Sunday Mirror, Apr 7, 2002 by DONNA CARTON
HARDLINE Celtic fans plunged their club into shame yesterday by disrupting the one minute's silence held in memory of the Queen Mother.
Republican Hoops fans marred their team's second Scottish Premier League Trophy win in a row as boos, chants and whistles echoed around Celtic's Parkhead stadium.
Fighting between Celtic fans broke out in the stands as the jeers of around 300 protestors sounded over the bowed heads of the Celtic and Livingston teams.
The minute's silence was cut short to just 32 seconds by referee Willie Young when obscenities were heard.
Frankie Shanks from west Belfast was at the game with his seven- year-old daughter, Claire, son Kieran, 14, and his pal, Steven, 14.
He said: "The trouble and shouting and booing was sickening. Fighting started right near us on the stand and my daughter began crying and was afraid, so we decided to leave.
"It was disgraceful. Celtic fans were fighting with each other, all because some wanted to disrupt the minute silence for the Queen Mother."
Frankie, who belongs to the Eireann go Bragh Celtic fan club added: "I am from west Belfast. I'm not a Royalist but all of us at our club had decided that we would act respectfully.
"We were there to see a football game. What happened today gives Celtic fans, especially ones from Northern Ireland, a bad name and yet most fans feel the way I do.
"I spent pounds 90 on tickets and pounds 147 on the ferry and we left the ground today before we even saw a ball kicked. I am very angry."
A band of supporters, many of whom are believed to have travelled from Northern Ireland, had vowed to boo loudly before the match.
Despite two public address pleas to observe the silence, the fears of football bosses were borne out .
Sunday Mirror sports writer Joe McHugh said: "Whistles began before the minute's silence and there were sustained cat calls and boos over the 30 seconds.
"In a packed stadium of 59,000, the noise from a few hundred who broke the silence made a big impact in Parkhead."
In a second royal snub, the national anthem was not played before the key title match, because football chiefs were worried it would spark violence.
The Scottish Football Association last week refus d to order clubs to play God Save the Queen for fears of antagonising Celtic supporters.
Their decision not to order Celtic to play the national anthem - a favourite with their arch rivals Rangers - even went against a directive from Downing Street.
Over 5,000 Celtic fans had made the journey from Northern Ireland and a small group of republicans had warned of "chaos and confrontation"
However, the majority of supporters at the crunch clash joined in the one minute's silence despite widespread speculation the booing would be out of control.
The players wore black arm bands and bowed their heads in respect.
However, Celtic bosses were said to be relieved that the booing which precursed the 5-1 title win had not been worse.
A Celtic FC insider said: "There was some booing and whistling but it could have been a lot worse. We're quite relieved because it went relatively well.
"But it could have been very embarrassing indeed if we would have been made to have played the national anthem."
A Celtic spokesman later condemned the actions of "a small minority" of fans.
He added: "It's disappointing that a small minority went against the request of the club.
"However, we are delighted that the vast majority of the supporters respected the silence."
Celtic's routing of Livingston saw them clinch the championship, giving them their second successive Scottish Premier League title.
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman later said: "Their views are a matter for them and we leave it up to others to judge them."
Five fans were arrested and hauled out of Parkhead during the game for breach of the peace and drink-related offences, according to police.
Another six fans were arrested outside the stadium before and after the game for similar offences.
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