Septic 0 Milan 3

[barca72 440]

No SFA investigation for a similar banner at the weekend then?

 

 

It would appear that FocCUS have been asked to look into the H-block banner.

[ian1964 10,416]

STV news said ''B***y S***s convicted IRA terrorist''

 

BBC news said ''IRA hunger striker''

[andy steel 0]

Ironically, Spiers has just broken the law he supported on electronic legislation, claiming there are 'rights and wrongs' about a proscribed terrorist organisation while broadcasting. Be a laugh if someone brought a private prosecution under the law he was so keen on, eh?

[ian1964 10,416]

I don't normally listen to radio snyde,however I did tonight and for the first hour and a half,still 30 minutes to go,not one mention of the UEFA investigation or the banner,also every single caller so far is a BHEAST fan talking tactics,all this despite it being their headline news?.

[ian1964 10,416]

Discussing it now!, ''IRA hunger striker banner''

[ian1964 10,416]

SPFL investigating banner displayed by Celtic fans during Aberdeen fixture

 

The Scottish Professional Football League are investigating a banner displayed by Celtic fans during their Scottish Premiership win over Aberdeen at the weekend.

 

A section of supporters unfurled a giant H and a message which read: "They fought and died for their wee bit hill and glen."

 

Following reports received by league after Saturday's fixture, the SPFL are investigating whether Celtic have breached rules on unacceptable conduct.

 

A spokesman for the SPFL told STV: "We have received complaints regarding a certain banner at the Celtic vs Aberdeen match on Saturday 23 November.

 

"We are currently investigating the matter to determine if any action is required."

 

SPFL regulations say action can be taken if a person present at a match uses "words or conduct or displaying any writing or other thing which indicates support for, or affiliation to, or celebration of, or opposition to an organisation or group proscribed in terms of the Terrorism Act 2000."

 

Earlier on Wednesday, UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against the club for an "illicit banner" shown during the Champions League tie with AC Milan on Tuesday night.

 

In a statement, Celtic condemned fans for the banners shown at both matches, saying they had received assurances from those responsible that all displays would be purely football-related.

 

"During the last two matches at Celtic Park, banner displays have taken place which have not been approved by Celtic Football Club," said the club.

 

"These were displays which were in no way football-related and which have no place at Celtic Park.

 

"Celtic Football Club can confirm that any individual or group identified as being involved in any form of political display at a match involving Celtic will be banned immediately from attending matches involving the club.

 

"With regard to last night's display, the club made it abundantly clear in advance to the group in question that only football-related displays would be permitted and that any political display would lead to a UEFA charge.

 

"We, in turn, received an assurance that all displays would be 100% relevant to Celtic. Therefore, the actions of this group are clearly very disappointing. We have been inundated with complaints from Celtic supporters regarding the display.

 

"Celtic does more now than it ever has to liaise with and support the numerous fans' groups which exist.

 

"We have encouraged and facilitated all groups and their support for the club through various initiatives. It is clear, however, that by some at least this courtesy has not been reciprocated."

 

http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/celtic/250618-spfl-investigating-banner-displayed-by-celtic-fans-during-aberdeen-fixture/

[der Berliner 3,247]

Green Brigade's response ...

 

As a member of Fans Against Criminalisation the Green Brigade are fully committed to highlighting, challenging and tackling the systemised campaign of criminalisation and harassment – orchestrated by the Scottish Government and implemented by Police Scotland – against the Celtic support.

 

At the risk of covering old ground, the Scottish Government are responsible for drafting and implementing a ridiculous piece of legislation which, through their own admission, aims to make the arrest figures between both sides of the Glasgow divide even – regardless of the act or crime in question. In practice, for the Celtic support this has resulted in expressions of Irish identity, culture and politics being deemed illegal.

 

One prominent example is the criminalisation of the song ‘Roll of Honour’ which is a lament commemorating ten Irish martyrs who died on hunger strike in Long Kesh in 1981. These men died primarily fighting the criminalisation of themselves and their struggle in a bid to be recognised as political prisoners. Now, in Scotland, it is deemed illegal to remember and honour their sacrifice. The number of fans being charged for doing so continually rises as Police Scotland continues to film and harass our support at every turn.

 

On Saturday 23rd November we highlighted the sheer hypocrisy of the legislation with a simple banner display. On the 10th minute and 81st minute a banner of the letter H was unveiled while ‘Roll of Honour’ was sung. Alongside this banner appeared two further banners containing the following lyric from the Scottish national anthem: ‘they fought and died for; their wee bit hill and glen’.

