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Scottish soccer fans ( real ones , not the nutty hatred filled variety ) must be worried and ashamed by recent happenings . No soccer fan myself as you all know from my posts , except where it is played as a thing of beauty a la Barcelona and a few other teams in the past , but the situation in Scotland needs serious addressing by authorities from their new Assembly downwards .
Nothing new about sectarianism in Scottish football particularly among the supporters of certain teams . Something analagous happened in the North in late forties which resulted in Belfast Celtic pulling out and soccer died locally that day , albeit it took about 20 years of a slow death . Paying for it now , 2 men and a boy watching a lot of matches , although it still gets unbelievable media coverage given the paltry attendances and minimal interest by the general public . But recent events must be a shot across the bows of the Scottish football authorities .
Needs radical action , not interested enough myself to devote much time to the solution , but there must be examples elsewhere which have been sorted . At one stage Dutch football had a serious problem , but I think they sorted it . Any suggestions ?
Nothing new about sectarianism in Scottish football particularly among the supporters of certain teams . Something analagous happened in the North in late forties which resulted in Belfast Celtic pulling out and soccer died locally that day , albeit it took about 20 years of a slow death . Paying for it now , 2 men and a boy watching a lot of matches , although it still gets unbelievable media coverage given the paltry attendances and minimal interest by the general public . But recent events must be a shot across the bows of the Scottish football authorities .
Needs radical action , not interested enough myself to devote much time to the solution , but there must be examples elsewhere which have been sorted . At one stage Dutch football had a serious problem , but I think they sorted it . Any suggestions ?
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Well said Kelly. I was there tonite at Tynecastle and it was a very bad atmosphere. Scottish society in general has a lot to answer. It's one WEE bigoted country.
What was the atmosphere like in the ground Kriskin , before and after the attack incident ?
I've written on another thread on the football forum the atmosphere tonite was the worse for hatred I've experienced. I've been to plenty of Celtic v Rangers games recently and they do not come close to that tonite. U could feel the tension building up since the weekend for this game. After the incident the Celtic fans were fuming.
The book should be thrown at the thug who attacked Neil Lennon
The book should be thrown at the thug who attacked Neil Lennon
sickening people,think the dutch problem was very different to the scottish disease tbh
i think lennon often does nothing to help his cause, being provocative etc but to attack the man is plain ret@rded. i think the whole thing is nonsense, the fighting etc, if i was the kind of person that had nothing better to do than attack people for sectarianist or football reasons im pretty sure id hang myself
I think Sky have to take some responsibility. I was sat in today and had Sky Sports on, they were ramping this up every hour. Going live to a reporter at Tynecastle from midday onwards, interviewing Hearts fans about Lennon's comments, and reporter was repeatedly saying "whooh, the Hearts fans will be really up for it tonight" and "there is a lot of rivalry between the teams", etc. I know those "quotes" don't sound unusual, but it is hard to put across in words. Suffice to say it made a big impression on me before the game.
I have to agree with Rev on this one i think Lennon could act with a lot more class than he actually does, saying that he has taken serious abuse but i can't help feel at times he does not help himself.
I`m with reve and Rf. It`s hard to sympathize after his idiotic gesture following the last Old Firm game. Put your head down and show you`re better than that ffs.
Cupping your hands to your ears, after death threats and abuse all game is nothing. He faced abuse both personal and sectarian in that match at the end of the game he goes over to his teams supporters and cops abuse from a large portion of the crowd on the way back, he is not a robot human nature is to react. The fact that Scottish football in particular the West of Scotland has never eliminated sectarianism (On Both Sides) has allowed this situation to manifest.
No more in Scottish football did I think I would see bullets sent to managers, nail bombs sent to managers, you could easily see a death in the next season.
He is not always the nicest guy in the world and I don't like the guy, but he has been subjected to the most vicious hate campaign, during his time as Celtic manager and peoples opionion's here are he has asked for it. I don't think anyone's behaviour could justify this.
No more in Scottish football did I think I would see bullets sent to managers, nail bombs sent to managers, you could easily see a death in the next season.
He is not always the nicest guy in the world and I don't like the guy, but he has been subjected to the most vicious hate campaign, during his time as Celtic manager and peoples opionion's here are he has asked for it. I don't think anyone's behaviour could justify this.
Some people on here need to get off their high horses.
Why footy banter is a game of give and take
By Tam Cowan on Apr 27, 11 06:33 AM in
CHOP his hands off. Yeah, that's it. Treat him like a Saudi Arabian shoplifter and cut his hands off now.
Surely that's the only sensible punishment for Neil Lennon after the Celtic boss committed the utterly heinous crime of cupping his ears? This all sounds like some sort of ridiculous wind-up. But, no, some people really are frothing at the mouth and complaining in the most bitter fashion about Lennon's gesture at the end of Sunday's Old Firm match.
Can you believe these muppets? For the entire afternoon - and throughout every previous visit to the stadium - the Celtic gaffer endured foul-mouthed abuse from three corners of Ibrox with "Neil Lennon you're a w****r" one of the kinder chants.
And what happens when he (gasp!) holds his paws behind his lugholes? That's right - they all run to the cops and demand he's hung, drawn and quartered.
