Celtic fan fined £1000 for punching steward

http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/edinburgh/around-the-capital/celtic_fan_fined_1000_for_punching_steward_after_hearts_fan_approached_lennon_1_1928543

A CELTIC fan punched a steward at Tynecastle during a match between Celtic and Hearts - minutes after Jambo John Wilson tangled with Neil Lennon on the touchline.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard today how 19-year-old James Addison struck a steward as a “large melee” broke out in the away stand.

The atmosphere had intensified during the crunch match in May after Wilson ran onto the pitch and approached the Celtic boss.

Addison, a plumber from Cumbernauld, was fined £1000 after pleading guilty to the offence.

He claimed he was trying to help a friend who was being held by steward Graeme McKechnie as bedlam broke out among the Celtic support, who clashed with police.

Sheriff Kenneth MacIver did not hand down a football banning order, but added that the Glasgow club may take their own action.

Celtic admission over IRA chanting

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15307640.stm

Celtic's chief executive Peter Lawwell has urged a section of the club's supporters to stop singing pro-IRA songs.

Addressing the annual general meeting at Celtic Park, Lawwell said: "Chants glorifying the Provisional IRA are totally unacceptable.

"It is an embarrassment to the club; We don't want it, we don't need it."

Chairman John Reid stepped down after four years in the role.

Lawwell, who was returned to the board, said the club did not want to be associated with unacceptable chanting.

"One, it is wrong, and it is an embarrassment to the club and embarrassment to the majority of supporters.

"We were inundated by complaints from our own fans after the game at Tynecastle [on 2 October].

"We have dealt with it at Celtic Park and we will do all we can to make sure it doesn't happen home or away.

"We don't want it, we don't need it. We have the best supporters in the world and hold that reputation dear."

Lord Reid, who will be succeeded by Iain Bankier, told the club's annual meeting that their recent record "has not been good enough".

The club have failed to win the SPL title for the past three seasons and trail defending champions Rangers by 10 points this term.

Lord Reid said the board would not "put the club in peril" by overspending.

Describing his four-year reign as club chairman as the greatest privilege of his life, Lord Reid said he hoped to be remembered as a fighter who spoke out against unfairness at the Scottish Football Association.

Celtic and the governing body clashed over refereeing standards during a turbulent season last year.

Reform at the SFA achieved what Celtic wanted in terms of accountability and transparency, he added.

Celtic fan accused of shouting sectarian abuse at Aberdeen’s Pittodrie Stadium

http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/2474384
Published: 12/10/2011

Match abandoned as Celtic fans riot

WATCH VIDEO HERE

Celtic fans rioted as they went down 3-0 to St Mirren in 1962 Scottish Cup Final semi-finalMatch was abandoned and mounted police arrived on the scene.

Police launch new sectarian singing probe

http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/news/home-news/police-launch-new-sectarian-singing-probe-1.1127555

Published on 5 Oct 2011

MARTIN WILLIAMS

POLICE have launched an investigation into the singing of sectarian songs at the SPL game between Hearts and Celtic at the weekend.

Officers have begun a post-match investigation after receiving complaints away fans sung pro-IRA songs during the side’s 2-0 defeat at Tynecastle Stadium. It is understood the police are also looking into the singing of anti-Catholic songs by Hearts fans.

Police have confirmed one fan was arrested and charged with breach of the peace “with a sectarian aggravator” at Sunday’s match, which was shown live on Sky Sports.

Songs reported to have been sung by Celtic fans included Ooh Ah Up The Ra, said to be a pro-IRA song, The Boys of the Old Brigade, which celebrates the role of the 1920s IRA in the Irish War of Independence, and Roll of Honour, an Irish rebel song that commemorates the participants in the 1981 Irish hunger strike.

A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: “We are investigating complaints about the singing of sectarian songs and there is a post-match investigation under way. Anyone who is found during these inquiries to be committing an offence will be brought to justice.”

The new probe was compared by the police to that carried out when trouble flared at the Hiber-nian v Sunderland pre-season friendly in August. As of last week, 12 men have been arrested and charged with breach of the peace, some of which were aggravated by religious prejudice.

Sunday’s game was expected to lead to high tensions as it was the first since Celtic manager Neil Lennon was confronted by Hearts fan John Wilson on the touchline in May.

Mr Wilson, an unemployed labourer, was jailed for eight months after being found guilty of a breach of the peace at the game in May, although there was uproar over a not proven verdict returned by the jury at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on a charge of assault aggravated by religious prejudice.

Safety measures introduced for Sunday’s match included “clear zones” between the two sets of fans and police and stewards around the dugouts.

Security guards escorted Lennon closely in an attempt to prevent a repeat of the scenes.

While there was no sign at the match of Wilson, who was banned from Tynecastle for life after charging at Lennon, the Celtic manager was taunted by some Hearts fans who wore face masks of Wilson.

There were also reports schoolboy football team Livingston Hearts were subjected to abuse from Celtic fans when they took to the field at Tynecastle.

Scores of supporters were seen making obscene gestures at the youngsters as they jogged past on a lap of honour during the half time interval.

Celtic fans hurl abuse at kids on Tynecastle lap of honour

http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Celtic-fans-hurl-abuse-at.6847421.jp

Published Date: 
04 October 2011

By ADAM MORRIS


A SCHOOLBOY football team was said to have been left "shaken and shocked" after being subjected to foul-mouthed abuse from Celtic fans when they took to the field at Tynecastle.
Scores of supporters were seen making obscene gestures at the youngsters as they jogged past the away stand on a lap of honour during half time of Sunday's big match.

The boys club involved - Livingston Hearts - branded their treatment a disgrace and claimed a large section of the away support took part in the booing - although other Celtic fans did attempt to drown out the abuse with applause.

It is understood club officials even warned the children to steer clear of the Celtic end in case of abuse being levelled at them while a stadium announcement reminded fans of the age of the team.

The under-13 side, which has players as young as 11, had been treated to a training session with Hearts players earlier in the week, which was followed by a short game during the interval.

Coach Robert Hardie said: "It is such an exciting day for them, they get to run through the tunnel in front of a packed stadium. Then for that to happen put a real dampener on it, you could see some of them were really shaken and shocked by it.

"Fortunately they're kids, so they will bounce back, but it was a disgrace."

Although the West Lothian outfit does have links to Hearts the players have a range of allegiances.

"There were even a couple of Celtic fans in the team who were really looking forward to going up in front of the fans," Mr Hardie added.

"I'm a season ticket holder and this has never happened before. Even when we play Hibs the fans always give the lads a good reception."

Hearts fan, John Lee, wrote to the Evening News to voice his displeasure. "I have never seen anything in over 25 years attending football matches that has appalled me so much," he said.

"When Hearts play Hibs, Rangers and any other club the youngsters at half-time receive a warm round of applause from both sets of fans."

Sunday's match was always likely to lead to high tensions between supporters as it was the first encounter since Celtic manager Neil Lennon was confronted by fan John Wilson on the touchline in May. Several Hearts fans were spotted wearing John Wilson masks during the game to taunt rival supporters.

Police said they had not received any specific complaints about the incident involving Livingston Hearts, but were investigating other matters in relation to crowd behaviour at the game.

A Celtic spokesman said: "This has to be put into context in terms of the small number of people involved out of a crowd of around 3000.


"However small a minority, Celtic absolutely condemns such negative behaviour. We do hope photographs of the home support wearing 'John Wilson' masks receive the same level of analysis."