in Glasgow he would certainly consider the possibility of ending his top-level playing career at Rangers. The 31-year-old said:â??I can tell you that I cannot think of a better way to finish my career than at Rangers. â??I donâ??t want to think about that moment now because you never know what the future will offer.â? And a huge incentive for Goian to extend his time in Scotland is the prospect of more encounters with Old Firm rivals Celtic. The Rangers stopper, who has formed an impressive partnership with Carlos Bocanegra at the back, immediately fell in love with one of the worldâ??s most famous derby clashes when he helped his side to a 4-2 victory at Ibrox in September. With a trip to Parkhead looming at the end of this month, Goian is already looking forward to the top-of-the-table clash and trying to please the supporters who have made such an impact on the player this season. He said: â??Every match we play is with a full stadium â?? 50,000 spectators every time â?? and in away matches half the stadium is filled with our fans. â??You just cannot help loving them. After Christmas, we are going to play Celtic and I canâ??t wait for it â?? itâ??s going to be an inferno. â??Even now, when I speak about it, I get goose bumps. Are we favourites? I guess we maybe are. We are first in the championship, four points ahead of Celtic. It is only halfway, but I really want to win the title here in Scotland. â??And a win against Celtic is wonderful. The satisfaction when you see all those fans so happy is everything that a footballer wishes for.â? Goian is also just as happy with life in Glasgow. He added: â??As a city, Glasgow is very nice. In my spare time, I like to walk in the city centre. â??Itâ??s a wonderful place and parts of it are of a rare beauty. Itâ??s a really nice place to live and raise a family. â??Life is good for me now. Things are very good in Scotland, even the rhythm of games is very quick and sharp. There are no dead moments in the game. Nobody is trying to cheat or fool the referee and the players do not waste any time. â??I tell you, it is something incredible. Itâ??s beyond even my best dreams.â? http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/dorin-goian-eyes-new-deal-at-rangers-1.1139567

I thought this was always the basis for Rangers dispute?

On Wednesday 14th December Take a Liberty (Scotland) founder Stuart Waiton will hand over the petition against the Offensive Behaviour Bill, which contains 3348 signatures. As Waiton argues, It is a serious problem for the moral credibility of the law, and the political credibility of the government that a law is about to be passed that could see someone imprisoned for up to five years, and yet many many people do not even think that there is a crime being committed here. Looking at the comments made on the petition it is interesting to note the increasing argument about freedom of speech. Comments included, â??I simply believe in free speech, therefore I oppose the billâ??, and â??Bad, bad law. Anti-freedom of speech and freedom of thought legislationâ?? also, â??This legislation is so Machiavellian in nature it must be questioned and stopped ... Consign inquisitions to the dark agesâ??. Roseanna Cunningham may like to present her Bill as forward thinking and very â??modernâ??. The above signatories clearly donâ??t see things that way. Others who oppose the Bill see a form of political grandstanding taking place, and also a confused focus on fans rather than those who commit actual crimes. As they argue, · I see more antisocial behaviour at concerts and in the taxi ranks at the weekend than I do at the football. I have been supporting Scottish football as a paying customer for more than 40 years and am seriously considering this to be my last season due to this. · SNP's shame why not focus on real crimes? · The economy's in meltdown but what's the SNP priority arresting fans for singing songs total nonsense. The SNP and those pushing the Offensive Behaviour Bill like to talk about â??right thinking peopleâ?? and the type of behaviour that can be accepted, one wonders if the commentators below fit the model of being â??right thinkingâ??? As a former member of the SNP, I am disgusted at how authoritarian the party has become. We can't say Scotland requires the right of liberty if we do not recognise that the people also do. This law erodes civil liberties and should be repealed. As a law student it is clear to me that this proposed legislation is a direct attack upon the average football fan, no matter what his team or culture is and as such it must be scrapped before we all live in fear of going to support our teams, Supporting Your Team Is Not A Crime. As Waiton argues, You donâ??t have to be an extremist or a criminal to oppose this Bill and it will be a sad say for freedom if it is passed. This is reality is Scotlandâ??s Shame. The petition will be handed over as part of a protest against the Bill at 1.30pm. The petition can be found via http://takealiberty.blogspot.com/ -- Dr Stuart Waiton