Utterly pathetic, isn't it? Where have they been the last hellish couple of weeks? Death threats? Deal with it, Lenny. Twentyfour hour police protection? So what? Letter bombs in the post? Dry your eyes, wee man. We've all had junk mail.
But cupping your ears in front of 40,000 Rangers fans who've been giving you dog's abuse all afternoon? Oh yes, that's really criminal. Slap the cuffs on, officer.
At this point, I'm probably meant to jump on the bandwagon and give it all that mealy-mouthed claptrap about how Lennon should have stayed off the park and quietly disappeared up the tunnel for a post-match bottle of beer with his old sparring partner Ally McCoist.
But I'd sooner have a pop at the two-faced hypocrites in the crowd who can dish out the vile abuse but clearly can't handle a bit of harmless banter in return.
Mind you, what do you expect? All football fans are exactly the same.
Players and managers get it in the neck at every ground in Scotland week after week and some of the language would make Roy Chubby Brown blush.
But what happens when the same players and managers rise to the bait and shout or gesture back to the crowd? Yep, the big brave loudmouths in Row D run like wee lassies to the nearest steward and demand a full police inquiry.
I've seen it umpteen times at Fir Park. And, if I'm being totally honest, I've been every bit as guilty as the Rangers fans on Sunday. But at least I was a daft young laddie at the time.
About 30 years ago, after being subjected to constant X-rated chants from Motherwell fans, the late great Davie Cooper (who later became a Fir Park legend, of course, which backs up my point about supporters being totally two-faced) scored a goal for Rangers and celebrated by giving his claret and amber critics a fly V-sign.
All hell broke loose and, after the final whistle, a posse of Well fans (myself included) marched to the local cop shop to file a formal complaint.
Chuck in a few burning torches and pitchforks and we'd have looked like the villagers from an old Frankenstein movie.
Thinking back now, it makes me cringe. And three days after that carry-on at Ibrox, I hope the Rangers fans feel the same.
As Lennon pointed out - and it's an important point considering what he's had to endure over the past few weeks - it was a bit of humour.
Exactly. Remember how we used to pride ourselves on having a laugh and a joke in this country? On that note, I'll finish with a confession. While hosting a wee charity cabaret show in a Hamilton pub on Easter Monday, a punter asked if we could open a few windows and said: "Come on, Tam. I'm sweating like Neil Lennon's postman."
That was also a bit of humour. And I bet the Celtic boss would have enjoyed a wee chuckle himself. But should I now have my tongue cut out because I laughed?
Why footy banter is a game of give and take
By Tam Cowan on Apr 27, 11 06:33 AM in
CHOP his hands off. Yeah, that's it. Treat him like a Saudi Arabian shoplifter and cut his hands off now.
Surely that's the only sensible punishment for Neil Lennon after the Celtic boss committed the utterly heinous crime of cupping his ears? This all sounds like some sort of ridiculous wind-up. But, no, some people really are frothing at the mouth and complaining in the most bitter fashion about Lennon's gesture at the end of Sunday's Old Firm match.
Can you believe these muppets? For the entire afternoon - and throughout every previous visit to the stadium - the Celtic gaffer endured foul-mouthed abuse from three corners of Ibrox with "Neil Lennon you're a w****r" one of the kinder chants.
And what happens when he (gasp!) holds his paws behind his lugholes? That's right - they all run to the cops and demand he's hung, drawn and quartered.
Utterly pathetic, isn't it? Where have they been the last hellish couple of weeks? Death threats? Deal with it, Lenny. Twentyfour hour police protection? So what? Letter bombs in the post? Dry your eyes, wee man. We've all had junk mail.
But cupping your ears in front of 40,000 Rangers fans who've been giving you dog's abuse all afternoon? Oh yes, that's really criminal. Slap the cuffs on, officer.
At this point, I'm probably meant to jump on the bandwagon and give it all that mealy-mouthed claptrap about how Lennon should have stayed off the park and quietly disappeared up the tunnel for a post-match bottle of beer with his old sparring partner Ally McCoist.
But I'd sooner have a pop at the two-faced hypocrites in the crowd who can dish out the vile abuse but clearly can't handle a bit of harmless banter in return.
Mind you, what do you expect? All football fans are exactly the same.
Players and managers get it in the neck at every ground in Scotland week after week and some of the language would make Roy Chubby Brown blush.
But what happens when the same players and managers rise to the bait and shout or gesture back to the crowd? Yep, the big brave loudmouths in Row D run like wee lassies to the nearest steward and demand a full police inquiry.
I've seen it umpteen times at Fir Park. And, if I'm being totally honest, I've been every bit as guilty as the Rangers fans on Sunday. But at least I was a daft young laddie at the time.
About 30 years ago, after being subjected to constant X-rated chants from Motherwell fans, the late great Davie Cooper (who later became a Fir Park legend, of course, which backs up my point about supporters being totally two-faced) scored a goal for Rangers and celebrated by giving his claret and amber critics a fly V-sign.
All hell broke loose and, after the final whistle, a posse of Well fans (myself included) marched to the local cop shop to file a formal complaint.
Chuck in a few burning torches and pitchforks and we'd have looked like the villagers from an old Frankenstein movie.
