Sunday Mail 20/11/11
Two Celtic fans allegedly sang sectarian songs in a pub on Remembrance Sunday.
Craig Kelly, 41, of Ayr and Paul Welsby, 31, from Bathgate, deny a religiously aggravated breach of the peace in Ayr's Willie Wastle's bar.
They face trial at Ayr Sheriff Court in March.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
UEFA investigate ‘offensive’ Celtic songs
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spl/uefa_investigate_offensive_celtic_songs_1_1963147
CELTIC fans are at the centre of a UEFA investigation after police raised concerns over “offensive” songs during a Europa League game against Rennes.
Celtic have been asked by European football’s governing body to give their side of events during the 3-1 victory over the French club at Parkhead on November 3.
It is understood that Strathclyde Police made the UEFA delegate aware of “offensive” singing during the encounter.
A spokesman for the force said: “We can confirm there were a number of instances during the game of singing offensive songs and inquiries are ongoing to detect the offenders.”
Celtic today confirmed they had been asked by UEFA to provide a response to the allegations.
A club spokesman said: “We are currently looking into these claims.”
The club are understood to have been taken by surprise by the UEFA action, having had no direct feedback from the police.
A Celtic Park source said: “This is quite unprecedented as no issues were raised to the club during the match and the police didn’t inform us directly about their concerns.”
UEFA did not respond to phonecalls today but reports in the Scottish Sun claimed they would hold a hearing on December 8.
It is unclear what charge Celtic could face although it is believed that the allegations centre on songs about the IRA.
Celtic last month urged fans to stop singing pro-IRA chants after being “inundated” with complaints from their own supporters following their 2-0 defeat by Hearts at Tynecastle.
Lothian and Borders Police announced they had launched an investigation into the “singing of sectarian songs” following the Clydesdale Bank Premier League game on October 2.
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said: “Chants glorifying the Provisional IRA are totally unacceptable.
“One, it is wrong, and it is an embarrassment to the club and embarrassment to the majority of supporters.
“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.”
Possible UEFA sanctions include a fine and ban on supporters.
Celtic UEFA probe over ‘hate songs’
CELTIC are being probed by UEFA chiefs over claims of sectarian chanting at a Europa League game.
Bigwigs acted after a top cop flagged up alleged offensive behaviour by fans during the match against Rennes at Parkhead.
If the hate song claims are found to be true the Hoops could be fined or their fans banned from European ties.
Last night a club insider said: "Celtic could be in big trouble over this. UEFA can hand down heavy punishments. The club have already pleaded with fans to cut out IRA songs at matches but it looks like some won't listen."
It's understood a senior Strathclyde officer working at the match earlier this month approached UEFA delegates with the chant claims.
A spokesman for the governing body said last night: "We have opened a disciplinary case against Celtic." It will be heard on December 8. In April, Rangers were fined £35,500 and their fans banned from their next away Euro game after they were found guilty of discriminatory chanting in a Europa League tie.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/3931165/Celtic-UEFA-probe-over-hate-songs.html#ixzz1dfeEOfeU
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Celtic fan beats lamb to death after defeat
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3722497.stm
A teenage boy has been given a three-month jail sentence for battering a lamb with a golf club.
The attack was so severe that the animal had to be put down.
Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that ramblers on the Campsie Fells witnessed Michael Harden, 16, from Lennoxtown near Glasgow, carrying out the attack.
The father-of-one told police officers that the attack "was just a bit of fun". Sheriff Hugh Matthews QC said that prison was "the only option".
The incident happened in May last year, hours after the Celtic fan had watched his team lose the league title to Rangers.
Emergency treatment
Harden chased the lamb and hit it twice with his golf club.
He then went after another lamb, which got away, and he returned to the first lamb and hit it twice more.
Harden fled the scene and ramblers called the police.
Vets collected the animal and carried out emergency treatment but the lamb had to be put down.
Judith Hutchinson, prosecuting, told the court: "The lamb suffered two broken legs and a series of internal injuries.
"Vets considered that they were consistent to a severe beating having taken place."
Unemployed Harden had earlier pleaded guilty to assaulting the lamb in breach of the Protection of Animals act.
The court was told he had not been drinking or under the influence of drugs that evening and that there had been "no reason" for the incident.
The SSPCA said it was an appropriate sentence.
A teenage boy has been given a three-month jail sentence for battering a lamb with a golf club.
The attack was so severe that the animal had to be put down.
Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that ramblers on the Campsie Fells witnessed Michael Harden, 16, from Lennoxtown near Glasgow, carrying out the attack.
The father-of-one told police officers that the attack "was just a bit of fun". Sheriff Hugh Matthews QC said that prison was "the only option".
The incident happened in May last year, hours after the Celtic fan had watched his team lose the league title to Rangers.
