Monday, April 28, 2008

CELTIC FANS NEW SONG

Thousands of Celtic fans were yesterday witnessed to have sung

"I hope you die in your sleep Nacho Novo
I hope you die in your sleep i pray
I hope you die in your sleep Nacho Novo
With a bullet from the IRA"

Anti sectarian organisation 'Nil by Mouth' have this to say on it

Thank you for your interest in Nil by Mouth.

The Scottish PremierLeague's match observer has responsibility for reporting unacceptable conduct at matches under the SPL's jurisdiction. Any findings in this respect are normally reported publicly and we await the findings in relation to yesterday's Celtic v Rangers fixture.

This is the first complaint we have had reporting that this particular song was sung at the match and I thank you for drawing this to your attention. I personally heard some supporters singing the song in Glasgow city centre early yesterday evening and had any police officers been present at the time I would have reported it to them as a breach of the peace. The song, which I understand is sung to the tune of a Christian hymn, is in Nil by Mouth's view clearly sectarian and will understandably be offensive and upsetting to many football supporters and members of the general public.

Nil by Mouth has commented in today's Scottish Sun in relation to the t-shirt displayed by Celtic's goalkeeper at the match. We have not had any media enquiries regarding sectarian singing at the game and indeed your complaint is the only such report of this we have received. We will take your complaint into account and consider this along with any other evidence presented regarding sectarian behaviour at the match. If sectarian singing took place then we would urge the SPL and clubs involved to respond in line with the policies they have in place to challenge sectarianism. Perhaps you would consider forwarding your complaint to these organisations to encourage them to take action?

Thank you for your correspondence, the information you have provided is appreciated and useful to our campaign.

Best regards,

"A man's a man for a' that"

Robert Burns - Scottish poet