Thinking back now, it makes me cringe. And three days after that carry-on at Ibrox, I hope the Rangers fans feel the same.
As Lennon pointed out - and it's an important point considering what he's had to endure over the past few weeks - it was a bit of humour.
Exactly. Remember how we used to pride ourselves on having a laugh and a joke in this country? On that note, I'll finish with a confession. While hosting a wee charity cabaret show in a Hamilton pub on Easter Monday, a punter asked if we could open a few windows and said: "Come on, Tam. I'm sweating like Neil Lennon's postman."
That was also a bit of humour. And I bet the Celtic boss would have enjoyed a wee chuckle himself. But should I now have my tongue cut out because I laughed?
He's the manager of Celtic football club as Giant says he should show he's better than that, when was the last time you saw Alex Ferguson or Pep Guardiola do that? If he had walked off the pitch that day i think he would have won a lot of friends and taken the high moral ground instead he is what he is a tramp.
Ferguson and Guardiola both had matches recently where they were getting dogs abuse. Lennon has once again let himself down and shown he has zero class. If you examine he results they are terrible he has managed to lose a title to a 2 bob team in Rangers in a terrible league, for that he should be ran alone.
Ferguson and Guardiola both had matches recently where they were getting dogs abuse. Lennon has once again let himself down and shown he has zero class. If you examine he results they are terrible he has managed to lose a title to a 2 bob team in Rangers in a terrible league, for that he should be ran alone.
Where did Ferguson and Guardiola get the same level of abuse Lennon got?.
Is it Scottish footballs fault or is it the hordes of sectarian louts who stream over from these Islands both north and south from both sides of divide who made both Celtic and Rangers their tribal tattoo?.
Scottish football always had an element of sectarianism but since the start of the troubles it seemed to escalate 10 fold, ok the recent troubles are touch wood a thing of the past but the sectarian divide is well and truely entrenched and it will take generations before those shackles are loosened.
Easy to blame Scottish football when the island of Ireland has invaded and brought with it all the hatred that has festered over the last 40 years or so.
Tell me this why has Lennon become such a hate figure, has he got a republican background ie family or relatives?.
Scottish football always had an element of sectarianism but since the start of the troubles it seemed to escalate 10 fold, ok the recent troubles are touch wood a thing of the past but the sectarian divide is well and truely entrenched and it will take generations before those shackles are loosened.
Easy to blame Scottish football when the island of Ireland has invaded and brought with it all the hatred that has festered over the last 40 years or so.
Tell me this why has Lennon become such a hate figure, has he got a republican background ie family or relatives?.
Lennon must take a little responsibility for all this. His gestures to the Rankgers fans after the title losing 0-0 draw were idiotic.
Parcel bombs and fan assaults are beyond the pale though.
Parcel bombs and fan assaults are beyond the pale though.
Pep Guardiola was getting dogs in the semi final of the champs league Gant. Fergie everytime he goes to Anfield they get dogs abuse from opposing fans and usually more than the 40k Rangers fans.
Silvergreaser - you are way wide of the mark to state that secterianism in Scot football escalated 10 fold since the start of the troubles and trying to pin it on Irish fans travelleing over for matches. Scotland has had its own form of Secterianism going back generations and still pervades that society today, thru Schools systems etc. Rangers FC did not sign a catholic of note until the late eighties and were forced into doing to by an enlightened manager and growing commercial forces in the game. I travel over occasionnally for games and resent the general tag you putting on Irish fans.
He's the manager of Celtic football club as Giant says he should show he's better than that, when was the last time you saw Alex Ferguson or Pep Guardiola do that? If he had walked off the pitch that day i think he would have won a lot of friends and taken the high moral ground instead he is what he is a tramp.
No they will always hate him, no matter what he did. I've seen Mourinho do that on numerous occasions but I did not see him get nail bombs sent to his house.
Ferguson and Guardiola both had matches recently where they were getting dogs abuse. Lennon has once again let himself down and shown he has zero class.
They have not received threats to their personal safety, as said before this transcends football and their is no comparison.
No they will always hate him, no matter what he did. I've seen Mourinho do that on numerous occasions but I did not see him get nail bombs sent to his house.
Ferguson and Guardiola both had matches recently where they were getting dogs abuse. Lennon has once again let himself down and shown he has zero class.
They have not received threats to their personal safety, as said before this transcends football and their is no comparison.
Most Celtic fans support Celtic because they are a catholic club, not because of anything else. The bigotry that exists with both sets of supporters is sick i have no time for either club.
Tony he resons to the abuse with a harmless gesture and sticks up for himself and reacts and is the product of that abuse his entire life yet it is his fault ?
the jolly, what is your connection with Celtic of Glasgow? I'm always amazed at the vast sums of money Irish people are prepared to spend going to Britain to support teams over there.
The GAA offers great value imo.
The GAA offers great value imo.
P.S I hope you can at least see the irony when you state
"Easy to blame Scottish football when the island of Ireland has invaded and brought with it all the hatred that has festered over the last 40 years or so".
"Easy to blame Scottish football when the island of Ireland has invaded and brought with it all the hatred that has festered over the last 40 years or so".
zipifried not sure what you were saying earlier. I agree that Lennon must take some reposnsibility.
