If You Know Their History

Celtic fans riot at Old Firm match

2011-12-21T02:00:00.000-08:00

Celtic back in the dock as UEFA charge club over fans behaviour at Udinese

2011-12-21T01:51:00.001-08:00

Celtic face their second UEFA disciplinary case in two months after being charged in relation to two offences during their Europa League game against Udinese in Italy.

UEFA confirmed they had opened disciplinary proceedings against Celtic, charging the Glasgow club with 'the displaying of a banner of an offensive nature and the setting off of fireworks by supporters'.

The case will be heard by the UEFA's control and disciplinary body on January 26.

Some Celtic fans held aloft a two-part banner which insulted UEFA, days after the club were fined about £12,700 for 'illicit chanting' involving pro-IRA songs at a Europa League game against Rennes at Celtic Park.

Several flares were also let off and one was thrown on to the pitch-side track as Celtic exited the tournament with a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Friuli last Thursday night.

Celtic have already banned for life one fan who was arrested in Italy over the alleged assault of a club steward, and who they say was one of those responsible for the banner.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon and chief executive Peter Lawwell hit out out at the 'rogue' element within their support on the day after the game.

The club also vowed to sift through photographic evidence to find those fans responsible for the use of the flares, warning that they will take 'appropriate action'.

Lawwell said: 'It is very frustrating. Those people are not Celtic supporters.

'We will weed them out and these guys will not get back into Celtic Football Club.

'One or two silly little juvenile boys doing funny kids' pranks and stuff and it is bringing the whole of Scottish football down.'

Lennon added: 'My only surprise is that they got the spelling (on the banner) right.

'I am very disappointed, they have let me down, they have let the board, players and background staff down and 99.9% of the support down.'

New Uefa charge for Celtic as SPL toughens rules on fan behaviour

2011-12-21T01:50:00.000-08:00

By STEPHEN HALLIDAY
Published on Tuesday 20 December 2011 02:36

UEFA has formally charged Celtic for a fresh breach of its disciplinary regulations during last Thursday night’s Europa League tie against Udinese in Italy.

A section of the 800-strong Celtic support at the Friuli Stadium unveiled a banner with the message “F*** Uefa” and let off flares before the kick-off of their club’s final Group I fixture.

Celtic’s case will be heard by Uefa’s Control and Disciplinary Body in Nyon on 26 January, leaving the club facing their fifth disciplinary sanction from European football’s governing body in as many years.

Confirmation of Celtic’s latest Uefa charge came on the same day the Scottish Premier League announced changes to its rules relating to Unacceptable Conduct, which will now include chants and banners in support of, or in opposition to, any proscribed terrorist organisation.

Earlier this month, the SPL decided to take no action against Celtic after investigating a report of pro-IRA chanting during their home match against Hibs on 29 October, ruling that the club had taken all “reasonably practicable steps” to prevent them.

But Celtic were found guilty by Uefa of “illicit chanting” from their fans during the Europa League match at home to Rennes on 3 November and fined £12,700. The club accepted the punishment, with chief executive Peter Lawwell issuing a warning that the chants must stop.

It prompted the banner protest by a group of Celtic’s travelling support last Thursday night which, in addition to the lighting of flares, was reported to Uefa by its Danish match delegate, Steen Dahrup.

In a brief statement yesterday, Uefa confirmed that Celtic have been “charged with the displaying of a banner of an offensive nature and the setting off of fireworks by supporters at the Scottish club’s Uefa Europa League Group I match against Udinese Calcio in Italy last Thursday”.

The latest misdemeanour from among their support was condemned in the strongest possible terms by both Lawwell and Celtic manager Neil Lennon as they returned home last Friday. The club can anticipate a hefty fine from Uefa and are compiling a charge sheet which is becoming a major concern.

Since being fined a nominal sum of £420 for the throwing of water bottles during a Champions League match against AC Milan at the San Siro Stadium in March 2007, Celtic have subsequently received sanctions of £25,000 for improper conduct of supporters when a fan entered the field of play to confront Milan goalkeeper Dida at Parkhead seven months later, £42,430 for another pitch invasion during a home game against Manchester United in November 2008 and then the recent £12,700 sanction for illicit chanting.

Celtic’s quest to eradicate pro-IRA chants from their matches will be intensified in the wake of yesterday’s SPL general meeting at Hampden which saw the Unacceptable Conduct rule amendments, put forward following discussions with the Scottish Government-led Joint Action Group, put into force.

The definition of ‘Unacceptable Conduct’ within the SPL Rules has been extended to include “using words, conduct or displaying any writing or other thing which indicates support for, or affiliation to, or celebration of, or opposition to an organisation proscribed in terms of the Terrorism Act 2000”.

A number of amendments which set out the minimum standards expected of SPL clubs in relation to tackling Unacceptable Conduct will also be introduced. Where a charge is to be laid that a club has not met the requirements of the Unacceptable Conduct rules, the case will be heard by an Independent Commission chaired by an advocate or solicitor of at least ten years standing.

Any club found guilty of breaching the newly-constituted rules will face a range of potential punishments which include warnings, fines, annulment of results, points deductions, supporter bans and playing matches behind closed doors.

“Changes to our rules on Unacceptable Conduct raise the bar in terms of what is expected of clubs and shows our clubs are committed to playing their part in tackling Unacceptable Conduct,” said SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster.

The rule amendments mean all SPL clubs are now obliged to bring any instance of Unacceptable Conduct to the attention of the police match commander, take reasonably practical steps to identify spectators responsible for such conduct and then apply appropriate sanctions.

Clubs must include those requirements in all of their match ticket conditions and ground regulations, submit interim and annual reports to SPL secretary Iain Blair detailing actions taken to prevent Unacceptable Conduct and maintain records of requests for police assistance, interventions and responses to any incidents.

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spl/new_uefa_charge_for_celtic_as_spl_toughens_rules_on_fan_behaviour_1_2016697

They’re morons but what’s YOUR excuse Peter?

2011-12-21T01:46:00.001-08:00

THE first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one.

Alternatively, you could act like Peter Lawwell.

And keep denying, denying, denying in the vain hope the world will eventually go away and leave you alone.

Well, what else is there to say about a man who watches the away end in Udine unfurl a giant banner reading F*** UEFA and declares the halfwits responsible "aren't real Celtic fans".

Not real Celtic fans? Is he having a Steffi Graf?

These people paid about 400 quid a head to follow the team to Italy ten days before Christmas. If that doesn't make them real fans, what does?

Do they need to actually pay the team's hotel bill out of their own pocket? Buy a new left-back?

Because plainly Parkhead's chief executive isn't impressed by them merely travelling that far at that much expense at this time of year with that slim a chance of coming back happy.

Though, before the Green Brigade take this as some sort of compliment, one word of advice. Don't.

Because being there through thick and thin doesn't make them any less stupid, crass or bullying than the world already knows them to be.

That stunt the other night could cost their club big time, both in terms of another fine and permanent damage to their reputation around the world.

Mind you, at least they have an excuse. They're numbskulls.

On the other hand, Lawwell is an intelligent man. A financial whizz. A high-flying negotiator.

Yet he still refuses to own up to the fact that these morons are his club's problem and therefore his problem.

More to the point, he also seems blind to the fact that, in the eyes of those whose motto is F*** The World, not only are they real Celtic fans, they see themselves as the only true Celtic fans.

In their heads, they're upholding a noble cause. They're defending an oppressed community kept down by a bigoted establishment. They're freedom fighters.

Anyone who criticises them is criticising Celtic and, therefore, to be despised.

So when police officer Eddie Smith reports them to UEFA for singing pro-IRA bile, they turn up with a banner abusing him.

When UEFA crack down, they abuse them.

When everyone else in the country is respecting the dead of two wars, they turn up with a banner reading No Bloodstained Poppies On Our Shirts.

They produced stickers branding former chairman John Smith a war criminal because he was once Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Back in January, when I had a go at the behaviour of some of them at Ibrox, they turned up the following week with a banner reading F*** Bill Leckie. Everyone who isn't them is wrong. Everyone who isn't with them is against them. Everyone else is a bigot, not them.

Even Neil Lennon is getting it in the neck from them for having a pop over the Udine nonsense.