Celtic will not appeal UEFA fine The parkhead club has decedied against appealing UEFA's fine for "illicit chanting" Celtic have announced that they will not appeal the fine imposed by UEFA for "illicit chanting" during a Europa League match. The European governing body announced that it was fining the club £12,700 for the behaviour of a section of their support during a match against Rennes on November 3. In a statement on the club's official website, chief executive Peter Lawwell said: “The heavy fine imposed by UEFA is an indication of the seriousness with which it treats such matters. We would re-iterate our own position that however small a minority is involved, such chanting is not welcome at Celtic Football Club. “Clearly, it is very disappointing and a source of real regret amongst our supporters that Celtic´s proud history of exemplary conduct has been tarnished in this way by such a tiny minority. “However, this is a clear warning that such behaviour will not be tolerated and together, Celtic Football Club and our supporters will do all we can to ensure that this incident is not repeated. “We would like to thank our supporters for their magnificent conduct since the match against Rennes. We are proud of the fantastic and positive reputation we have established across Europe over many years, and the Club and our fans will be doing all we can to ensure that this is protected.” http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottis...eal-uefa-fine/

Remember the explosive coverage Grant Adam,Rangers 3rd choice goalie,received for singing something on a night out as well?. Biased Broadcasting Company indeed.

http://leggoland2.blogspot.com/

CELTIC believe the £13,000 fine imposed by UEFA for 'illicit chanting' is over the top. Last night angry Hoops chiefs were still pondering an appeal against the decision. Celtic fans have been found guilty by Euro beaks of singing offensive songs during a Europa League match last month. UEFA had it brought to their attention by police match commander Eddie Smith that there were pro-IRA songs during the Europa League clash with Rennes on November 3. That prompted an investigation which included the use of police video footage, with Euro beaks yesterday revealing their decision to impose a fine. SunSport understands Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell and his board are taking legal advice before deciding their next step. It's understood they are unhappy with the punishment as they believe it to be too severe. They accept supporters are guilty of illicit chanting, but believe it was only a small minority and that should be taken into consideration. Hoops chiefs have until tomorrow to file an appeal. They only released a short statement last night. But they will now consider their options over the next 24 hours. Celts will ask for more details on how UEFA reached their decision after being given no explanation in their official correspondence. They will also look back at previous fines handed out to other clubs for their first offence. A spokesman said: "We received notification of the fine this afternoon with no detail. "The club is currently considering its position." Celtic escaped punishment from SPL bosses for a similar offence two months ago. Smith reported their supporters for offensive chanting during a SPL game against Hibs on October 29. But the Parkhead club were told that they had taken 'all reasonably practical steps' to prevent offensive chanting inside the stadium on that occasion. Old Firm rivals Rangers have previously been hammered by UEFA for similar offences. Last April they punished the Ibrox club for two counts of 'discriminatory behaviour' when they played PSV. Rangers were fined 80,000 euros and their fans were banned from travelling to their next European away game. In addition, Gers were handed a suspended ban on a second away game and warned they faced playing a home game behind closed doors if found guilty of the same offence within three years. UEFA had fined Rangers following similar incidents involving their travelling fans in European matches against Villarreal and Osasuna. Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3994819/IRA-chants-cost-Hoops.html#ixzz1gMzImKgy

This decision is going down a treat over on kiddyfiddlerstreet:tongue:

Micheal Grant

Disgruntled Aberdeen fans carried a coffin emblazoned with the clubâ??s crest and the message â??RIP â?? Thank you Milneâ?? to Pittodrie ahead of this weekendâ??s 2-2 draw with St Mirren. The Dons, who were bottom of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League prior to the match, surrendered a two-goal lead to share the spoils with the Buddies. A small group of supporters angry at the clubâ??s recent plight sent out a message to club chairman Stewart Milne by marching down Pittodrie Street carrying the black coffin before laying it at the clubâ??s front door. The video has already received hundreds of views on YouTube. A new website called Aberdeen for Change has also been set up by a group of fans who are concerned about the clubâ??s lack of progression. Much of the groupâ??s anger is about the amount of money being spent on a new £38m stadium at Loirston Loch while a threadbare squad continues to struggle on the park. On their website the group describes themselves as â??an organised, collective group of supporters, seeking to reverse the current plight of Aberdeen Football Club. â??By adopting constructive and credible discussion we aim to bring about much-needed changes at the club. â??We are aiming to create a better future for Aberdeen FC and its supporters. We will do this by focusing on what can be done now for the long-term good of the club.â? http://local.stv.tv/aberdeen/news/21865-disgruntled-aberdeen-fans-carry-coffin-to-pittodrie/ RIP Aberdeen fc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJgBW3NTsBc&feature=youtu.be

