VanguardBears' - Celtic FC - The Untouchables?

[der Berliner 3,263]

Celtic FC. The Untouchables. (link with video evidence: VanguardBears )

 

As Celtic last night released a statement questioning the integrity of the Police, against the word of the Republican Green Brigade, it should have registered across the country that Celtic FC believe they have impunity to do as they wish in Scotland, and to challenge any authority that does not bow to their will.

 

While you would expect a normal football club to firstly not allow such a hate filled "political" group to fester, and secondly to support the Police in enforcing the law against miscreants in its own support, that is not the way with Celtic FC.

 

Throughout their history, there have been Celtic employees and executives who have occasionally displayed a public contempt for other cultures in Scotland, but until recent years, it appeared that there was still a will within the club to at least respect the law of the land. I say "appeared", as the club has previously given lip service to the Green Brigade, but never actually done anything to address this cancer in its support.

 

There is a common misconception that there is a line that is never crossed when either Rangers or Celtic talk about each other. Sadly, it appears that the only people who respect this mythical line are Rangers. Nevertheless, this particular episode does not directly concern Rangers FC, although it should concern both Rangers supporters, and right thinking citizens in this country.

 

The statement on Celtic's website not only questioned the integrity of Strathclyde Police, but trusted complaints from those IRA Propagandists present, and provided an email address for further complaints that was for the "independent" pressure group fighting against the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012:

 

"Celtic Football Club Statement

By: Newsroom Staff on 18 Mar, 2013 18:07

 

CELTIC Football Club today, Monday, released the following statement.

 

'The safety and well-being of Celtic supporters is of paramount importance to the Club. The Club is very concerned to see imagery of Saturday's march by members of the Green Brigade from Gallowgate to Celtic Park, and subsequent claims by supporters of police harassment and heavy-handed policing.

 

This is an issue which the Club takes very seriously. Once again we would urge any supporter who feels that they have been a victim of such harassment to contact the Club with details by using the following email addresses fansagainstcriminalisation@gmail.com and operations@celticfc.co.uk in order that we can formally raise such matters with Strathclyde Police.

 

We should remind supporters that the Club has set up a working group, which is independently chaired, to establish a Complaints Review Panel to oversee the complaints' process and improve transparency.

 

Any suggestion of collusion between the Club and Strathclyde Police is, quite frankly, ludicrous.

 

The Celtic support has a long and well-established reputation for good behaviour and everyone is very proud of that and keen to ensure that it continues.

 

In the meantime we will be writing to the Chief Constable to ask for a full report on Saturday's events."

 

Of course, this group is not independent, but is a front for Celtic supporters groups who don't like a law being anti-sectarian.

 

According to "Celtic Quick News" fans against criminalisation (FAC) is "…a campaign group founded by five fan organisations (Green Brigade, Celtic Trust, Celtic Supporters Association, Affiliation of Celtic Supporters, and the Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs)."

 

http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/?p=6790

 

It is also veiled in secrecy, with the only public faces being known bigot Joe O;Rourke of the SCA, and known IRA supporter Jeanette Findlay of the Celtic Trust.

 

Despite the illegality of the Green Brigade's march, and the arrests at said illegal march for a number of alleged offences, the focus of Celtic has been to deflect from the behaviour of their own supporters.

 

From STV

 

"On Saturday, 13 fans were arrested by Strathclyde Police during a street procession before the Glasgow side hosted Aberdeen in the Scottish Premier League.

 

Images and videos of the incident captured and shared on social media depicted a high number of police kettling supporters affiliated with the 'ultras' group, which the Parkhead club was "very concerned to see".

 

The Green Brigade had previously stated the protest was in response to "harassment" of its members by Strathclyde Police and bans imposed on its fans by Celtic management and the procurator fiscal.

 

On Monday, Strathclyde Police confirmed five of the supporters arrested were released and will be reported to the procurator fiscal over the incident.

 

The remaining eight were also released on an undertaking to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court at a later date.

 

A police spokeswoman confirmed the arrests related to several alleged offences including breach of the peace, police assault, resisting arrest and misuse of drugs"

 

What has also been very interesting is that the march had been publicised for a number of weeks, but approval had never been sought from the authorities. In fact to some, it almost looks like this march was intended to provoke Strathclyde Police in order to mount a propaganda campaign against this Police force. Why? This is not yet clear.