Though it's a fair bet the true paranoids among them will be tapping their noses and going: "Aye, he wants to agree with us, he's just scared that The Establishment will hammer him for it." It's all cobblers. But nothing more so than Lawwell's repeatedly-mumbled threat to "identify" offenders and "deal with them".

Here's a clue, Peter. They're the ones whose banners always have the same typeface and which are always in the same section of the ground at home games. The section you set aside for them.

Promising to "identify" them is like looking at the dugout and vowing to work out which one's Lennon from a description of him as the wee, angry ginger fella. The longer Lawwell remains in denial, the more powerful the banner-waving balloons will become in their own minds. The more powerful they believe themselves to be, the harder it will be to shift them.

And with every game where they get to hang about like a bad smell, the closer Celtic will come to their next embarrassment in the eyes of society.

So the situation's simple, Mr L.

You can deal with the problem. Or you can keep hiding from it and let it turn into a full-blown crisis. Your call.

Scottish league to stop illicit chanting

2011-12-21T01:44:00.001-08:00

Scotland's 12 Premier League clubs agreed on Monday to punish any club whose fans show support for guerrilla groups as they toughened up their rules on "unacceptable conduct" at league matches.

The move follows a series of incidents this year.

Celtic, the 42-times Scottish champions, were last week fined 15,000 euros ($19,600) by European soccer's governing body UEFA after their fans sang pro-Irish Republic Army (IRA) chants at a Europa League match against Rennes of France on Nov. 3.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/Scottish+league+stop+illicit+chanting/5885537/story.html

Football banning order for racist Celtic fan

2011-12-16T08:40:00.001-08:00

A football fan who made racist remarks and assaulted a police officer has been banned from all games in Scotland.

Celtic fan Gerard Brodrick, 23, was caught making racist remarks at the Aberdeen vs Celtic on February 1 at Pittodrie Stadium.

The Glasgow man was banned from all Scottish games for two years at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Friday after he admitted a racist breach of the peace.

He also admitted assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.
Chief superintendent Adrian Watson, Aberdeen division commander, said: "Grampian Police is committed to stamping out racism and all other forms of unacceptable behaviour.

"We work closely with Aberdeen Football Club , the fans and the football authorities to identify those responsible for acting in an unacceptable manner and have made significant inroads into making the match day experience at Pittodrie one of the safest in the country.

"It is unfortunate that the very few continue to act in this way and this should serve as a warning that Grampian Police will not tolerate this type behaviour of behaviour in any shape or form ."

http://local.stv.tv/aberdeen/news/288355-football-banning-order-for-racist-fan/

Hooligan Celtic fans defiant over sectarian Pro IRA chanting

2011-12-16T01:57:00.000-08:00

RENEGADE Celtic fans showed their contempt for football chiefs last night by setting off flares and waving a banner saying "F*** UEFA" at their Europa League clash.

They held up the sign ahead of the teams' arrival on the pitch — before Neil Lennon's side were dumped out of Europe in a 1-1 draw with Udinese in Italy.

A Celtic fan was arrested for attacking one of the club's own stewards. Parkhead chief Executive Peter Lawwell was in the crowd.

Grim-faced Lawwell was spotted on his mobile phone immediately after the banner stunt.

Hoops chiefs asked Italian cops to arrest the lout after the steward was attacked.

The yob spent the night in a Udine jail.

The scenes come just days after the club was hit with a £13,000 fine by the governing body over 'illicit chanting' at last month's home tie with Rennes.

The flares were let off — in breach of Italian law — by rogue Hoops fans in the away end of the Stadio Friuli in Udine moments before kick-off.

Celtic chiefs were desperate to avoid trouble and had issued warnings to fans spelling out what could happen if flares were lit. They said it could leave the club "exposed to disciplinary action."

It is understood that Celtic will pore over video footage of the banner being raised and the flares being set off.

Any fans identified will be banned from Parkhead for life.

It is likely the official UEFA match delegate Steen Dahrup, from Denmark, will include the behaviour in his report.

Celtic last night refused to comment.

Rennes applaud CELTIC UEFA guilty verdict

2011-12-14T03:59:00.000-08:00

The French club back the decision to fine the Glasgow side.

General secretary Patrick Fretel said: "It's a wise decision. The delegate has done his job and has condemned these illicit chants.

"We only learned about them much later on as you need to be able to master the language to truly understand the context of the remarks."

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scot...#ixzz1gVc7yICh

UEFA fines Celtic €15,000 for pro-IRA songs

2011-12-12T09:16:00.001-08:00

NYON, Switzerland (AP) -UEFA has fined Scottish club Celtic ?15,000 ($19,877) after its supporters sang Irish political songs during a Nov.3 Europa League match against Rennes.

UEFA's control and disciplinary panel fined the Glasgow club after the body's match delegate was informed of what it called "illicit chanting'' by a Scottish police official.

Celtic was fined over pro-Irish Republican Army songs. Celtic traditionally draws support from Catholics and those in favor of Irish independence.

The club escaped punishment from the Scottish Premier League following an investigation into the singing of the same songs by a section of the club's fans in October.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell used October's annual club meeting to ask fans to stop the songs.

Celtic fined by UEFA over ‘illicit chanting’

2011-12-12T07:57:00.001-08:00

http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/celtic/287296-celtic-fined-by-uefa-over-illicit-chanting/

Celtic have been hit with a 15,000 euros (£12,720) fine by UEFA after it was ruled that a section of their support had engaged in “illicit chanting”.

The Parkhead club were informed last month that they faced disciplinary action over the behaviour of some fans during their Europa League group stage match against Rennes on November 3.

Any appeal must be lodged within three days of the contested decision being received in writing. An appeal fee of 1,000 euros (£856) is payable.

UEFA’s control and disciplinary body met on Friday to consider the matter but did not announce their verdict until Monday due to the volume of cases they handled.

Celtic have not yet commented on the ruling but expressed their surprise at being investigated when the hearing was announced last month.

A club spokesman said on November 14: “Celtic supporters have a magnificent record of positive support for their team, something recognised by both UEFA and FIFA in recent years and we are extremely proud of this reputation.

“Therefore, the club will co-operate fully with any UEFA investigation.”

Appeal after sectarian chanting following Celtic match

2011-12-12T04:28:00.001-08:00

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-16113911

Police are searching for 20 "rowdy" football fans who subjected fellow rail passengers to sectarian chanting between Dundee and Stirling.

The group boarded the train at about 19:00 on Sunday, after Celtic's 1-0 victory over Dundee United.

British Transport Police said the football supporters had also jumped on seats and banged windows while sitting in a rear carriage.

The train involved was the 15:27 service from Inverness to Glasgow.

PC Lorraine Lowe, who is in charge of the inquiry, said: "Passengers and rail staff have the right to travel without the fear of encountering anti-social behaviour of this kind.

"I am anxious to speak with anyone who travelled on this train and has information regarding the identity of those involved."

Police hunt 20 after sectarian chants terrorise rail passengers

2011-12-12T04:27:00.000-08:00

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/tayside/286385-football-fans-terrorised-rail-passengers-with-sectarian-songs/

A gang of 20 football fans who terrorised rail passengers with sectarian chanting is being sought by police.

Passengers on the Inverness to Glasgow train were subjected to rowdy behaviour, including sectarian chanting, on Sunday, December 4.

The group jumped on seats, banged on windows and were heard singing and chanting sectarian songs.

The supporters boarded the train at Dundee shortly after 7pm, after Celtic's victory over Dundee United.

British Transport Police constable Lorraine Lowe said: "Passengers and rail staff have the right to travel without the fear of encountering anti-social behaviour of this kind.

"I am anxious to speak with anyone who travelled on this train and has information regarding the identity of those involved.

"CCTV footage from the train will also be examined as part of the investigation.The train involved was the 3.27pm service which runs from Inverness to Glasgow Queen Street via Aberdeen."

Anyone with information is asked to call British Transport Police on0800 405040 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Celtic fans bigot trial

2011-11-22T00:55:00.001-08:00

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.

UEFA investigate ‘offensive’ Celtic songs

2011-11-14T01:35:00.001-08:00

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spl/uefa_investigate_offensive_celtic_songs_1_1963147

Published on Sunday 13 November 2011 02:32

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’

2011-11-14T01:34:00.001-08:00

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.

