Sectarian Singing
Celtic Football Club are doing their bit to eliminate sectarian singing and chanting at Scottish football games.
The Old Firm (Rangers and Celtic) rarely get praise for the work they do - week in and week out - to combat sectarian behaviour but both clubs are comitted to stamping out - this ugly side of the Scottish game.
At the club's annual general meeting during the week, chief executive - Peter Lawwell made the position perfectly clear.
By warning that fans of the club who “glorify” the Provisional IRA in song during matches - will face action.
Good for him - and the club.
Peter Lawwell outlined his zero tolerance approach towards 'fans' who behave badly and said:
“I don’t think it’s significant at Celtic Park, but it’s there on occasions. It’s more significant among our away support. These chants which mention and glorify the Provisional IRA are totally and utterly unacceptable.
It’s embarrassing to the club and damages the club. It also embarrasses the majority of our supporters. We will deal with it."
Some fans took issue with Celtic's official stance at the club's AGM - but to my mind these folks are just naysayers and deniers - people who like to posture and score political points.
Because who wants to go to a football match and hear such hate-filled chants?
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said:
“Any chanting in support of a terrorist organisation is offensive, it is wrong and it should not be tolerated, and we welcome the strong stand taken by Celtic.
“Bigoted and sectarian behaviour of all kinds is totally unacceptable in modern Scotland, and the Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill gives the police and prosecutors the tools they have asked for in tackling such hate.”
So I hope the recent grandstanding and posturing by some elements of Scottish society - including the Catholic Church - comes to an end.
And that the Scottish Parliament's attempts to tackle the problem command all party support - because that's what they deserve.
The Old Firm (Rangers and Celtic) rarely get praise for the work they do - week in and week out - to combat sectarian behaviour but both clubs are comitted to stamping out - this ugly side of the Scottish game.
At the club's annual general meeting during the week, chief executive - Peter Lawwell made the position perfectly clear.
By warning that fans of the club who “glorify” the Provisional IRA in song during matches - will face action.
Good for him - and the club.
Peter Lawwell outlined his zero tolerance approach towards 'fans' who behave badly and said:
“I don’t think it’s significant at Celtic Park, but it’s there on occasions. It’s more significant among our away support. These chants which mention and glorify the Provisional IRA are totally and utterly unacceptable.
It’s embarrassing to the club and damages the club. It also embarrasses the majority of our supporters. We will deal with it."
Some fans took issue with Celtic's official stance at the club's AGM - but to my mind these folks are just naysayers and deniers - people who like to posture and score political points.
Because who wants to go to a football match and hear such hate-filled chants?
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said:
“Any chanting in support of a terrorist organisation is offensive, it is wrong and it should not be tolerated, and we welcome the strong stand taken by Celtic.
“Bigoted and sectarian behaviour of all kinds is totally unacceptable in modern Scotland, and the Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill gives the police and prosecutors the tools they have asked for in tackling such hate.”
So I hope the recent grandstanding and posturing by some elements of Scottish society - including the Catholic Church - comes to an end.
And that the Scottish Parliament's attempts to tackle the problem command all party support - because that's what they deserve.