 

There may have been some of the Green Brigade present on Saturday happy to be martyrs, but it is more likely that the youngsters and neds who comprise the group have been used and abused by the manipulators behind the illegal staged protest.

 

Those present have been allowed a platform to make unsubstantiated allegations against the Police, and have been publicly backed by a number of Celtic supporting councillors, MSPs, journalists and other public figures. They have shown themselves to be supporters of bigots, neds and supporters of terrorists.

 

They have no place in public life, and I hope that the electorate take note, as do the purchasers of newspapers.

 

While the Green Brigade may have taken along a blogger, a "civil rights expert" (who just happened to be there by accident) and photographers in order to begin its IRA-style propaganda campaign, it is my understanding that several of the puppet string pullers were not present.

 

Amongst the propaganda nonsense that has come out have been claims from the Green Brigade that women and children were caught up in the "kettling" episode (this is classic Provo style Propaganda), they have neglected to mention that they should not have allowed women and children to take part of an illegal march (interestingly there are none in any of the pictures published anywhere), and nor should they have arranged the march to take place near shops such as "The Untouchables" or "The Pram centre" where innocent families would be shopping.

 

It is these innocent people and those shopping at The Barras that the Police were trying to protect, and who the Green Brigade have shown disrespect to.

 

It's these innocent members of the public that councillors and MSPs should be speaking out for.

 

Why should pregnant women and young children be put at risk from an illegal march by Irish Republicans?

 

While Irish Republican extremists have in recent years appeared to have completely taken over the Gallowgate, with the IRA-associated Cairde group offices, and several Republican pubs and shops, it is NOT their area, and should not be a no-go area for non-Celtic supporters and non-Republicans.

 

The wider public have to be protected from such extremists. Businesses and innocent families should be protected.

 

Of course, the press in Scotland is failing the public once again, as they conform to the expectations of the propagandists, instead of asking what the objective of all those involved is.

 

The real question is to ask Celtic why they are allowing known bigots and known terrorist supporters to communicate with fans via its official website. Why are they doing it?

 

Are they trying to destabilise the leadership of the Strathclyde Police force as the Scottish Police amalgamation approaches? Do they want their own man in? Are they trying to officially make the "offensive behaviour…" act an act that only applies to Rangers supporters?

 

Of course, many Rangers fans are far too trusting of Celtic supporters, and never suspect that agendas at play will impact us, or are intended to impact us, but there are many actions in recent years by Peter Lawwell's Celtic that have shown just how deep they will sink toin order to provide positive PR for their own club, and to damage Rangers.

 

The Celtic-driven SPL agenda to strip Rangers of titles should serve as an immediate reminder of how this club operates. The attendance of senior Celtic media official Tony Hamilton at the Berwick v Rangers tie prior to the ESPN mock outrage at Rangers' songbook should also register. There was the fake tour of Japan in order to prevent an extension to season 2007/2008, deliberately damaging Rangers chances of winning both the league and the UEFA cup. And then there was the cancelling of a match against Rangers following the tragic death of Phil O'Donnell are two such recent examples of many more.

 

The hypocrisy of the postponement of the match due to O'Donnell's death in particular, shows the levels that Lawwell's Celtic will stoop to. O'Donnell had not played for Celtic for many years, and in fact had been pilloried by Celtic supporters after rejecting a new contract in favour of a move to Sheffield Wednesday.

 

His memory was abused in order to cancel a match because Celtic's most dangerous player (Aiden Mcgeady) was injured, and because Celtic were lagging behind in the title race.

 

Contrast that with the response at Celtic to the death of club legend Tommy Burns. While O'Donnell had played 90 times for Celtic, Burns was a club legend who played over 350 times over 15 years, coached at the club, and managed for 3 years, and was still employed at the club when he died.

 

His death did not result in a Rangers vs. Celtic match being cancelled. In fact, with Celtic leading the league race and Rangers struggling, the mantra that came out from Parkhead was "Win it for Tommy".

 

Furthermore, my understanding is that Celtic requested that Tommy Burns' distraught widow did NOT ask Ally McCoist and Walter Smith to be pall bearers at his funeral, despite it being Tommy's wish.