Celtic fan beats lamb to death after defeat

2011-11-03T04:05:00.000-07:00

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.

Police restore order after Celtic drop points at home

2011-11-02T03:04:00.000-07:00

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 fans bigoted IRA chanting slammed

2011-11-02T02:59:00.000-07:00

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.

Celtic fans clash with Police after goal-less draw

2011-11-02T02:56:00.000-07:00

http://breakingnews.heraldscotland.com/breaking-news/?mode=article&site=hs&id=N0351821319921521470A

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

2011-11-02T02:52:00.000-07:00

Oct 30 2011 Gordon Waddell, Sunday Mail

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/celtic/2011/10/30/spl-celtic-0-hibs-0-86908-23525528/

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.

Celtic fan fined £1000 for punching steward

2011-10-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-14T06:49:00.001-07:00

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

2011-10-13T00:56:00.000-07:00

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

Match abandoned as Celtic fans riot

2011-10-06T06:43:00.000-07:00

WATCH VIDEO HERE

Description:

Ibrox pitch invasion during the second half of the 1962 Scottish Cup Final semi-final match between Celtic and St Mirren, match abandoned and mounted police arrive. [Celtic were losing 3 - 0 to St. Mirren at the time].

Credits:[commentator Alec Cameron]

Shotlist:No credits. brief shot of play; shots of fans swarming over the pitch; c/u nucleus of fighting on stands; play ends (0.52) shot St. Mirren end: St. Mirren Goalkeeper tries to persuade young fans to move back to the terraces; Billy McNeill refusing to sign an autograph (2.32) mounted police arrive, and ride behind the fans who return to the stands; stretcher being wheeled to an injured spectator, behind ranks of morris minor cars (3.08) gvs referee and players waiting, mounted police riding by (3.38) shot of a new 'charge' from terraces (3.57) referee abandons the game; young Celtic fans celebrate; officials escorted from pitch by policemen; gvs disorder; v/o reviews game, and comments on violence. (6.51)

Police launch new sectarian singing probe

2011-10-06T06:35:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-05T04:54:00.001-07:00

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."

UEFA order Celtic to play behind closed doors

2011-09-15T02:48:00.000-07:00

After the violence by Celtic fans at Celtic Park and Old Trafford at previous matches against Rapid Vienna, UEFA ordered Celtic to play Atletico Madrid behind closed doors.

Police probe hate campaign against former Celtic teenager

2011-09-15T01:41:00.000-07:00

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Police-probe-hate-campaign-against.6836599.jp

Published Date: 15 September 2011

By Cameron Hay

Police are trying to trace Celtic supporters who launched a hate campaign against a promising 16-year-old footballer because he moved to an English club.

Hundreds of offensive comments were posted online by people angered by Islam Feruz's decision to move from the Parkhead club to Chelsea.

Officers from Strathclyde Police and the newly formed Football Co-ordination Unit for Scotland and are investigating following complaints from a number of fans.

A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the comments and the matter is being looked into with the appropriate action being taken by officers."

Hours after it was announced that the Somali-born player had left Celtic to join the London club, Feruz was subjected to hundreds of comments from so-called supporters.

On a Facebook page dedicated to the player - dubbed the Scottish Wayne Rooney - hundreds of hate-filled posts, littered with expletives, accused him of dishonouring the late Celtic legend Tommy Burns.

Others even wished the teenager serious injury for turning his back on the club.

Feruz arrived from Somalia in 2001 and made his first senior outing for Celtic in 2009.

He has joined Chelsea on a reported £2,500 per week.

Chelsea-Bound Islam Feruz Racially Abused By Angry Celtic Fans

2011-09-15T01:40:00.000-07:00

http://www.scotzine.com/2011/09/chelsea-bound-islam-feruz-abus/

Just hours after it was confirmed that striker Islam Feruz was swapping life at Celtic Park for the riches of Stamford Bridge, the Somali-born 16-year-old has been the victim of vile abuse by angry Celtic fans

On a Facebook page dedicated to Islam Feruz, hundreds of posts have been aimed at the youngster by disgruntled Celtic fans angered at his apparent dishonouring of Tommy Burns.

One such disgruntled Celtic fan, John Paul Monaghan stated: “Ya dirty wee c***, I hope you have a bad injury and never play fitbaw again ya wee p***k for everything the club has done for you and your family you go and sign for that shower of scumbags, consider yourself no longer part of the celtic family as a player or a fan, greedy wee f***ing p***k, HAIL HAIL.”

While another, Kevin Coll foamed at the mouth, saying: “Hope u break ur leg and end up back in somalia fucking scum bag!!”

The late Tommy Burns helped lobby government officials in a bid to prevent Feruz and his family being deported back to war-torn Somalia after they fled to the UK in 2001. After Burns’ death the Somali striker made his first ever senior outing for Celtic in the Tommy Burns’ memorial game in 2009, where he gave the Parkhead crowd glimpses of the talent that Burns though very highly of.

However, as we reported exclusively last month, Feruz was lured by the bright lights and riches of the English game and signed for Chelsea on a reported £2,500 per week wage, despite being eligible to sign professional terms with Celtic when he turned 16 – this month – the 16-year-old decided upon a move to Stamford Bridge where he will have to wait one more year to sign pro-terms with the English side.

Feruz’s agent Rui Alves confirmed the deal earlier today saying: “It is a massive step for Islam and for Scottish football. Now for him personally it is the beginning of a major adventure, he will have to work, work and work and raise his own level. Playing for a top club like Chelsea, where the major word in the squad is quality, will oblige him to show his own quality and deliver his best and convince the staff that he is more than just a major prospect.”

“He is looking forward to starting his career with Chelsea, but he would love to thank Celtic for all they did for him and his parents, he is Scottish and will one day score goals for Scotland.”

With Celtic set to receive a minimal compensation fee, this has enraged some of the clubs fans further.

Peter Mitchell fumed: “Money grabbing c*** I hope your family are proud of u where would they be if it wasnt for celtic and tommy burns ya ungrateful wee d**k.”

While Kev Kerr raged: “You’re a wee d******d Islam. Tommy Burns saved you from cowering from soldiers in a mudhut to give you a chance and you piss all over that mans grave. I’ll never cheer you in Scotlands colours you turncoat p***k.”

The level of abuse aimed at the 16-year-old footballer mirrors that aimed at Irish international Liam Miller who enraged the Celtic fans for choosing the riches of Manchester United over life at Celtic Park.

However the abuse has intensified from comments like ‘Judas, traitor and turncoat’ to derogatory and racist abuse. One hate-filled individual, Lynne Williams, said on Feruz moving to Chelsea: “This has confirmed one thing – you can’t trust Africans.”

Shay Kerins stated: “Your a scum bag, we fought for you to keep you in the country! wish you stayed in somalia, and get r***d by some pirate!”

Tommy Burns, the man dubbed Mr Celtic, would be turning in his grave over the abuse that his former protegé was receiving at the hands of those so-called Celtic fans, who he adored.

A Celtic spokesperson was unavailable for comment.

Celtic fans' militant drift 'damaging club'

2011-09-12T01:37:00.000-07:00

11 September 2011

By Martyn McLaughlin
http://scottishchristian.com/celtic-fans-militant-drift-damaging-club/

ONE of Scotland's most high-profile Catholics has warned that some of Celtic's fanbase is causing "untold damage" to the club's reputation by expressing support for international extremist groups.

James MacMillan, the celebrated classical composer, said he is worried about the "militant drift" some followers of the Glasgow club have taken and suggested its founder would be "turning in his grave" at the development.

He added that while the fans' celebration of Irish nationalism is a "good thing", it is time to rid the matchday repertoire of "pro-violent" songs linked to fringes of the nationalist movement.

His views are aired in a new book being published this week which charts the experiences of well-known Celtic supporters in Scotland and abroad.

In We Are Celtic Supporters, written by journalist Richard Purden, the Kilwinning-born composer adds to the debate surrounding sectarian songs at football matches by suggesting Celtic fans should refrain from certain lyrics.

He warns that the sentiments expressed recently by some fans go against the principles espoused by Brother Walfrid, the Irish Marist brother who founded the side after coming to Scotland in the 1870s.