Emergency treatment
Harden chased the lamb and hit it twice with his golf club.
He then went after another lamb, which got away, and he returned to the first lamb and hit it twice more.
Harden fled the scene and ramblers called the police.
Vets collected the animal and carried out emergency treatment but the lamb had to be put down.
Judith Hutchinson, prosecuting, told the court: "The lamb suffered two broken legs and a series of internal injuries.
"Vets considered that they were consistent to a severe beating having taken place."
Unemployed Harden had earlier pleaded guilty to assaulting the lamb in breach of the Protection of Animals act.
The court was told he had not been drinking or under the influence of drugs that evening and that there had been "no reason" for the incident.
The SSPCA said it was an appropriate sentence.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Police restore order after Celtic drop points at home
29/10/11
Celtic 0 Hibernian 0
As trouble erupted in the Celtic end Police moved in to restore order.
Celtic fans responded by directing sectarian abuse at the Strathclyde force.
Celtic 0 Hibernian 0
As trouble erupted in the Celtic end Police moved in to restore order.
Celtic fans responded by directing sectarian abuse at the Strathclyde force.
Celtic fans bigoted IRA chanting slammed
By Tom English, at Celtic Park
Published on Saturday 29 October 2011 23:52
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/footba...enge_1_19385
For Celtic, everything was flat, oh so flat. The atmosphere, until the emotion at the end, was as blah as it gets. For the longest time the only noise in the place emanated from those angry sons of Eireann, those stand-up patriots in the Green Brigade who had banged out two glorifications of the IRA within the first nine minutes and followed it up with further guff later on, some standard, and jaded, stick for the SFA and a highly mature take on the government’s secetarianism legislation that required Alex Salmond depositing it where the sun don’t shine. Now that Peter Lawwell is supposedly taking a hard line on these things he might want to have words. It’s not like he needs a compass to find them.
Published on Saturday 29 October 2011 23:52
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/footba...enge_1_19385
For Celtic, everything was flat, oh so flat. The atmosphere, until the emotion at the end, was as blah as it gets. For the longest time the only noise in the place emanated from those angry sons of Eireann, those stand-up patriots in the Green Brigade who had banged out two glorifications of the IRA within the first nine minutes and followed it up with further guff later on, some standard, and jaded, stick for the SFA and a highly mature take on the government’s secetarianism legislation that required Alex Salmond depositing it where the sun don’t shine. Now that Peter Lawwell is supposedly taking a hard line on these things he might want to have words. It’s not like he needs a compass to find them.
Celtic fans clash with Police after goal-less draw
Two people have been arrested in connection with a disorder during Celtic's home tie against Hibernian.
Eyewitnesses said trouble flared in the Celtic stands at Celtic Park shortly before the end of the game, which finished goalless and left the Hoops 12 points behind Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers.
The match also saw more protests against the Scottish Government's Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill, designed to "eradicate" sectarianism from Scottish football.
Celtic fans waved banners reading "Fans Against Criminalisation" and "Kill The Bill".
The trouble was said to have started around ten minutes before the end of the game in the "Green Brigade" section of the stands. One eyewitness said: "The police started to lift people. Some of the fans started running along the stands, and there was something going on underneath the stands too."
Football fans were also talking about the incident and posting photographs on internet forums and social media websites. Writing on the online forum ScottishFitba.net under the headline "Green Brigade skelped by Strathclyde's finest", user Red777 said: "After a crowd disturbance at the end of today's 0-0 at Parkhead...the Green Brigade decided to leave the ground as one, shadowed by the polis (police).
"More trouble ensued within the stairs/concourse area and the GB were held within the stadium while the police made arrests."
Writing on the fans' forum Kerrydale Street, user Celt88 said: "Police were really heavy handed with the Green Brigade after the game. Wouldn't let them leave and they had to move along to the Jock Stein end to get out. From what I saw the Green Brigade done well not to react as it really looked like it was going to kick off as the police waded into them trying to make arrests."
A Strathclyde Police spokesman confirmed that two people have been arrested in connection with a disturbance in the ground.
Saturday's match is the second meeting between the two clubs in four days, following Wednesday's Communities League Cup quarter-final which also saw disorder amongst fans. Police said Celtic and Hibs fans were involved in "pre-organised football related violence" after the match, which Celtic won 4-1.
Celtic fans in sectarian chant shame after "sham" protest
Oct 30 2011 Gordon Waddell, Sunday Mail
The only early talking point was yet another display of banners, maybe 80 strong, all one message, all saying "Kill The Bill".
Assuming they weren't talking about the popular ITV police procedural, which has been killed already, they were once again protesting against the Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill.
And you almost sympathised with them until eight minutes into the game when the first rendition of "Ooh ah up the RA" and the Boys of the Old Brigade went up and their charge for the moral high ground was exposed as a sham.
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