 

Thankfully she saw sense, and the moment that it appeared there was some humanity and peace in Glasgow is to her credit, and hers alone.

 

The events of the last few days should ring serious alarm bells for all Rangers fans, and not just the Union Bears, who face the ultimate insult of being likened to the Green Brigade.

 

Those of us who saw how persistent the Celtic support were in exploiting the EBT situation at Rangers, and those who remember Celtic's campaign to get Hugh Dallas thrown out of the SFA, because he made a decision in a match they disagreed with, can see a trend here.

 

This Celtic regime, and their associates in powerful places are going to take on the Police and will not stop.

 

It's up to right thinking citizens to challenge the lies and propaganda, and ensure that this agenda does not ultimately leave Rangers fans as the only group exposed to the "offensive behaviour" bill, or that a final piece in the government appointed justice jigsaw is filled with "their man".

 

Don't expect anyone else to do it.

 

So, contact your local politicians to express your concern at the agenda, and let them know that a small minority of bigots should not dictate how appointments are made, how laws are interpreted or what areas we can go to...

 

(NB: The article is not mine, dB)

[RANGERRAB 3,273]

Excellent article as usual from VB.

[aweebluesoandso 290]

Very accurate and sums them up.

[GovanAllan 0]

And we wring our hands when a few bad words slip out.

[ian1964 10,429]

Leggat

 

CELTIC AND LAWWELL'S DANGEROUS LINK TO FASCIST LAWBREAKERS

 

IT is surprising that Peter Lawwell should have allowed Celtic to become entangled in the Green Brigade’s public disorder, a matter which had clearly nothing to do with football and, therefore, nothing to do with Celtic.

 

It looks very much as though Peter Lawwell is backing the Green Brigade, thus putting Celtic in the position of being in open confrontation with the law of the land.

 

Lawwell is usually more cute than that. I wonder what it was that might have spooked him?

 

Unless of course Peter Lawwell’s perception of Celtic is that they are a political organisation. A matter which I am sure would be of interest to FIFA and UEFA, who not only deplore such associations, but take action against clubs who go down that road.

 

Because the facts of the matter are that a bunch of IRA supporting Fascists, some of them wearing green and white, gathered in Glasgow City Centre with the clear intention of breaking the law. They were not supporting a football team and did not come into contact with fans of any rival team.

 

Hundreds of them gathered in defiance of the law at a location more than a mile away from where Celtic were due to play at their Parkhead home and two hours or more before the match was due to kick off.

 

What followed was nothing to do with football. It was an overt act of lawlessness, not linked to fans fighting with supporters of a rival club which, for instance would be deemed to be football violence.

 

This was nothing to do with football.

 

For Peter Lawwell to allow Celtic to become involved to the extent of promising to facilitate any complaints anybody in this group of Fascist Ultras may have against Strathclyde Police is strange. Some may even say, sinister.

 

It is certainly strange that Lawwell and Celtic would wish to be seen to take part in some politically motivated action against good order being maintained on the streets of Glasgow. Not in the environs of a soccer ground, but elsewhere where there was no football connection.

 

Celtic’s statement, vigorously denying what the club indulged in any collusion with the police, can only mean one thing. That nobody at Celtic, especially chief executive Peter Lawwell had any advance notion that there was going to be a pre planned incident of law breaking in Glasgow City Centre on Saturday afternoon.

 

For had Lawwell, or anyone else employed by Celtic, had such prior knowledge, then it would have been their civic duty to have informed the police. Which is nothing to do with collusion, which was strange word for Lawwell to sanction.

 

Am I right?

 

There also appears to be a further attempt to muddy the waters about what happened at Glasgow Cross, in the Galllowgate and around the Barras on Saturday and why, with the Herald’s Gerry Braiden giving a platform in his paper to wildly inaccurate theories from Labour politicians.

 

For instance, in yesterday’s Herald, Braiden, who is in open communication on his official Herald Twitter account with a man officially branded as being tarred with the brush of sectarianism, Philmagiollabhain, quotes Glasgow Labour Councillor George Ryan as trying to link the lawlessness on Glasgow streets with the Offensive Behaviour At Football Act.

 

Except that the 300 IRA supporting Fascists who attempted to bring terror to the streets of Glasgow were not at a football match. They were nowhere near a football match.