MacMillan states: "I sometimes worry about the militant drift that some Celtic fans have taken. Obviously the support for Irish nationalism is a given, and that has been a good and defining thing in many ways, but a tiny minority have held on to the support for violent republicanism and that has done untold damage to Celtic's reputation and still does today.

"Those people are now drifting to support other extreme nationalists in the Catalan district, Basque country and, God forbid, the extremists of Hamas and Hezbollah. Brother Walfrid (the founder of Celtic] will be turning in his grave."

MacMillan, who famously described sectarianism as "Scotland's shame" during a 1999 lecture he gave at the Edinburgh Festival and decried anti-Catholic bigotry, said Celtic should be viewed as both a Scottish and Irish institution.

He explains: "The whole Celtic experience has been shaped by Irish history and that is an inescapable and generally very good thing, but I think we have got to a stage where Celtic fans need to have a really good look at their repertoire of songs, and if things are offensive for no good reason other than they are traditional songs, then we should ditch them.

"All the pro-violent stuff should go. The truth is that they are going, they are gradually being filtered out. All the Irish cultural stuff is fantastic, but if there is any hint of songs giving succour to the more violent fringes of Irish nationalism then we should lose them."

MacMillan stops short of naming the songs that are his target, but he condemned the "malicious attempt" in some quarters to have Celtic's support stop singing The Fields Of Athenry.

He says he regards it as a "beautiful ballad" which people should "nurture" and "be proud of".

He adds: "There needs to be a careful scrutiny of the words and what they represent. Irish rebel songs aren't sectarian; there's nothing wrong with centuries of legitimate political engagement giving rise to that sense of rebellion, but you absolutely must weigh up how things are affecting us now."

The debate surrounding sectarian singing has intensified following on and off the field problems surrounding recent Old Firm fixtures. Two men are to stand trial charged with a parcel bomb plot to kill Celtic manager Neil The Bigot and high-profile supporters of the club.

On Wednesday, the Scottish Government announced its intention to create a new offence to tackle offensive behaviour at football matches by the end of the year.

Also last week, former Scotland international Pat Nevin told MSPs he was "driven away" from Parkhead after hearing IRA songs from Celtic fans.

But Dr Jeanette Findlay, chair of the Celtic Trust, an organisation of supporters and shareholders, said MacMillan was wrong to "dictate" to Celtic fans which political causes they should support.

"James MacMillan is entitled to say he does not approve of songs he does not like at Celtic Park. That's a perfectly reasonable debate, but a problem with a lot of these discussions is that people are unwilling to say specifically what they mean.

"I don't think it's for him to dictate to people what their political views should be on international issues or issues closer to home."

A spokeswoman for Celtic FC said the club would not comment on the issues raised by MacMillan.

We Are Celtic Supporters will be published by Hachette Scotland on Thursday.

Celtic Supporters Trust defend support use of sectarian slur

2011-09-07T02:48:00.000-07:00

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/National/article/17075/hun-not-a-sectarian-term-celtic-fans-chief-tells-committee.html

'Hun' not a sectarian term, Celtic fans' chief tells committee

Calling opposing football fans "Huns" is not sectarianism, the chairwoman of a Celtic supporters group has told MSPs.

Jeanette Findlay, of the Celtic Trust, made the controversial claim to the Scottish Parliament's justice committee while giving evidence about Alex Salmond's planned crackdown on football-related bigotry.

"It's never been used to refer to a Protestant or any member of any religious group — it refers to a Rangers supporter," she insisted.

"And up until a few years ago Rangers supporters referred to themselves as Huns. It doesn't have any religious connotation whatsoever, it never has."

Ms Findlay compared it to Celtic fans being known as Tims, which she didn't find offensive, the committee heard.

"Sometimes it refers to Hearts because we call them the wee Rangers," she added. Her comments came as former Scotland player Pat Nevin revealed he had stopped taking his son to Celtic matches because of sectarian chanting in praise of the IRA.

Mr Nevin, who played in the 1980s and 90s for clubs including Chelsea, Everton and Motherwell, said he had been "driven from the club he loves" and hoped "good legislation would go through".

Meanwhile, Mark Dingwall, board member of the Rangers Supporters Trust, said Ibrox fans felt particularly targeted by the proposed new laws.

"What our fans and organisations have started to say is if we have to clean up our act, everyone else has to do the same."

"Fair game"
"So, therefore, everything that is offensive, by any football club, whether it's under regional rivalry, or under sectarian rivalry, or whether it's just winding up the opposition, then it's all fair game because if it's going to happen to us it's got to happen to everybody."

Derek Robertson, a former communications director at Dundee United, also gave evidence to the committee in his current role with supporters group ArabTRUST.

He urged for a clearer definition of what constituted a sectarian crime and claimed growing up in Dundee he had "never been exposed" to sectarianism.

Greig Ingram, board member of the Aberdeen FC Trust, also questioned the wisdom of criminalising chants without a specific definition of what was not acceptable.

He said: "Would somebody chanting about my predilections for alleged activities with farmyard animals be offensive?"

Fans of Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts football clubs were also represented at the session. And Abertay University sociology and criminology lecturer Dr Stuart Waiton said the bill risked creating an "authoritarian and illiberal society".

He also repeated claims, first made in The Courier, that the resultant bill, if enacted, risks being seen as a "snobs' law".

"Snobs' law"
"We have a form of west-end dinner party etiquette being demanded at football. This is genuinely what's happening. This is a snobs' law, potentially. We're targeting, specifically, football fans."

The committee has already heard evidence from security chiefs at both Rangers and Celtic as well as Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland and the chairman of the Scottish Police Federation.

The bill will create two offences on football-related behaviour regarded as offensive and threatening. One deals with disorder around matches, with the other relating to serious internet threats.

The legislation comes in the wake of high-profile incidents of football related sectarianism.

The SNP originally wanted to pass the bill before parliament went into recess ahead of the football season kicking off.

However, opposition parties raised concerns over the speed of change and First Minister Alex Salmond agreed it would not be rushed through.

Instead, the plans were opened up to further scrutiny with an aim to be in place on January 1.

Pat Nevin driven away by Celtic bigots

2011-09-07T01:48:00.000-07:00

http://www.scotsman.com/news/Celtic-fans39-IRA-chants-drove.6831927.jp?articlepage=2

By SCOTT MACNAB

POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

Former Scotland international Pat Nevin has told MSPs he was "driven away" from the football club he loved after hearing sectarian chants from Celtic fans when he was at Parkhead with his young son.

He also revealed the "intimidation" he felt after being targeted by the club and its fans when he criticised their chanting live on air at this season's Scottish cup final.

Nevin was giving evidence yesterday to Holyrood's justice committee on new laws to crack down on bigotry in the game.

Supporters branded the new laws "dangerous and anti-football" and warned that they have been introduced in a climate of "hysteria".

Nevin, now a media pundit, told MSPs he had grown up in the east end of Glasgow, where the club is based, and was part of the area's Irish catholic Diaspora.

"I supported Celtic for most of my life," he said.

"But one day, I found myself sitting in the stand with my son, who had started to take an interest in football, hearing the song Ooh ah, up the RA.

"I could not accept bringing up my son alongside that, so I was driven away from the club that I loved. I was very disappointed about that."

Nevin was commentating for the BBC at this year's cup final between Celtic and Dundee United when he provoked the ire of the club when he hit out at a section of their fans over their chants.

He told MSPs: "The song went something like, 'As a young man, I'm going to join the IRA - provisional wing'.

"It offended me and I do not want to hear it at a football ground.

"I was shocked and surprised that Celtic Football Club and a great number of fans complained to the BBC, because I expect to hear them say that they do not want to hear that sort of song at their ground."

He also voiced disappointment at the club's "refusal to accept that there are problems" in recent years.

The Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill aims to stamp out abusive behaviour from football fans whether they are watching matches in a stadium, in the pub or commenting online.

It would raise the maximum jail term from six months to five years, but was delayed amid concerns that it was being rushed through earlier this year.

But football fans yesterday dismissed the need for legislation.

Jeanette Findlay, chair of the Celtic Trust said: "It's unclear what types of behaviour would be criminalised.

"We think it's unhelpful that the bill would criminalise football fans - that would be young men up to the age of 25 who are already disproportionately presently in prison.