 

Similarly, on Tuesday 26th November we unveiled another banner display to further our point and emphasise the Scottish Government’s hypocrisy. At this match two banners depicting a Scottish and an Irish freedom fighter were shown along with the slogan: ‘the terrorist or the dreamer; the savage of the brave? Depends whose vote you’re trying to catch or whose face you’re trying to save’. The statement being made was that it is both hypocritical and discriminatory to celebrate the Scottish nationalist struggle while criminalising the Irish nationalist struggle. Ultimately, due to the subjective nature of what anyone may deem ‘offensive’, it is both dangerous and absurd to create a law based upon offensiveness.

 

The Green Brigade are disappointed by the statement made by Celtic Football Club in regards to this incident. The Club’s statement claims that we assured them that our display would be purely football related but that in fact it had nothing to do with football. In reality however what was assured to them was that our plans were completely relative to Celtic and indeed football. Given that it is Celtic fans who are filling up prison cells and court rooms because of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act, and the manner in which it criminalises legitimate expression of political opinion, this display could not have been more relevant in the current context. The fans are the lifeblood of any football club and to deem fan issues as irrelevant is frankly disgraceful.

 

While we understand and sympathise fully with fans who may disagree with the timing of last night’s display we are honest enough to admit that the timing was of no coincidence. This act has been in place for over 18 months yet the club have offered next to no support to the fans on this matter. As a group we were told that Celtic Football Club would publicly support the fans on this issue. Regrettably, this has not transpired in spite of the fact that public pressure could have had a telling impact on the Justice Committee as they discussed the possibility of an early review of the act.

 

It is our opinion that the level of apathy from Celtic PLC towards the criminalisation of their supporters is unforgivable. We find their accusation of the Green Brigade disrespecting the club to be completely ironic and totally laughable when we consider the level of disrespect they have repeatedly shown to their supporters for far too long – never mind the desecrating of our Club’s proud history and values with the firm objection to implementing the ‘living wage’.

 

Whilst the Club may wish to wash their hands of pressing fan issues we will not falter in our attempts to challenge the injustice of this legislation nor how Police Scotland implements it. As the number of Celtic fans banned from games continues to grow and the court cases and all additional baggage piles up we will stand by them, we will stand with the Celtic support and as always we will defend our right to cultural and political expression.

 

Until the last rebel

 

They didn't get it ... and do not want to get it either.

 

BTW, does anyone read the word sectarian anywhere?

[der Berliner 3,247]

Snatched from FF ... Graham Spiers being asked this on Radio Scotland:

 

"whit aboot ra celtc bannurrrs grrremmm?"

 

Answer:

Whine, clears throat in his usually repugnant self important manner........

 

..... more squeeky grunting followed by.......

 

....... Listen, I want celtc to continue their celebration of their Irish roots, I want them to enjoy that part of their history - blah blah blah celtc jolly craicsters - but do we really want to see Loyalist banners at Ibrox?

 

[barca72 440]

They are not martyrs, they are not political prisoners - they are/were terrorists. They did NOT die primarily fighting the criminalisation of themselves, they chose to die because they broke the established laws of the U.K. These laws were in place before they chose to take the actions they did which broke these laws. These laws are enacted to protect the citizens of the U.K. and anyone who disagrees with these laws can either attempt to change these laws by enacting new ones or they can take themselves from the U.K.'s borders and live with laws that they agree with.

The Green Brigade seem to think that the citizens of the U.K. have to feel the same way they do, and because of this they think they can break established U.K. law to make their point. When they break the laws of the U.K. they should feel the effects of the Justice System of the U.K., the same as anyone else would.

Any individual who emmigrates to another country understands that he must adapt to the laws and culture of that new country. This does not mean that they have to give up their heritage and culture, just that it must be adapted to be inclusive within the new country's culture without breaking any laws.

Hypocrisy indeed. The U.K. does not suffer rebels gladly, and its patience is not infinite.

[Darthter 542]

Totally unbelievable statement from both Ceptic & the green brigade....

 

Taking Ceptic first - They say they will immediately ban those responsible for the banners....how many were banned for the "blood stained Poppies" banner??? Who is responsible for checking these banners prior to entering the ground??? How are the green brigade (GB initials...ironic eh??) actually getting these banners into the ground in the 1st place - they are far too big to stuff up yer jumper!!!! If the club are serious about stopping these banners (no laughing up the back), it is within their power to do so.

 

As for the ghirls brigade, they are openly admitting to breaking the rules/laws placed in front of them. They know the "roll of honour" is not allowed, yet continue to sing it & openly admit to doing it in a public statement. In order to describe a convicted terrorist as a martyr, you have to full support the cause for which they died - in this case terrorism against the UK. Therefore since the statement is from a collective group, every paid up member of that group should be challenged as supporting terrorism.

 

If they don't like it in this country (The UK), I believe there are many good deals to be had on ferry crossings back to the "Motherland/ship"....