Flying The Flag

[GovanAllan 0]

I've tweeted him asking if he is also offended by the tweets about Willie Collum. Everyone else should too

 

We should tweet every news outlet because i have seen NO COVERAGE ANYWHERE, yet when the Offensive act came in and there were TWO arrests out of 50,000 at Ibrox that was big news.

When were the arrests made I was away.

[BlueMazza 0]

When were the arrests made I was away.

 

I don't even think they were in relation to the new bill. I'll try and find the article but it was mentioned that two arrests were made and the bill had come in to force.

[calscot 0]

I think the arrests were just the normal breach of the peace at a football match - of which there were two out of 50,000 people. The papers just put them in the same story as the new law to sensationalise them. I don't remember any confirmation that the arrests were done using the new law.

 

Really the story should have been about how amazingly well behaved supporters are at matches these days... but that doesn't sell newspapers.

[GovanAllan 0]

I think the arrests were just the normal breach of the peace at a football match - of which there were two out of 50,000 people. The papers just put them in the same story as the new law to sensationalise them. I don't remember any confirmation that the arrests were done using the new law.

 

Really the story should have been about how amazingly well behaved supporters are at matches these days... but that doesn't sell newspapers.

 

Just the usual media spin then, don't let the facts get in the way of a story.

[BlueMazza 0]

Yep here is the headline used: New bigot laws kick off... just 2 fans get carted off

 

COPS arrested just two football fans at matches involving the Old Firm yesterday — on the first weekend of games since tough new anti-sectarian laws were introduced.

31 comments

 

 

Officers detained one 47-year-old outside Ibrox stadium during Rangers' clash with Hearts.

 

Another supporter was huckled out of the ground during the crisis-hit club's 2-1 defeat by the Jambos.

 

The pair could now face a staggering FIVE YEARS in prison if they are charged under the controversial Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act which finally came into force on Thursday.

 

And they could be banned from soccer grounds if found to be indulging in bigoted and threatening behaviour which could incite violence at and around games.

 

The Act was borne out of a series of high-profile bust-ups and sectarian incidents last season which shamed Scottish football.

 

And the law was pushed through by the SNP at Holyrood last November — despite huge opposition from clubs, fans' groups, church leaders and legal experts.

 

There were NO arrests during yesterday's showdown between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie — but yesterday's crackdown at Ibrox has led to yet more concerns over freedom of expression.

 

Peter Kearney, of the Catholic Church, said: "We are in favour of the threatening communications element and clamping down on web hate. But the new law risks infringing freedom of expression because the term offensiveness is so wide.

 

"Isn't 50,000 rugby fans singing Flower of Scotland offensive to English people?"

 

Mr Kearney, below left, added: "What is the main job of a football fan? It is to cheer on their team and offend opponents. In the confines of a stadium fans shout abuse at one another, which is not abnormal.

 

"Part of the thing about football is you let off steam. I think we would rather there is screaming and shouting in the ground than physical violence in the street."

 

A massive 3,330 signatures OPPOSING the law have already been amassed by the Take a Liberty (Scotland) campaign.

 

The drive is the brainchild of university boffin Dr Stuart Waiton.

 

The 44-year-old said: "Scottish football is probably now the most regulated environment in the world. You can be offensive as a comic, a rugby fan or as lots of people — but clearly not as a football fan.

 

"There's an old form of contempt for working-class football fans. Sectarianism in Scotland has not got very much to do with religion.

 

"So the fact the government bangs on about religion, when it means less and less to people, is peculiar.

 

"Sectarianism doesn't mean Protestants hate Catholics, it's a football thing.

 

"You have ordinary people singing songs in order to wind up the opposition.

 

"There is no need to 'tolerate' a football fan's behaviour, because the passion and even the offensiveness on display is what helps make it the greatest game in the world."

 

And Scottish Tory justice spokesman David McLetchie said: "This is just the beginning of what will be a flood of prosecutions as established laws are ignored in favour of this new legislation. This will no doubt be presented as a great success by the SNP but in reality it is a complete sham as the existing laws were more than adequate to deal with this behaviour."

 

But the law WAS praised by the groundbreaking Nil By Mouth group who have branded sectarian bigotry as Scotland's "cancer".