"We think it's dangerous. We think it's anti-football and it has no justification and any of the behaviours of a serious type are already covered by existing legislation."

She also clashed with Nationalist MSP Humza Yousaf over the use of the word "Hun" in chants at games, claiming it was not an offensive term.

"It's never been used to refer to a Protestant or any member of any religious group - it refers to a Rangers supporter," she said.

"And up until a few years ago Rangers supporters referred to themselves as Huns. It doesn't have any religious connotation whatsoever, it never has."

Mark Dingwall, board member of the Rangers Supporters Trust, told MSPs that fans have collectively decided that they are not going to be the only ones in the spotlight of this law,

He said: "If we see something that offends us. We're going to go after the opposition fans in the way that people have gone after us. So, you reap what you sow.

"The debate around football has been conducted in an air of unreality, both in regard to the behaviour of football clubs and the nature of Scottish society. But around football, we have this hysteria that paints Scotland as a very dark place to live."

Greig Ingram, board member of the Aberdeen FC Trust, said the legislation is already covered by a whole range of other legislation and said there needed to be a far clearer explanation of what sectarianism is.

"You don't make a rule that you can't enforce and it would be dangerous if this bill was passed just now because its unenforceable."

Dr Stuart Waiton, lecturer in sociology and criminology at the University of Abertay, Dundee, added: "This is a snobs' law, potentially.

"We're targeting, specifically, football fans.

"Not comedians, not anybody else, football fans - particularly rowdy football fans, ie rough, working-class blokes and lads who shout and sing songs for 90 minutes, and then go home to their Catholic wife and Protestant grandparents and so forth."

Celtic fans' assault on Police Woman

2011-09-02T01:14:00.000-07:00

The Digger 1/09/11

Students accused of Israel flag racism

2011-08-23T07:14:00.000-07:00

Two St Andrews University students committed a racist breach of the peace by insulting the flag of Israel, a court has heard.

Chanan Reitblat, a Jewish student, said Samuel Colchester, 20, and Paul Donnachie,18, called him a terrorist during the incident on 12 March 2011.

He told Cupar Sheriff Court how the pair entered the halls at 01:30 to see another student who shared the flat.

Mr Colchester and Mr Donnachie, deny the charges.

They are accused of acting in a racially aggravated manner intended to cause alarm or distress to Mr Reitblat by placing their hands on their genitals before rubbing them on the Israeli national flag while making comments of an offensive nature.

They also deny an alternative charge which alleges they behaved in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause a reasonable person fear or alarm.

Mr Reitblat, a chemistry student at St Andrews on a one-term exchange from the Jewish Yeshiva University in New York, said he felt "violated and devastated" by the incident.

Mr Reitblat, 21, now shortly to enter Harvard, said he had the 4ft by 3ft (1.2m by 0.9m) flag on the wall of his flat after being given it by his brother, an Israeli Defence Forces soldier.

He said he knew Mr Colchester and Mr Donnachie "vaguely" and they were aware he was Jewish.

He said: "They were extremely drunk and smelled of alcohol, falling over a lot as they walked in.

"Paul noticed that I had a flag, at which point he said Israel was a terrorist state and the flag was a terrorist symbol.

"They both then unbuttoned their trousers.

"Paul put his hands down his pants, pulled off a pubic hair and rubbed it over my flag. Sam did the same thing.

"Sam started urinating in my sink. He asked me if I wanted him to jump on me. I said no, but he did it anyway."

'Nazi, fascist'

Mr Reitblat added: "They were in my room for just a few minutes, it happened very fast.

"Down the stairs I could hear them shouting 'Nazi, fascist, and terrorist'.

"I was trying to collect my thoughts. I was deeply disturbed, humiliated, shocked, and violated.

"It caused me a lot of anxiety. I feared for my safety. I couldn't eat and I couldn't sleep, so I couldn't study."

He said the next day he saw messages on Facebook from Mr Donnachie, including one saying there was a Zionist in his hall.

Mr Reitblat, who flew from New York to give evidence, said he struggled at his exams afterwards, viewed his term at St Andrews as "a flop", and stopped feeling safe at the institution.

He went to stay with a friend in Glasgow before going to St Andrews police station, accompanied by a friend from the Jewish society at the university, to report the alleged incident.

The summary trial, before Sheriff Charlie Macnair, sitting without a jury, continues.

Celtic fans mock Ibrox Disaster

2011-08-23T06:54:00.000-07:00

Sick Aberdeen and Celtic fans are mocking those who died in the Ibrox Disaster in 1971 on Social Network site Facebook. The page titled, ‘The Awkward Moment when Colin Stein scores and Everyone Falls down the Stairs’ has just over 200 ‘likes’ already, with its profile picture showing the mangled wreckage of the railings of Stairway 13.

The Page, which has already been reported to Facebook, mocks the second Ibrox Disaster on 2nd January 1971, when 66 fans were killed – many of whom were children and over 200 fans were injured.

There have been numerous comments from fans of both Celtic and Rangers venting their disgust at the creators of the page.

One sickened fan stated: “This is a disgrace! Whoever made this is needing shot!

While another said: “This is disgusting, imagine actually trying to joke about something like this.”

Despite widespread condemnation of the page, there were some who openly stated that the page was funny. Aberdeen fan Matt McGillivray mocked: “I must admit it is funny to see Govans finest come out too bemoan this page. Yet their ground is the number one hotspot for all kinds of bile.”

Fellow Dons fan Ross Gibson, who works for Alexander Duthie & Sons Ltd as a plumber, laughed: “They all fell down the stairs. The Rangers end was empty. They all fell down the stairs! Hahaha. Stand free.”

While Celtic fan Daniel McGlinchey stated: “Sick, but funny. Watch the stairs there lads.”

And fellow Celtic fan Mark Lynch implied that the page was not breaking any laws: “I don’t agree with this page, but to be honest theres nothing sectarian in it so what you all going on about??”

Celtic’s Greatest Ever Manager Jock Stein helped lift the injured and dying from the terraces that infamous day, with that haunting black and white image of Stein on the sidelines lifting a Rangers fan onto the pitch.

This year was the 40th anniversary of the disaster, with a minute’s silence held before the Old Firm derby on the 2nd January to commemorate those who died, with both teams wearing black armbands and led out by legendary Old Firm captains John Greig and Billy McNeill.

Colin Dolan of the group Rid The Old Firm Bigotry Once And For All issued a statement condemning the Facebook page. He said: “This page was brought to my attention early this morning. I have to say that at first I was shocked, on reflection I had no reason to be shocked after some of the items, posts, pictures and pages I have seen on facebook.”

“I feel Facebook’s actions are inadequate allowing anyone to begin a facebook page on any topic and go live immediately. Why are no checks done on the person, why no checks regarding page name, several clubs names are being used illegally in my opinion as are the players names. Several pages are set up to enhance their own reputations within circles of bigoted thugs, hiding behind several guises. I immediately highlighted this disgusting page this morning to all the members on our page advising them simply to report it.”

Colin added: “Many people are still affected today by what happened on that tragic day, it is only recently both Rangers and Celtic showed their respect on the anniversary and observed the minute’s silence. We will not tolerate anything like this anymore, we will do everything we can to beat the vile nasty bigots that exist.

“Our 2600-strong members feel that the SFA, the SPL, the Clubs and the players should be doing more, surely together they can challenge facebook or is it just me and the other 2600 that really honestly care?”

Both Celtic and Rangers have yet to comment.

http://www.scotzine.com/2011/08/sick-facebook-page-mocks-the-ibrox-disaster-1971/

-----------------------------------------

Celtic fans desecrate minutes silence for Hillsborough disaster

Celtic fan avoids jail over racist abuse shame

2011-08-23T06:37:00.001-07:00

A Celtic fan who admitted posting racist and sectarian comments on Facebook has avoided a jail sentence after writing letters of apology.

Michael Bailey, 20, from Paisley, was caught after a police task force began reviewing internet sites after March's so-called Old Firm shame game.

He was given a community payback order and told to carry out 300 hours of community service.

Bailey was also given a football banning order for two years.

This means he cannot enter any UK football stadium while the sanction is in place.