Jolly I was fully aware there was an element of irony in what I typed, but we are of course talking about the past, as for your earlier reply I did say that Scottish football always had an element of sectarianism and I was well aware also of Rngers refusal to sign Catholic players, but I stand by what I said about the northern Ireland troubles escalating things, maybe not 10 fold but its hard to argue to the contrary?.
I have read a lot of that Tony and i understand why people are saying it but i honestly believe people have no understanding of his situation and cards he was dealt in life as a Northern Irishman of the Celtic persuasian. He has every right to respond to constant abuse and stand his ground, give as good as he gets but when he does look what happens, the racism of Northern Irishmen has built up through the media for many years and it is evident all over Britain and southern Ireland. Lennon is a microcosm of it.
An uncle of mine has red hair zipi and he has an awful temper on him. I think Lenny needs to count to 10. The cupping the ears thing was just stupid, would you not agree iyo?
Tony, I have followed Celtic since the eighties after reading a book on their history. As you are prob aware, the club was founded by an Irishman to support Irish immigrants in Glasgown in the late 19th century. It has maintained strong irish links throughout its history, through its players, supporters and more lately managers. The Tricolour still flies over Celtic Park - not as a republican gesture (Most Scots dont give a rats about the Irish situation), but as a relection of the clubs roots. The relationship between Celtic and Ireland is everlasting - (not like the fleeting relationships with Liverpool and Manu and the next genertion who will prob support Chelsea and ManC). I also support my local GAA club, mu local soccer club, my local rugby club, but it is with Celtic that I get to support a club with strong Irish links across Europe etc.
The Celtic support are by and large a decent bunch and it is galling to be labelled with the other crowd as 'The Old Firm'. It lends itself easily to the lazy conclusion that they are both the same. Well they are not both the same! Take a recent simple comparison - Celtic qualify for the EUFA cup final and take approx 130,000 fans to Seville. They win a EUFA Fans award for 2003 for their fans behaviour across Europe. Rangers qualify for a EUFA cup final in 2008 and wreck the centre of Manchester. They receive fines from EUFA for the secterian singing of their fans in European cities. I could go on....
The Celtic support are by and large a decent bunch and it is galling to be labelled with the other crowd as 'The Old Firm'. It lends itself easily to the lazy conclusion that they are both the same. Well they are not both the same! Take a recent simple comparison - Celtic qualify for the EUFA cup final and take approx 130,000 fans to Seville. They win a EUFA Fans award for 2003 for their fans behaviour across Europe. Rangers qualify for a EUFA cup final in 2008 and wreck the centre of Manchester. They receive fines from EUFA for the secterian singing of their fans in European cities. I could go on....
As a player he was forced to leave the Northern Ireland set up and many young players have followed suit.
Tony the cupping of the ears is harmless banter ,he didn't kill anybody ffs, he is a product of his society and his will to take no abuse because of his identity or Ginger hair.
I used to like them from afar when Charlie Nicholas was playing with them the jolly but the more I read and heard about the whole hatred thing the less I liked it.
I'm indifferent to the entire matter now. The standard of association football played in Northern Britain is rubbish. Richie Foran scored again last night.
I'm indifferent to the entire matter now. The standard of association football played in Northern Britain is rubbish. Richie Foran scored again last night.
Celtic supporters generally stay with the team thru the good days and the bad days Tony, not just when Charlie is playing or when the standard is to your liking. Celtics hands largely tied these days competing with the likes of Wigan and Blackburn for transfer targets. Unfortunately the EPL clubs have massive funds coming from Sky. Hard for Celtic to compete with that, but glad to see the majority of supporters worldwide sticking with them.
lennon cupping his ears was not harmless banter zipifried,it was intended to antagonise.lennon is a hateful wee man and you couldnt like him if you rared him.whilst i comdemn the nail bombs/pitch invasion etc its my belief that lennon only makes an already bad situation worse with his constant antagonistic behaviour.contrast lennon with ally mccoist who is a complete gentleman and also a really nice guy in person and a cradit to his club.
Nobody answered my question, I'm just a little curious to know?, because no other Celtic manager has ever been the subject to such burning hate like Lennon has.
Has Lennon got republican connections that has fueled the hatred?
Has Lennon got republican connections that has fueled the hatred?
the jolly you completely ignored my point about the hatred being the reason for not giving Celtic of Glasgow the time of day any longer.
My point about Charlie was that it was many years ago.
Enjoy your trips away, I prefer to invest in Ireland.
My point about Charlie was that it was many years ago.
Enjoy your trips away, I prefer to invest in Ireland.
Another eager to say pitch invader wa wrong but Lennon deserved it for harmless gestures and giving out what he takes, doesn't add up.
Same as that Tony i used to be a bit of a follower from afar of Celtic, event went to a few games but the hatred and the religious stuff turned me off it. I am sure for everyone like myself and Baloney there is more who likes a rivalry built on religion, not on sport, no matter how much Celtic fans want to disagree with me.
Celtic supporters generally stay with the team thru the good days and the bad days
Good or bad, they are guaranteed to finish 1st or 2nd every season. Tough times, Tough times.
Good or bad, they are guaranteed to finish 1st or 2nd every season. Tough times, Tough times.