 

Director Dave Scott said: "We will be monitoring how the new law is being implemented closely. Judging by our inbox I suspect the online aspect of the law will be the one to watch.

 

"The internet is being used to bring sectarianism into the 21st century and people feel that they can peddle it without consequences."

 

And Roseanna Cunningham the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, said the Act was designed to ensure most fans can enjoy the game.

 

She said: "The overwhelming majority of fans who have been supporting their teams in the true spirit of the game for years have absolutely nothing to fear from this legislation. In fact it is designed to improve their experience, ensuring they can focus on football and not be distracted by the mindless, hateful prejudices of a small minority.

 

"This legislation will have no impact on the banter and passionate support that goes hand in hand with supporting football teams.

 

"It is not about discouraging the rivalry that is the lifeblood of football — it is about eradicating sectarianism and other unacceptable expressions of hate from our national game."

 

She said the government had taken a hard line against the bigots after pleas from police and prosecutors.

 

Ms Cunningham added: "The majority of Scots, 91 per cent, supported tougher action to tackle sectarianism.

 

"This legislation will not be the one-stop solution to all our problems. That is why I recently announced £9million over the next three years to continue work to tackle sectarianism across society.

 

"Attitudes change over time and this marks the beginning of the end of the shame that has blighted our glorious game for too long

 

 

 

Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/4170801/New-bigot-laws-kick-off-just-2-fans-get-carted-off.html#ixzz1pZYpJwYf

 

Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/4170801/New-bigot-laws-kick-off-just-2-fans-get-carted-off.html#ixzz1pZYePtCR

 

(Yes I KNOW it's the Scum. I fucking hate that rag!)

[BlueMazza 0]

The way they termed the article, makes it read as though the arrests were for the new act.

[GovanAllan 0]

That is a shocking piece of journalism but sadly it doesn't surprise me.

[calscot 0]

Officers detained one 47-year-old outside Ibrox stadium during Rangers' clash with Hearts.

 

Another supporter was huckled out of the ground during the crisis-hit club's 2-1 defeat by the Jambos.

 

The pair could now face a staggering FIVE YEARS in prison if they are charged under the controversial Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act which finally came into force on Thursday.

 

And they could be banned from soccer grounds if found to be indulging in bigoted and threatening behaviour which could incite violence at and around games.

 

The Act was borne out of a series of high-profile bust-ups and sectarian incidents last season which shamed Scottish football.

 

And the law was pushed through by the SNP at Holyrood last November — despite huge opposition from clubs, fans' groups, church leaders and legal experts.

 

There were NO arrests during yesterday's showdown between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie — but yesterday's crackdown at Ibrox has led to yet more concerns over freedom of expression.

 

Peter Kearney, of the Catholic Church, said: "We are in favour of the threatening communications element and clamping down on web hate. But the new law risks infringing freedom of expression because the term offensiveness is so wide.

 

"Isn't 50,000 rugby fans singing Flower of Scotland offensive to English people?"

 

 

A complete non story of coulds and buts with an obvious anti-Rangers and pro-Catholic slant.

 

What crackdown?

 

Kearney is obviously an idiot if he thinks 50,000 English fans are offended by Flower of Scotland.

 

"The supporters COULD face a staggering portion of tea and buns IF they are not charged for anything, as arresting officers COULD do this as part of an apology.

 

"There were NO arrests at the Celtic game as that COULD have incited violence at the game."

 

[BlueMazza 0]

Yeah I highlighted the bit that annoyed me the most. The NO arrests between the sheep & septic and 'crackdown'.

 

For a start, one of the arrests was OUTSIDE of Ibrox DURING the game. Potential Septic fan causing trouble? Or Glaswegian Jambo? Nothing to suggest actually they are related to football.

 

Which leaves us with ONE person arrested from 50,000 (or near on), which gives an arrest rate of what? 0.00002% . Fucking shocking. We should be kicked out of Scottish football, definitely Scotland's shame eh?

 

Wankers.

[Max Rebo's Big Blue Nose 0]

To be honest, I'd rather Ibrox was a sea of blue flags rather than Union Jacks/flags but hey if it's raising money...