Volatile match

At an earlier hearing, the court heard how Bailey posted sectarian comments about Rangers and their manager Walter Smith, and went on to make a racist comment about the Ibrox club's Senegalese player El Hadji Diouf between 7 and 8 March this year.

At this time, a police task force was reviewing social network sites after an increase of sectarian football-related hostility following the volatile Celtic versus Rangers Scottish Cup replay on 3 March.

As a result of the online group, police investigated further and identified that Bailey had made sectarian and racist comments on the "Neil Lennon should be banned" page and on his own Facebook page.

Bailey was detained by police on 30 April and later pleaded guilty to a charge of posting comments of a "racist and sectarian nature" on the internet between 7 and 8 March this year.

The court was told that to show his genuine remorse, Bailey had since written letters of apology to those named in his messages.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Johanna Johnston QC told Bailey: "Bigotry, sectarianism and racism have caused a lot of problems in the West of Scotland and elsewhere in the country.

"It is criminal behaviour that has led to outbursts of violence and disorder in the city."

Sheriff Johnston added: "You have taken some action to apologies to those you directly offended."

She told first offender Bailey that had he shown any signs of violence or incitement to violence she would have had "no hesitation" in sending him to prison, but after considering all of the factors he would be given an alternative to custody.

Bailey's solicitor, Stephen Bentley, said: "Mr Bailey has written individually to all of the people who are named within these postings."

He described his client as "genuinely horrified at his actions" and "remorseful".

Mr Bentley added: "I think he has simply had the shock of his life."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-14632440

Celtic season ticket holder is youth leader of BNP

2011-08-23T06:35:00.000-07:00

OUTRAGED Celtic fans vented their fury last night after a teen BNP chief was pictured posing with top figures at the club.

Vile Dean Hartley, 16, the racist party's Scottish youth leader, was snapped next to unwitting Hoops striker Anthony Stokes and chairman John Reid.

The extremist, who claims to have a Parkhead season ticket, was also photographed in the trophy room and dug-out - sparking disgust on Celtic internet chatsites.  One fan, called Robert Emmet, said: "Ban the **** from Parkhead publicly and immediately."

Another wrote: "How can you support Celtic given the history and ethos of our club? The fact Celtic was built by immigrants must make them (the BNP) despise our club.

"Does the BNP care where the immigrants come from, do they differ from Irish to Polish to Asian? I doubt it very much."

King 0kev added: "How can someone, raised as a Celtic supporter knowing our history, attach himself to a load of right-wing fundamentalists who want to blame immigrants for everything."

Hartley, from Glasgow, was also been pictured with hated BNP boss Nick Griffin since posing with Stokes and ex-Labour minister Lord Reid.

And last night the brazen teenager said: "I support Celtic and was getting my pictures taken with the players after the matches.
"I know a lot of people, some relatives, who are BNP supporters and Celtic fans.

"What the problem with supporting a team and a political party?"I've a season ticket. I pay good money for that too."

It is understood Hartley was appointed youth leader in Scotland in May.

Last month he claimed at a rally in Edinburgh that he'd fought his school over a decision to ban him writing a project on the BNP.

Celtic have denied he is a season ticket-holder but refused to comment last night.

A Hoops insider said: "Obviously we can't legislate for every one of the thousands of people who come on tours every year.

"But the club opposes every form of discrimination, including racism."
Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/3756341/Celtic-fury-at-link-to-BNP-youth.html#ixzz1VrIvpUTh

Celtic fans display support Sectarian IRA Murderer

2011-08-10T03:23:00.000-07:00

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/communit...sion_1_2942637

IN 1977 Provisional IRA member Brendan Lillis was sentenced to life imprisonment. Passing sentence, the judge said: “No doubt if you had not been caught you would have continued your bombing campaign for an indefinite period.”

As a member of the Provisional IRA, Lillis would have read and signed up to the terms and conditions of the IRA Green Book; conditions which embraced paragraphs about the moral and political superiority of their terror campaign, loyalty to the IRA and particularly the paragraph which said: ‘It is these strong convictions which bond the army (the IRA) into one force and before any volunteer decides to join the army he must have these strong convictions. Convictions which are strong enough to give him onfidence to kill someone without hesitation and without regret.’

How much compassion should society show to an ill prisoner who was a member of an organisation whose members had the confidence to kill without hesitation and regret?

How much compassion should it show to an emaciated cripple who is probably physically incapable of posing a threat to anyone? In the case of Brendan Lillis, the answers are not as clear cut as you might think, for in 1993 he was shown some compassion and clemency when he was released from prison on licence after serving only 16 years of his life sentence.

Yet in October 2009 his licence was revoked after he was arrested in a field behind a house where police had just foiled a tiger kidnapping. He was charged with conspiring to kidnap, falsely imprison and rob three people in the house, two of whom were employees of the Northern Bank. Ill health since then has left him unfit to stand trial. But it’s worth bearing in mind that no-one campaigning for his release is doing so on the grounds that he is an innocent man, unlawfully and unfairly detained.

I am not a vindictive man. If I were an MP I would not be voting for the return of capital punishment, even in the cases of terrorism or child killers. I accepted the early release of republican and loyalist
prisoners at the time of the Good Friday Agreement because I believed that it would probably help to create a more stable and peaceful Northern Ireland. It was, of course, a calculated risk and I said so at
the time. I also accepted the possibility that some of those released from prison would end up in the assembly and executive.

To my mind Lillis was given the opportunity to begin a new life back in 1993. He knew the terms and conditions of his release, just as he knew the terms and conditions of the IRA Green Book when he joined it back in the early 1970s. I have no idea if he was involved in any criminal activity between his early release and his re-arrest in 2009, although it seems reasonable enough to conjecture (if he actually is guilty, of course) that he didn’t just get a phone call out of the blue asking him if he fancied going back to a life of crime and risking having his licence revoked.

So, let’s go back to the earlier questions. How much compassion should be shown to someone who seems to have turned his back on the chance to reform and rehabilitate himself? How much compassion should be shown to a man who has been confined to a bed in the hospital ward at Maghaberry prison since January and who has been, so we are told, increasingly frail since he was returned to prison in October 2009? Others have posed another question: isn’t there the risk of creating another republican
martyr if Lillis is allowed to die in prison?

Compassion has a role to play in every area of life: it is one of the civilising aspects of our existence. But compassion has to be earned. It isn’t a right (although the ninnies of the Northern Ireland Human Rights
Commission would probably love to make it so!). Compassion cannot be guaranteed just because someone is too physically ill to remain an active or potential threat to individuals in particular or society in general. Early release should never be an expectation for those who become ill while serving a sentence. Just look at the remarkable recovery made by the Lockerbie bomber after his release! And there are other examples, too.

What about the prospect of making a martyr for republicanism? The 10 dead hunger strikers achieved absolutely nothing. They may be venerated in some republican circles, but the sight of a hobbled Sinn Fein shackled to the DUP makes a mockery of their so-called sacrifice. Anyway, for Sinn Fein and dissident republicans, martyrs tend to be two-a-penny: capable of being invented, elevated or simply hijacked as and when the occasion demands it. To be brutally honest about it, I have absolutely no doubt that some of those campaigning for early release are doing so for their own ends rather than for his. And there are probably others who hope he does die inside, hoping to exploit his death and funeral for political and propaganda purposes.

David Ford has a very difficult decision to make. If the decision were mine, I would have huge reservations about a ‘compassionate’ approach, not least because Lillis himself and some of the people supporting his release have displayed no compassion in their own previous activities.
Similarly, releasing him because of the possibility of martyrdom sends a very dangerous message.

It may well be the case that Lillis needs specialist treatment. So be it, transfer him to a hospital where he can get 24-hour supervision and attention. But that doesn’t require his ‘release’, pardon, freedom or a
get-out-of-jail-free card: if he can be made well enough for trial then let him be tried. Surely clearing his name and proving his innocence is just as important to him and his family as getting him back on his feet
again?

Illness and death are inescapable facts of life and in this case it seems to me that Brendan Lillis’s circumstances and present location are mostly of his own making. His illness is not linked to his offences
(proved or alleged) nor his imprisonment. Personally, I cannot make a credible argument for either compassion or freedom in his case. Neither the cause of justice or mercy would be served by releasing him.