Rocket it has nothing to do with religion for Celtic fans , i don't think you will ever truly realise that to be the reality. If you couldn't grasp that and walked away to support Man utd that says a lot about the size of your balls yet you feel it is your duty to constantly criticise anything to do with Celtic.
zipi did you find the ear cupping humorous. Lenny thought it was. That's a bit sad.
Zipi of course it has, it has everything to do with religion, if it was about football we'd all be supporting real Madrid or Barcelona or at least a team in the EPL.
For those that are supporting the claim that Lennon has it coming and fuels this in some way - then why were bullets also sent in the post to Niall McGinn and Paddy McCourt. Spot the link?
Lennon is currently under 24 hour survellience - prob a first for a manager anywhere in the world. He has received all sorts of death threats in the past 6 months for doing his job - yes he wears his heart on his sleeve - not the first manager to do that.
And to those that will inevitably claim that this is the work of a few lunatics, just listen to the bile that Lennon was subjected to in Ibrox a few weeks ago and again last night in Tynecastle. This 'campaign' was supported by thousands in Ibrox(Lennon, whats it like to live in fear!) His would be attacker last night was cheered and applauded off the pitch by thousands in the stands. Ah yes, sure he is asking for it...
There is a concerted campaign to get at Lennon in Scottish football right now - led from the top by the SFA - We have already seen the removal of a few referees from the game there this year due to dodgy officiating. After the last Parkhead Old Firm game, Lennon was the only person to get a ban, despite 1 Rangers player refusing to leave the pitch after being sent off and insisting on throwing his jersey into the Rangers support and another Rangers player man-handling the ref on 2 occasions, decisions which were ridiculed in the international press.
There are many in the scottish game who would rather Lennon was not at the helm at Celtic Park. They will now probably get their wish as few could blame him if he walks away this summer.
Lennon is currently under 24 hour survellience - prob a first for a manager anywhere in the world. He has received all sorts of death threats in the past 6 months for doing his job - yes he wears his heart on his sleeve - not the first manager to do that.
And to those that will inevitably claim that this is the work of a few lunatics, just listen to the bile that Lennon was subjected to in Ibrox a few weeks ago and again last night in Tynecastle. This 'campaign' was supported by thousands in Ibrox(Lennon, whats it like to live in fear!) His would be attacker last night was cheered and applauded off the pitch by thousands in the stands. Ah yes, sure he is asking for it...
There is a concerted campaign to get at Lennon in Scottish football right now - led from the top by the SFA - We have already seen the removal of a few referees from the game there this year due to dodgy officiating. After the last Parkhead Old Firm game, Lennon was the only person to get a ban, despite 1 Rangers player refusing to leave the pitch after being sent off and insisting on throwing his jersey into the Rangers support and another Rangers player man-handling the ref on 2 occasions, decisions which were ridiculed in the international press.
There are many in the scottish game who would rather Lennon was not at the helm at Celtic Park. They will now probably get their wish as few could blame him if he walks away this summer.
Anyone who thinks what went on last night and what has been going on to not only Lennon but the Irish players at Celtic for some time now is ok because Lennon 'brought it on himself' should stick to watching hockey or whatever it is they watch cause they haven't a clue about football.
To be fair I don't this carry on would go on in any other sport.
As a Celtic fan all my life i think the situation in Scotland has gotten completely out of hand and will now be almost impossible to turn back the clock. We are talking about a country with serious socio-economic problems which manifests itself through fooball. The actual game like almost everything in Scotland is on its knees but the knuckledraggers that populate much of the football support want to bring it back into the previous century. I would be a big advocate of Celtic walking away and seeking entry into the very bottom league of English, Dutch, Irish or German football. There are clearly precedents for this given where the likes of Swansea and Cardiff play their football.
This season, Celtic as a club finally stood up for themselves against decades of institutional bias and sectarianism. It took a referee blantantly lying about his decision (whether the decision was correct or not is totally irrelavant) to bring this to a head. The genie is out and the current management team, directors and owners at Celtic will not be backing down until there is widespread changes across the institutions that run the game in Scotland. I feel desperate for Lennon the way he has been treated - I am not much of a fan of his as a manager btw. His personality, red hair and Irish Catholic background was so offensive during his decade in English football wasnt it? The simple fact that in much of Scotland, anything Catholic or Irish related is hated. That such hatred exists in supposedly modern multi-cultural societies is frightening.
The astonishing thing about the actions of the past few months is that they have probably saved Lennon his job given he has lost the league to a dreadful Rangers side. It has brought Celtic fans closer together than i can remember in a long time in defence of their manager and culture that the club stands for - a club open to all irrespective of colour or creed. How that can be construed as being sectarian is beyond me. There is only one sectarian club within the Old Firm (a phrase i detest) yet they are grouped together nonetheless. Celtic has its fair share of clowns supporting them, like all clubs, but one thing the club will not tolerate is sectarianism. The time has come for Celtic to walk away from Scotland and leave Scottish football to wallow in its own filth. When Rangers then go bust thanks to their upcoming case with HMRC, the SFA will get the league they deserve.
Long post but i have had enough of misinformed comments on forums like this and others.