 

Labour MSP Michael McMahon was another provided with a platform by Gerry Braiden to spout this rubbish in the Herald. According to McMahon, all the warnings about the Bill are now coming to pass.

 

These politicians, who apprear to have been joined by Celtic and Peter Lawwell, are playing a dangerous game by associating with a group which supports the IRA and takes it leads from the extreme right wing Fascist Ultra groups who have made racism such a problem throughout Europe.

 

Just as Peter Lawwell is playing a dangerous game and walking a tightrope by allowing the football club he is chief executive of to blunder into a situation which is purely one of public order, concerning a lawbreaking radical politically motivated group of IRA supporting right wing Fascists who want to emulate the racist Ultras who pollute Europe.

 

Just do not expect BBC Scotland to try to explore this dark and dangerous avenue.

[ian1964 10,429]

Mad Joe

 

 

The more you harass us, the stronger we'll become.

 

Following on from the heavy handed actions of the Police on the Gallowgate on Saturday, the majority of people have been angered by the response from the Police and from the SNP Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.

 

There is no remorse or acknowledgement of the Police getting it wrong and over reacting to a situation involving mostly young boys and girls, I wonder if any of the police involved have teenage children of their own, and how would they react if their children were treated similarly.

 

History proves that when you continue to oppress those who strive for justice, you will galvanise them into a much stronger force that has certainly been the case in this instance.

 

Below is a statement issued by FAC.

 

Fans Against Criminalisation met on Monday 18 March in response to recent events. We now release the following statement detailing our future plans:

 

Back in October 2011, 2000 Celtic fans rallied at George Square in protest at the Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill that was proceeding through the Scottish Parliament at the time. We argued then that the Bill and the disproportionate policing we had begun to see at matches was criminalising football supporters. Events since then, culminating in the scenes we witnessed on Saturday when police attacked fans on the Gallowgate, have only served to prove us right.

 

Fans Against Criminalisation is an independent umbrella group comprising the Green Brigade, Celtic Trust, Celtic Supporters Association, Affiliation of Registered Celtic Supporters Clubs and Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs, representing thousands of Celtic fans. As well as recent events, the groups who make up FAC also discussed the issue of meetings which took place between Celtic and two of the supporters’ organisations in November 2012 at which videos were shown.

 

The issue was discussed fully and all sides were able to give accounts of what happened. It was accepted by all sides that while the way it was handled was not what is should have been but there was no malice intended and no incident like this would occur again. We then moved on to discuss how we would respond to what has happened and restart our campaign against the criminalisation of the Celtic support.

 

All groups were in agreement that now, more than ever, we need a united front of Celtic fans against not just the Act but also the wider issues of police harassment and the disproportionate policing we see in our stands and now on our streets. We have organised the following public events and we call on all Celtic fans to support us:

 

• Saturday 23 March: 12-2 evidence gathering session

 

o At a city centre venue (to be announced) there will be an opportunity for anyone who was present on Saturday to come and give a witness statement which will be compiled to produce a full report on Saturday’s events. These statements will allow us to respond to Strathclyde Police’s defence of their actions without revealing names or contact details of the witnesses. There will also be an opportunity for people to provide this information online. We call on those who were directly involved to make a formal complaint to Strathclyde Police but we recognise that many people won’t feel able to. We will support and assist those who do make a complaint while taking evidence ourselves from those who don’t wish to

 

• Tuesday 2nd April: protest/picket (venue to be announced)

 

• Saturday 6 April, Rally and Demonstration in George Square 12pm: launch of a petition to call for an official inquiry into the police action

 

• Wednesday 24th April, Demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament and submission of the petition

 

Fans Against Criminalisation

[Max Rebo's Big Blue Nose 0]

Jesus. I hate Glasgow city centre with a passion at the best of times so now I also have to endure these muppets on bi-weekly basis. Friggin great

[aweebluesoandso 290]

Mad Joe

 

 

The more you harass us, the stronger we'll become.

 

Following on from the heavy handed actions of the Police on the Gallowgate on Saturday, the majority of people have been angered by the response from the Police and from the SNP Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.

 

There is no remorse or acknowledgement of the Police getting it wrong and over reacting to a situation involving mostly young boys and girls, I wonder if any of the police involved have teenage children of their own, and how would they react if their children were treated similarly.