Celtic stars IRA song shame

2011-08-08T01:38:00.000-07:00

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scot...ong-shame.html

8/8/11

SHAME-faced Celtic idol Frank McAvennie last night claimed he doesn't even know the words to the IRA anthem he was filmed boozily singing.

McAvennie, 51, sparked a fresh bigotry storm after he led Hoops fans in a chorus of the Boys Of The Old Brigade.

Macca's drunken antics were caught on video at the controversial Players' Lounge in Dublin - owned by current Bhoys ace Anthony Stokes's dad John.

But the ex-soccer playboy - lampooned for his 'Where's the burdz?' catchphrase - insisted: "I don't even know the words of it. I was invited up to sing You'll Never Walk Alone."

The clip of Macca - where he appears to struggle with the lyrics - has been viewed hundreds of times on YouTube.

Despite his excuses, anti-sectarian campaigners and politicians insisted all Old Firm heroes have a duty to set an example in Scottish football's war on bigotry.

Charity Nil by Mouth said: "They must think about what they say and do."

And outraged Scots Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: "Celtic should ban this idiot from Parkhead for life."

The incident took place a fortnight ago - a week before the pub caught fire during an armed raid.

In April police warned anyone singing The Boys Of The Old Brigade at games would be nicked.

Five years ago McAvennie was slammed for recording anti-Rangers phone clips.

VIEW VIDEO HERE

Celtic fan admits making racist and sectarian rants on Facebook

2011-07-21T01:31:00.000-07:00

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/west-central/263115-celtic-supporter-admits-making-racist-and-sectarian-rants-on-facebook/

A Celtic supporter has admitted posting racist and sectarian comments on a Facebook page opposed to the club’s manager Neil Lennon.

Michael Bailey, 20, left a number of messages on the social networking site about Rangers fans, the club’s then manager Walter Smith and El Hadji Diouf, the African forward who was on loan to the Ibrox side at the end of last season.

On a page entitled ‘Neil Lennon should be banned’ and on his personal Facebook page, Bailey posted comments which included ‘Glasgow rangers yous are s*** you bunch of orange b*******’ and ‘send diouf back to the jungle’. Bailey also described Mr Smith as a "dirty pie eating Orange b******".

Bailey, from Bridgeton in Glasgow, appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Wednesday and admitted a charge of posting comments of a "racist and sectarian nature" on the internet between March 7 and 8 this year.

The court heard how a police taskforce began a review of social network sites and their contents after an increase of sectarian football-related hostility and offending following a fiery Old Firm match on March 3.

Procurator fiscal depute Julie Clark told the court police officers investigated further and identified that Bailey had made a comment on the 'Neil Lennon should be banned' Facebook page and his own.

Ms Clark said another message posted on Bailey’s page was "Oh the rangers are s**** ya bunch of p*** lovers send diouf back to the jungle and you can go back with him...ya smelly orange c***...soldiers are we...TIOCFAIDH AR LA."

Bailey was detained by police on April 30 and interviewed. The court was told he accepted full responsibility for posting the comments.

The 20-year-old has been released on bail with the conditions that he must not enter any SPL ground, or Hampden Stadium. He must also sign on at his local police station during the first half of every Celtic match.

Sheriff Johanna Johnstone QC deferred sentencing until next month for reports. Defence lawyer Stephen Bentley will give his plea in mitigation then.

Neil Lennon's QC warns Celtic fans over sectarian and racist behaviour

2011-07-19T02:18:00.000-07:00

Leading QC Paul McBride has sparked controversy by warning Celtic supporters that any songs or chants referring to h**s will no longer be accepted.

The Scottish Parliament are drafting up fresh legislation which is aimed at curbing offensive behaviour inside football grounds after seeing anti-sectarian legislation virtually ignored.

Bringing ‘offensive’ terms into play will certainly provide some interesting test cases with many football chants by definition offensive. Supporters of Aberdeen, Dundee United and other clubs often refer to Rangers as h**s but according to the QC those days are almost over.

The knock on effect of that viewpoint could spell the end of chants such as ‘In your Glasgow slum’ a favoured taunt at Celtic and Rangers fans and also kill off sheep related chants aimed at Aberdeen supporters.

McBride shot to fame in footballing circles when he took on the SFA last season defending Neil Lennon and forcing outgoing President George Peat into a humiliating climbdown as an independent inquiry chaired by Lord Carloway described Peat’s role as ‘contrary to the principles of fair play’.

Not long afterwards he found himself a target for extremists as he was sent a ‘viable device’ in the post at the same time as Neil Lennon.

The new legislation won’t provide a list of banned songs and chants but McBride is in no doubt that any references to huns will no longer be tolerated.

Speaking to the latest Celtic Underground podcast he explained: “All the talk in parliament about what is a reasonable person or what is offensive behaviour is all puff and smoke- we all know what is offensive.

“I think that using the expression h**n is now offensive. I don’t think that we’ll be seeing at Parkhead next season signs saying ‘No H**s in Europe’ or ‘H**s get out of here’. We have to accept that if we are going to have one side behaving in a certain way we have to make sure that our own side, the Celtic family, don’t act in an unacceptable way.

“That’s not taking the fun out of the game, you’ll never take swearing out of football, you’ll probably get abuse and all the rest of it but we can’t have people throwing bananas on the pitch, we can’t have people abusing black players, we can’t have people being called h**s, we can’t have people being called orange b’s.

“Those days have to go in the same way that we want the Rangers family not to sing The Famine Song, we don’t want them to sing ‘up to our knees in fenian blood’.

“We have to look at our own side as well, we can still enjoy ourselves at Parkhead without singing about the IRA, without singing about huns go home and without singing about orange b’s- I don’t think any of that behaviour is unacceptable and it has to apply across the board or we’ll never get rid of it.

“When the term (h*n) is used it’s designed to cause offense. You can have rivalry without being blatantly offensive.”

McBride’s views are bound to spark plenty of controversy with the QC very clear in his views that any songs relating to the IRA must end despite the British Queen’s decision to lay a wreath at Dublin’s Garden of Remembrance during a visit to Ireland.

He added: “99% of people at Parkhead will have nothing to fear, I don’t think that there is a particular problem at Parkhead in any event. I’m not happy with some parts of the crowd, a very small part, singing songs about the IRA.

“We’ve got the Green Brigade, who I think are very entertaining, I think that they add something to Parkhead- sometimes the games are so dire they are the only thing entertaining as the bounce up and down and sing songs!

“I’m not that happy about them singing about the IRA. Why are they singing about the IRA in the context of a football game? This culture has got to change, we can go along to games, yes we can shout abuse at the other side, yes we can have fun but there is a line over which we should not be crossing. I think that we all know where that line is.”

CLICK HERE for the Paul McBride podcast in full from Celtic Underground

STV presenter attacked by Celtic fans

2011-07-18T04:03:00.003-07:00

STV presenter attacked by Celtic fans at Parkhead

The Scotsman
May 15, 1998

STEPHEN BREEN

JIM White, the presenter of television's Scotsport, was attacked by Celtic fans outside Parkhead stadium on Saturday shortly after the Glasgow club clinched the Premier League title.

About 15 supporters punched, kicked and spat on him as he tried to get into his car in the club car park an hour after the match.

Some of the fans damaged the car by kicking it and banging on the windows as White and two Scottish Television colleagues tried to drive away, his spokesman said yesterday.

White suffered bruising and was so badly shaken that he had to cancel a charity appearance at a British Lung Foundation function in Glasgow on Saturday evening. White is a well-known Rangers supporter whose pro-Rangers gaffes have antagonised Celtic fans.

Malcolm Brown, a spokesman for White, said: "Jim White was with another STV reporter and a cameraman and they were trying to put equipment in the car when they were confronted by about 15 so- called Celtic supporters. "Jim White was the only one attacked, but it was a violent attack. He was kicked, punched and spat upon and was particularly badly shaken up. He was bruised and fairly badly battered.

They managed to get into the car and it was attacked, but they managed to drive off." White did not report the incident to Strathclyde Police or Celtic because he did not "want to make it worse for himself," added Mr Brown. "The way Jim is looking at it is that it is in the past, he wishes it had never happened, but it was unfortunate that it did happen. "He was bruised, but nothing was broken although it was traumatic.