By the way Jason, Ally McCoist is a nice guy - you obviously no little about him so! Ignore his cheeky chap persona. Anyway, since when is a difficult personality a reason for the abuse Lennon has taken over the past number of years. If that was the case Alex Fergusons house would be inundated with parcel bombs and bullets!
This season, Celtic as a club finally stood up for themselves against decades of institutional bias and sectarianism. It took a referee blantantly lying about his decision (whether the decision was correct or not is totally irrelavant) to bring this to a head. The genie is out and the current management team, directors and owners at Celtic will not be backing down until there is widespread changes across the institutions that run the game in Scotland. I feel desperate for Lennon the way he has been treated - I am not much of a fan of his as a manager btw. His personality, red hair and Irish Catholic background was so offensive during his decade in English football wasnt it? The simple fact that in much of Scotland, anything Catholic or Irish related is hated. That such hatred exists in supposedly modern multi-cultural societies is frightening.
The astonishing thing about the actions of the past few months is that they have probably saved Lennon his job given he has lost the league to a dreadful Rangers side. It has brought Celtic fans closer together than i can remember in a long time in defence of their manager and culture that the club stands for - a club open to all irrespective of colour or creed. How that can be construed as being sectarian is beyond me. There is only one sectarian club within the Old Firm (a phrase i detest) yet they are grouped together nonetheless. Celtic has its fair share of clowns supporting them, like all clubs, but one thing the club will not tolerate is sectarianism. The time has come for Celtic to walk away from Scotland and leave Scottish football to wallow in its own filth. When Rangers then go bust thanks to their upcoming case with HMRC, the SFA will get the league they deserve.
Long post but i have had enough of misinformed comments on forums like this and others.
By the way Jason, Ally McCoist is a nice guy - you obviously no little about him so! Ignore his cheeky chap persona. Anyway, since when is a difficult personality a reason for the abuse Lennon has taken over the past number of years. If that was the case Alex Fergusons house would be inundated with parcel bombs and bullets!
Good stuff , Brave Inca , you seem to have your finger on the pulse . No interest myself in Celtic other than cheering for them in 1967 ( wonder if the "other" Scottish football supporters were behind them to a man ? ).
The fact that it took a strong character like Graeme Souness to break the sectarian signing policy at Rangers is a comment on the nature of that club and its supporters . Presumably they have moved on since the eighties .
Celtic of Glasgow as our hurling afficionado refers to them may well be in the eye of the needle at the moment , not just their manager . Not sure what they can do to obviate the oppobrium they seem to attract , a lot of which is undeserved from what I see ( or am interested in , as I regard certain sections of Scottish society as not worth the effort ).
The only way I can see some sorting out is via financial pressure , maybe Hearts should be fined 100k to start with , money talks and it might make the clubs with dodgy supporters invest in a bit of common sense about who they allow into their grounds . Guarantee you each club knows the hotheads , or could find out very quickly . But I suspect they have not bothered too much , as long as the nutters are paying their way in . The rugby lads sorted out the nutters some years back with a heavy mob who dealt summarily with any one misbehaving on the terraces . Waiting for legislation etc will allow the situation to get worse before it gets better . Send for Charles Bronson ( without the gun of course ) . But each club would need to "police " its own supporters .
The fact that it took a strong character like Graeme Souness to break the sectarian signing policy at Rangers is a comment on the nature of that club and its supporters . Presumably they have moved on since the eighties .
Celtic of Glasgow as our hurling afficionado refers to them may well be in the eye of the needle at the moment , not just their manager . Not sure what they can do to obviate the oppobrium they seem to attract , a lot of which is undeserved from what I see ( or am interested in , as I regard certain sections of Scottish society as not worth the effort ).
The only way I can see some sorting out is via financial pressure , maybe Hearts should be fined 100k to start with , money talks and it might make the clubs with dodgy supporters invest in a bit of common sense about who they allow into their grounds . Guarantee you each club knows the hotheads , or could find out very quickly . But I suspect they have not bothered too much , as long as the nutters are paying their way in . The rugby lads sorted out the nutters some years back with a heavy mob who dealt summarily with any one misbehaving on the terraces . Waiting for legislation etc will allow the situation to get worse before it gets better . Send for Charles Bronson ( without the gun of course ) . But each club would need to "police " its own supporters .
Excellent post Brave Inca. I too am sick of hearing misinformed comments about the whole situation. People jumping on the back of Neil Lennon for putting his hands on his ears is farcical and just shows their lack of knowledge of the full extent this man has to experience every day. He is passionate and had just spent a whole match listening to abuse about him and his family being hurled from the stands. This has nothing to do with football and any human would react to this, I for one would find it hard to refrain myself to just cupping my ears. The treatment of Lennon is mindless sectarian bigotry and anyone who doesn’t believe this either does not know enough about the situation or is simply hiding the fact to excuse certain idiotic behaviour.
LOL @ some of the comments on here, so if you don't think Lennon is 'not' a nice guy you are misinformed, have no clue about football, jumping on the back of him and if you think McCoist is alright 'you don't know him like we do' ! 
For the record i never liked Lennon but he has shown himself to have zero class and also a poor manager. The poor manager bit i can forgiven him but the comments before the Hearts game how classless this guy is, actually he could be brain dead either.