FORMER Rangers defender Carlos Cuellar is set to leave Aston Villa next month – but the Spaniard will not be making a dramatic return to Ibrox. Cuellar was one of a host of defensive options on Gers boss Ally McCoist’s radar during the summer as he attempted to strengthen his squad, but no deal was put in place. Cuellar has fallen out of favour with Villa Park boss Alex McLeish and is set to leave the Midlands when the transfer window re-opens. A return to Glasgow would be popular with the Rangers support but attacking reinforcements are likely to be McCoist’s priority. Meanwhile, Thomas Bendiksen is in talks with Tromso over a move. The 22-year-old has been offered a new deal to extend his stay in Glasgow but could return home to Norway. Bendiksen said: “Rangers have offered me an extension of two-and-a-half years from January 1. “I’m considering that and my agent and the club are continuing to talk. I will consider all the options I have before making a decision. “Talks with Tromso are going well, but I don’t want to say any more about that. My agent is taking care of it so I can concentrate on football.” Elsewhere, Rangers have distanced themselves from a move for Semir Stilic. The 24-year-old was linked with a switch to Ibrox in his homeland but the Bosnian midfielder is not a target for McCoist. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/no-ibrox-return-now-for-carlos-cuellar-1.1139366

SPL clubs should be docked points if they don't tackle bigotry among their fans, Labour claimed last night. The radical idea is the centrepiece of the party's plan to stamp out sectarianism. They claim it's a better option than the Scottish Government's controversial new anti-bigotry law, which MSPs will be asked to back this week. Labour say their scheme, which also includes calls for better education for youngsters, wouldn't require a law change. Clubs would face warnings, then fines and finally lost points, if their fans continued to misbehave. Labour's Shadow Community Safety Minister, James Kelly, said that under his plan, "the behaviour of fans could mean the difference between winning and losing the league". He added that, with stakes that high, he was confident of changing the behaviour of the minority of fans who spout sectarian hatred. Kelly urged SPL bosses to back the scheme, but Rangers FC said Labour's plan was "unnecessary". The club said: "The SPL already has measures in place to deal with inappropriate behaviour by supporters." Rangers said clubs were already required to show they were tackling bad behaviour by fans, and should not "automatically be punished for things beyond their control". Rangers added: "We do a great deal to tackle sectarianism. The focus should be on people and organisations working together to address the issue, rather than placing the ills of society at the doors of football clubs." Celtic said they had "not had an issue" with sectarianism at their club. They added that it was "a societal issue, and should not be laid solely at the door of football clubs". Fans of both Old Firm sides have protested against the Government's bigotry Bill. They claim it is an attack on free speech that could see fans jailed for five years for singing. The Bill is due to come before Parliament on Wednesday and is likely to pass because of the SNP's overall majority. It criminalises religious, racial or homophobic bigotry at football matches. The Bill will create two new crimes - sectarian and threatening behaviour at or around games, and stirring up religious hatred on the internet. Both will carry jail terms of up to five years. Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories have refused to back the proposed new law, which critics have described as "not fit for purpose" and a potential nightmare to police. And Community Safety Minister Roseanna Cunningham has tabled a last-minute amendment which would give the Government a get-out if the Bill proves unworkable. It would let ministers use minor legislation to "disapply" parts of the law, allowing a quick u-turn. A Scottish Government spokesman said ministers would continue to take "an inclusive approach" to tackling sectarianism, and had spent s500,000 backing anti-hate groups. He added: "We need to tackle the scourge of sectarianism wherever and whenever it occurs - on the terraces, in the street, or at the workplace." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2011/12/12/labour-call-for-spl-clubs-to-be-docked-points-for-fans-offensive-chanting-in-new-plan-to-beat-bigotry-86908-23629213/