 

History proves that when you continue to oppress those who strive for justice, you will galvanise them into a much stronger force that has certainly been the case in this instance.

 

Below is a statement issued by FAC.

 

Fans Against Criminalisation met on Monday 18 March in response to recent events. We now release the following statement detailing our future plans:

 

Back in October 2011, 2000 Celtic fans rallied at George Square in protest at the Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill that was proceeding through the Scottish Parliament at the time. We argued then that the Bill and the disproportionate policing we had begun to see at matches was criminalising football supporters. Events since then, culminating in the scenes we witnessed on Saturday when police attacked fans on the Gallowgate, have only served to prove us right.

 

Fans Against Criminalisation is an independent umbrella group comprising the Green Brigade, Celtic Trust, Celtic Supporters Association, Affiliation of Registered Celtic Supporters Clubs and Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs, representing thousands of Celtic fans. As well as recent events, the groups who make up FAC also discussed the issue of meetings which took place between Celtic and two of the supporters’ organisations in November 2012 at which videos were shown.

 

The issue was discussed fully and all sides were able to give accounts of what happened. It was accepted by all sides that while the way it was handled was not what is should have been but there was no malice intended and no incident like this would occur again. We then moved on to discuss how we would respond to what has happened and restart our campaign against the criminalisation of the Celtic support.

 

All groups were in agreement that now, more than ever, we need a united front of Celtic fans against not just the Act but also the wider issues of police harassment and the disproportionate policing we see in our stands and now on our streets. We have organised the following public events and we call on all Celtic fans to support us:

 

• Saturday 23 March: 12-2 evidence gathering session

 

o At a city centre venue (to be announced) there will be an opportunity for anyone who was present on Saturday to come and give a witness statement which will be compiled to produce a full report on Saturday’s events. These statements will allow us to respond to Strathclyde Police’s defence of their actions without revealing names or contact details of the witnesses. There will also be an opportunity for people to provide this information online. We call on those who were directly involved to make a formal complaint to Strathclyde Police but we recognise that many people won’t feel able to. We will support and assist those who do make a complaint while taking evidence ourselves from those who don’t wish to

 

• Tuesday 2nd April: protest/picket (venue to be announced)

 

• Saturday 6 April, Rally and Demonstration in George Square 12pm: launch of a petition to call for an official inquiry into the police action

 

• Wednesday 24th April, Demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament and submission of the petition

 

Fans Against Criminalisation

 

Their lying and scheming want wash here, ultimately they will be shown up for the Fascists they are, this is not Ireland no matter how much they want it to be. The People versus the Fascists, we the people will triumph.

[der Berliner 3,263]

STRATHCLYDE Police today hit back at allegations of officers' heavy-handed action against a group of Celtic fans.

 

The supporters held an unauthorised protest march against an anti-sectarianism law last weekend.

 

A total of 13 people were arrested for alleged public order offences, near Glasgow Cross, as they made their way to a match at Celtic Park on Saturday.

 

The force today pledged to provide evidence of "the levels of aggression and abuse police officers were subjected to" during Saturday's events.

 

Officers are currently reviewing CCTV evidence of the protest march, which is said to involve members of the Green Brigade.

 

In a statement released today, Strathclyde Police said: "Any accusations regarding the police response to the illegal procession in the Gallowgate are inaccurate.

 

"We are currently reviewing a significant amount of CCTV footage captured on the day.

 

"This clearly shows the instigation of the incident, the levels of aggression and abuse police officers were subjected to and the restraint demonstrated by officers in very difficult circumstances.

 

"Although we are satisfied our officers conducted themselves in a professional and proportionate manner, we can assure the public that we will investigate any complaint thoroughly."

 

Today's statement follows Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill dismissing calls for an independent inquiry.

 

From the Evening Times today.

 

Would hope this can be used to show this lying bunch up.

[Darthter 542]

there will be an opportunity for anyone who was present on Saturday to come and give a witness statement which will be compiled to produce a full report on Saturday’s events. These statements will allow us to respond to Strathclyde Police’s defence of their actions without revealing names or contact details of the witnesses.

 

Why??? Do they have something to hide???

 

200 folk @ the illegal march......5,000 anonymous witness statements of "police brutality"