For the record i never liked Lennon but he has shown himself to have zero class and also a poor manager. The poor manager bit i can forgiven him but the comments before the Hearts game how classless this guy is, actually he could be brain dead either.
What exactly did he say before the Hearts game that so upset you? For the record, Jim Jefferies the Hearts manager stated that he took no offence to Lennon's comments and that Lennon had been mis-quoted in the press.
Celtic have to try to find a way to get to another league asap. It would be great to see the rat infested league and association that is Scottish football die a slow death afterwards.
I remember The Lisbon Lions well and would like to give you a statistic that will make you hanker for those far off days.
Every player that won the 1967 European Cup Final in Lisbon was born within a two mile radius of the ground with the exception of Tommy Gemmel,he was born seven miles away and considered a bit of an outsider.Thats something that will never happen again and the reason Soccer has lost its soul.
Every player that won the 1967 European Cup Final in Lisbon was born within a two mile radius of the ground with the exception of Tommy Gemmel,he was born seven miles away and considered a bit of an outsider.Thats something that will never happen again and the reason Soccer has lost its soul.
Nothing upset me Jolly, just thought it was a classless thing he said, we both know what he said and it fits into his cheap and nasty character that he is and i'm sure he ain't the smartest lad either.
Celtic fc and their fans can pretend all they like why they follow their team but without the religious aspect Celtic are nada. Te sad thing is with more football on the our screens Celtic and Rangers both need each other and the sectarian element of their rivalry as it good news for the auld coffers.
There is no way in the word Celtic would want to move to another league unless Rangers came with them. They would be torn apart in any average year in the Portuguese or Dutch top divisions.
Celtic fc and their fans can pretend all they like why they follow their team but without the religious aspect Celtic are nada. Te sad thing is with more football on the our screens Celtic and Rangers both need each other and the sectarian element of their rivalry as it good news for the auld coffers.
There is no way in the word Celtic would want to move to another league unless Rangers came with them. They would be torn apart in any average year in the Portuguese or Dutch top divisions.
I've no real opinion either which way about Lennons character but what has been going on is dispicable and indefensible, but you do have to laugh how Celtic and its supporters are all holier than thou, and only Rangers supporters delve in sectarian bigotry, pull the other one with bells on please!!!.
Funny how all the history lessons on this thread are all heavily biased?.
In 2008, a Celtic fan was convicted of a religiously aggravated breach of the peace for wearing a t-shirt with the slogan "dirty horrible huns".
Funny how all the history lessons on this thread are all heavily biased?.
In 2008, a Celtic fan was convicted of a religiously aggravated breach of the peace for wearing a t-shirt with the slogan "dirty horrible huns".
i know the basics about the sectarianist aspect, but find it boring and petty which is why i dont know the ins and outs. what i do know is this, neil lennon may well have been provoked by the hearts crowd, and i have a bit of sympathy for a guy who gets threats for religious reasons moreso than anything else. but, if hes rousting crowds as he does, whether its him that was provoked first or the other way around, then hes ret@rded. if im getting bullets in the post or parcel bombs etc, im going to have the cop on keep a low profile. i understand hes caught between a rock and a hard place in many aspects, but if he keeps going the way he is, im afraid to say id have suspicions he might not be walking out of celtic in however many years, delighted with what hes done for the club, most likely he will have been harmed, possibly seriously. im not one for making situations into something theyre not, but at this rate i think theres a small chance the unthinkable could happen. if he is the one being provoked, im not sure his attitude of "il get the last laugh" is the right one to be taking, especially seeing as hes walking a tightrope.
how true silvergreaser! in fact a celtic supporter was actually jailed yesterday for three months for making racist gestures at el hadji diouf
That chap should have got longer than 3 months and was named and shamed by other Celtic fans in the stadium to the police..........seemingly the police have 3 people in custody for the letter/nail bomb threats to Lennon, Mc Ginn and Mc Court............Is soccer the only sport where fans are segregated and WHY?
Rocket I would agree that right now Celtic wouldn't do as well in certain other leagues. But without the SKY money most English sides wouldn't either. If Celtic were say in the Premier division in England, within about 2 years they'd be able to attract any player they wanted because they'd have the finances to do so.
The Celts of Glasgow would mop up in the League of Delaney imo.
Silvergreaser - you seem to have a misunderstanding of what constitutes bigotry. Please englighten me as to how Celtic FC as an institution are in anyway sectarian or bigoted? Rangers are built on a history of sectarianism with their refusal to employ Roman Catholics until 1989. I am sure their are racist and bigoted elements in the Celtic support as you would get with any club.
As for the Hun term (the English used this to describe the Germans during the war) - this is a reference to Rangers that came about in the 1960s in relation to Rangers support of the Monarchy or else derived from a description of Rangers fans rioting in England ("a group of marauding Huns"). The term has no religious connations whatsoever. I would be interested if you could post a link to said conviction because i would be amazed if a judge convicted someone on these grounds. Most Celtic fans i am aware of hate Rangers as our rivals and no other reason. Whats wrong with hating your rival team. Its part of what makes football so special the world over. As for Rocketfingers - it will be a cold day in hell before i respond to anything a moron like yourself posts in reponse to me.