http://leggoland2.blogspot.com/

TAKE three men who are experts in their game and sit them down to watch exactly the same action. How can it be that they will see things differently and make different calls? That issue â?? supposed inconsistency â?? has been at the heart of the Sone Aluko furore. Rangers were entitled to fight their corner but to rage about inconsistency in the Scottish Football Association's decision-making process made no sense. Deciding whether someone took a dive isn't an exact science. Two rival supporters will see an incident and have totally different views of what happened. The guys on SFA panels are the same as everyone else: they watch a bit of play and have their own opinions on it. It's part of what makes sport such an addiction in the first place. The SFA was pilloried for arriving at two different verdicts on Garry O'Connor and Aluko, as if the two of them had been brought to the dock in absolutely identical circumstances. However, different "judges" watched different sets of evidence on different incidents, and listened to different defence cases from different people, on pieces of play which happened several weeks apart. The uproar over them reaching two different outcomes was exaggerated. Two nights ago Amir Khan lost his world titles on a split decision. In other words, three expert judges sat at ringside, watched the same fight, and saw different things. It happens. The SFA were far more consistent with O'Connor and Aluko than Rangers acknowledged. In both cases the compliance officer, Vincent Lunny, did exactly the same thing: he looked at media coverage, watched the incidents several times, and on each occasion decided there was a case to answer. He offered Hibernian and Rangers exactly the same thing: they could take a two-game suspension for their player or else try to defend him in front of a Judicial Panel. Both clubs gambled on getting their man off the hook. O'Connor was running from left to right across the box, heading into the centre, attacking one defender rather than several when he was "brought down" by an outstretched leg. Aluko was on the other side, sprinting towards the line, and had wriggled into a pocket of space when he claimed he was brought down by a defender touching him on the arm. Three men looked at O'Connor's incident, listened to Hibs, and decided he was innocent. Three different men watched Aluko again on television, listened to Rangers, and judged that he should be punished. Every single week two managers blether away at a post-match press conference and sound as if they've both just watched two totally different games. Where the SFA does leave itself open to criticism is on the severity of the punishment. An offence is an offence. If Aluko's dive was spotted by referee Steve Conroy at the time he'd have received a booking. But because the referee missed it he received a two-game suspension which he would otherwise have needed 12 yellow cards to reach. This should be consistent. Let's be clear, the decision not to punish O'Connor was astonishing. The one thing he and Aluko had in common â?? in my opinion â?? was that they both dived to get a penalty and should both have been done for it. But who's to say Hibs didn't go into the Judicial Review Panel and present an outstanding, well-argued defence of their player? Who's to say McCoist and Aluko didn't go into Hampden and come across poorly? Certainly, if Rangers' defence relied too heavily on that photograph showing Martin Hardie's hand on Aluko's arm, it's no wonder they were unsuccessful. If a player really was "entitled to go down" at contact like that, football is finished. Every touch between two players would see them both collapse as if electrocuted. Pitches would look like the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan. One other thing the SFA could address is who sits on high-profile cases, as the Aluko one was sure to be. With all due respect to them, involving the gentlemen from Threave Rovers and the Scottish Schools FA gives out the wrong message. Scottish Premier League figures cannot sit on SPL cases (a sensible rule which prevents conflicts of interest) but the next best thing would be to have, say, a couple of first division men sitting on the "bigger" cases. McCoist's statement of "rules for some and rules for others", implying that Rangers get punished when others don't, was out of character. That's not a claim that can be taken seriously when it's based on only two or three examples. Let's see at the end of the season if Rangers players have been hammered time and time again while Celtic have gotten away with things. Let's not dignify the idea that all these folk will be out to get Rangers. Decision making is subjective and inconsistency is unavoidable. But the SFA's new disciplinary process looks faster and more transparent than the confused, ponderous mess which preceded it. It looked so impressive that it was voted through unanimously at the SFA's annual general meeting in June. And, in full knowledge of its inevitable imperfections, Rangers voted for it too. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/...-made.16126797 Edit/Delete Message

LEIGH GRIFFITHS is on a collision course with the SFA following an inflammatory gesture towards Rangers fans. The Hibs striker reacted in front of the travelling support during his side's 2-0 defeat at Easter Road on Saturday. The incident was highlighted by ESPN during their live coverage and it is understood referee Iain Brines is set to include it in his match report. St Johnstone boss Steve Lomas was hit with a one-match touchline ban following a similar flashpoint at Ibrox last month. The precedent has been set as far as the SFA are concerned and their Judicial Panel are now likely to hammer Griffiths. Hibs boss Pat Fenlon was still waiting to study TV replays last night, but he has vowed to take action if sanctions are imposed on Griffiths. Fenlon said: "That's the first I have heard of it. I will have to see it first before I can comment on it, I didn't see it during the game. "If he's done it then you can't condone it and we'll make sure we sort it out." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3992590/Leigh-Griffiths-in-sign-storm.html#ixzz1gJ0ApJUl

2-0 to Stoke now