As for the Hun term (the English used this to describe the Germans during the war) - this is a reference to Rangers that came about in the 1960s in relation to Rangers support of the Monarchy or else derived from a description of Rangers fans rioting in England ("a group of marauding Huns"). The term has no religious connations whatsoever. I would be interested if you could post a link to said conviction because i would be amazed if a judge convicted someone on these grounds. Most Celtic fans i am aware of hate Rangers as our rivals and no other reason. Whats wrong with hating your rival team. Its part of what makes football so special the world over. As for Rocketfingers - it will be a cold day in hell before i respond to anything a moron like yourself posts in reponse to me.
Why do you call them Orange Bastards then Brave Inca. It's like Rangers fans claiming calling Celtic fans ****s is referring them to 19th century revolutionaries. You know it's used as a derogatory term.
No groups should be claiming the upper hand in this and both Rangers and Celtic have allowed this to manifest for too long. Western Scotland still has a policy to look the other way when this gone on since we can remember.
If one team was black and another was white, this kind of rivalry would have been stopped 30 years ago the bigotry and violence (Off the Pitch) just would not have been tolerated.
No groups should be claiming the upper hand in this and both Rangers and Celtic have allowed this to manifest for too long. Western Scotland still has a policy to look the other way when this gone on since we can remember.
If one team was black and another was white, this kind of rivalry would have been stopped 30 years ago the bigotry and violence (Off the Pitch) just would not have been tolerated.
Squigs you are so far off the mark it's unreal.
It's the one as bad as each other mantra that the Scottish Media , Sloppy Sindo journalists and people who don't want to see the truth which allows the blatant bigotry, bias, sectarianism of much of the Rangers support and Scottish society to continue.
Neil Lennon brings it on himself - yada yada yada. Parcel Bombs, bullets in the post,physical attacks. What did he do exactly?
Celtic may have a small amount of bigots but it is nothing compared to what is rife at Ibrox and in Scotland. Only one team in Scotland has been sanctioned by UEFA for sectarian singing while another has been singled out and praised for their support after Seville.
Only one team has had a Sectarian signing policy. Remind me if Rangers is an open house why no Republic of Ireland player has played at first team level for them yet. If Kyle Lafferty was from Blacklion not Kesh he probably wouldn't be featuring today.
Open your eyes and tell it as it is. Celtic are rightly trying to distance themselves from the Old Firm tag as they are not two sides of the one coin.
60,000 people at Celtic have just done the huddle. Place bouncing. Something inside so Strong. Strangely I couldn't see the same thing happening at Ibrox if they had lost a league.
It's the one as bad as each other mantra that the Scottish Media , Sloppy Sindo journalists and people who don't want to see the truth which allows the blatant bigotry, bias, sectarianism of much of the Rangers support and Scottish society to continue.
Neil Lennon brings it on himself - yada yada yada. Parcel Bombs, bullets in the post,physical attacks. What did he do exactly?
Celtic may have a small amount of bigots but it is nothing compared to what is rife at Ibrox and in Scotland. Only one team in Scotland has been sanctioned by UEFA for sectarian singing while another has been singled out and praised for their support after Seville.
Only one team has had a Sectarian signing policy. Remind me if Rangers is an open house why no Republic of Ireland player has played at first team level for them yet. If Kyle Lafferty was from Blacklion not Kesh he probably wouldn't be featuring today.
Open your eyes and tell it as it is. Celtic are rightly trying to distance themselves from the Old Firm tag as they are not two sides of the one coin.
60,000 people at Celtic have just done the huddle. Place bouncing. Something inside so Strong. Strangely I couldn't see the same thing happening at Ibrox if they had lost a league.
Celtic sing IRA songs at football matches in Scotland, so really I'm not at all far off the mark it has no place in football in the 21st century. I as well think Rangers are the worst offenders but both clubs are poor for dealing with this.
Again I have defended Lennon earlier on to the helm, no manager deserves anything like what has happened to him, but the atmosphere generated amongst these games in Scotland is just beyond nasty. Ordinary decent people who work honest jobs follow both teams and come match day they behave like animals. Lennon did what anyone would do, respond to a good solid two hours of abuse, the man is not a robot.
Rangers and Celtic are two proud clubs but Glasgow has such an association with sectarianism and neither club does enough to control it and I do believe if it was differences of Race and not Religion this would have been solved years ago. Their is an acceptance of this an assumption that both clubs are not going to change.
It's not good of fans of either side playing the blame game and rewriting history.
Again I have defended Lennon earlier on to the helm, no manager deserves anything like what has happened to him, but the atmosphere generated amongst these games in Scotland is just beyond nasty. Ordinary decent people who work honest jobs follow both teams and come match day they behave like animals. Lennon did what anyone would do, respond to a good solid two hours of abuse, the man is not a robot.
Rangers and Celtic are two proud clubs but Glasgow has such an association with sectarianism and neither club does enough to control it and I do believe if it was differences of Race and not Religion this would have been solved years ago. Their is an acceptance of this an assumption that both clubs are not going to change.
It's not good of fans of either side playing the blame game and rewriting history.
If i was a Celtic player i would not be able to wait to this Cup final. They'll destroy them, i've watched a fair amount of the SPL this past season (Hard work) and Celtic will be angry over this, but Lennon must hang his head over not winning the SPL because they've been the best team.
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