I am sure anyone would say it was a fairly despicable and cowardly attack and the people he feels sorry for are the people he has helped out in the past few years at the British Lung Foundation. The people who did it should look at themselves and be disgusted with themselves."

White was due to compere the Red Balloon Ball at the Glasgow Hilton Hotel on Saturday but the organiser was informed at 6:55pm that he had taken ill. He carried out the same function for the charity last year.

Mr Brown, of the public relations firm, Carnegie Sports International, added: "That was fairly short notice, but Jim was bruised, battered and in a fairly shocked state and did not feel up to it."

Despite the attack, White presented Scotsport on Sunday.

Jill MacRae, the Scottish manager of the British Lung Foundation, discovered from The Scotsman only yesterday that White had been attacked. She said: "We were told at 6:55pm that he had taken ill, but we didn't have any details. Everyone just assumed that he was feeling blue because Rangers had lost {the league}, but that is obviously very unfair because he was poorly. "This is awful. This should have been a fairly happy event for everyone, but this has happened to him. I don't know why he was picked upon, but he is a public figure."

The Scotsport anchorman is nicknamed Jim "Red, Blue and" White because of his allegiance to Rangers.

On Radio Clyde in February he caused controversy after Rangers scored against Dunfermline when he said: "Let's hope they score some more goals."

An STV spokeswoman confirmed the attack yesterday. She said: "As a company, we are extremely concerned about what has happened to Jim. It is certainly not what we would expect at Celtic Park."

A Celtic spokesman said: "We are disappointed to hear of this incident and will give our full assistance to the appropriate authorities." It is understood the club will contact White to express to him its concern about the attack.

19 Celtic fans held in Liverpool

2011-07-18T04:03:00.001-07:00

WILLIAM TINNING

The Herlad
7 Dec 1994

NINETEEN Celtic fans were arrested last night before the Ian Rush testimonial match at Anfield between Liverpool and Celtic.

Inspector Steven Stansfield of Merseyside Police said 17 fans had been arrested for being drunk and disorderly but had been released about 10pm in time to catch their buses north.

Two fans had been detained on theft charges.

Mr Stansfield said three public houses near the ground had been closed after the licencees expressed concern about the large numbers of fans using the premises.

He said 7500 Celtic supporters had travelled south for the game in a convoy of about 200 buses. The match was arranged to pay homage to the 33-year-old Welsh striker.

The number of arrests was few given the crowd of almost 26,000. ''Generally speaking, the fans behaved very well,'' he said.

Celtic lost 6-0

Violence mars Celtic match in Sydney

2011-07-14T04:20:00.000-07:00

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/world/story/violence-mars-celtic-match-in-sydeny-11-arrested-central-coast-mariners-070211

Eleven people were arrested -- including one for assaulting police -- after crowd violence marred an exhibition match between Scottish giant Celtic and Australian side the Central Coast Mariners in Sydney Saturday night.

Forty-seven fans were refused entry to ANZ Stadium for drunkenness, while another 27 were later ejected, police said.

The 11 arrests, which included two women, came as a result of people invading the pitch as the Mariners earned a surprise 1-0 win, with the alleged offenders facing fines and bans from the stadium.

"It is disappointing that drunken louts are under the impression they can attend these events and spoil everyone else's night," said acting superintendent Mick Rochester.

"The majority of fans were at the ground to see a game of football -- not to have the match spoiled by idiots."

After the match Celtic's manager Neil Lennon said he was not worried by the defeat, considering his team only arrived on Wednesday after a long flight from Glasgow to Sydney, Scotland on Sunday reported.

"The players condition and the quality, particularly second half, it was a remarkable performance when you consider the week they've been through," Lennon said.

Celtic defender Daniel Majstorovic, Greek striker Georgios Samaras, and South Korean Ky Sung-Yeung are scheduled to arrive in Perth on Tuesday to boost Lennon's squad in time for the second match of the tour against Perth Glory next Saturday. Celtic's final match in Australia is against Melbourne Victory on 13 July.

14 Celtic fans arrested at Melbourne 'friendly'

2011-07-14T04:17:00.000-07:00

http://sport.scotsman.com/football/Police-offside-with-Celtic-fans.6801156.jp

Police offside with Celtic fans

Published Date: 14 July 2011

AUSTRALIAN police scored an own goal with Celtic fans after they kept score of how many Hoops supporters they had arrested during a match.

Officers from Victoria Police were red carded by followers on their Twitter page after they kept an online scorecard.

Despite Neil Lennon's side recording a 1-0 win oveer Melbourne Victory, however, local police claimed a moral victory after boasting "Game over. Celtics 1 - Police 14" on their Twitter page.

The site, normally used to promote police campaigns or give updates was turned into a running commentary of efforts to control the crowd.

Angry fans soon flooded the force's site with complaints.

11 arrested as Celtic fans go on rampage

2011-07-06T02:10:00.000-07:00

NINE men and two women were arrested after jumping the fence and trying to run on to the pitch during the match between leading Scottish football club Celtic and Central Coast Mariners at ANZ Stadium last night.

A man was charged with assaulting police, while another man was charged with assault.

Acting Superintendent Mick Rochester, commander of the group of officers policing the event, said those arrested would face hefty fines and could be banned from attending events at the stadium.

He said it was disappointing that the drunken anti-social behaviour of a few marred the night for many of the 17,000-plus spectators.

Twenty-seven people were ejected for being intoxicated, while 47 people were refused entry because of drunkenness.

Five people were issued infringement notices for failing to leave when asked, with one of those subsequently arrested.

The Mariners beat Celtic, Scottish Premier League runners-up, 1-0.

'The message is a simple one - anti-social and criminal behaviour will not be tolerated under any circumstances," acting Superintendent Rochester said. ''If you can't or won't heed the message, don't attend these events. A sporting event is not an excuse to break the law.

'If your team isn't performing well, or you disagree with a decision by the referee, you can't react by getting intoxicated, damaging property, assaulting others or making an idiot of yourself.

'Be warned. Police and event security staff will continue to act swiftly at sporting and other events to ensure any opportunities to disrupt the enjoyment of others are minimised.'

POLICE MEDIA RELEASE - Celtic match marred by poor behaviour

2011-07-04T08:58:00.001-07:00

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/latest_releases?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3LmViaXoucG9saWNlLm5zdy5nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjE3NjAxLmh0bWwmYWxsPTE%3D

Saturday, 02 Jul 2011 11:35pm

Police have expressed disappointment at crowd behaviour following a number of incidents involving drunken spectators during a soccer match at ANZ Stadium tonight (Saturday 2 July).

More than 17,000 people attended the match between Celtic Football Club and Central Coast Mariners.

A high visibility policing operation, utilising general duties and specialist officers, was conducted to ensure the safety of spectators and participants. Additional police resources were called to the event to deal with poor crowd behaviour.

Operation Commander, Acting Superintendent Mick Rochester, said that while most fans were well-behaved, the night was marred by anti-social behaviour by a few.

“Nine men and two women were arrested after jumping the fence in an attempt to invade the pitch,” A/Supt Rochester said. “They each face hefty fines and being banned from attending future events at the stadium. The majority of fans were at the ground to see a game of football – not to have the match spoiled by idiots.”

In addition, 27 people were ejected from the stadium for being intoxicated, while 47 people were refused entry because of drunkenness. Five people were issued infringement notices for fail to quit with one of those subsequently arrested.

One man was charged with assaulting police while another man was charged with assault.

“It is disappointing that drunken louts are under the impression they can attend these events and spoil everyone else’s night,” A/Supt Rochester said. “The message is a simple one – anti-social and criminal behaviour will not be tolerated under any circumstances. If you can’t or won’t heed the message, don’t attend these events.

“A sporting event is not an excuse to break the law. If your team isn’t performing well, or you disagree with a decision by the referee, you can’t react by getting intoxicated, damaging property, assaulting others or making an idiot of yourself.

“Be warned – police and event security staff will continue to act swiftly at sporting and other events to ensure any opportunities to disrupt the enjoyment of others are minimised.

“Any offenders can expect to be arrested and face the consequences,” A/Supt Rochester said.

Celtic fans riot after defeat in Australia friendly

2011-07-04T06:12:00.001-07:00

http://www.scotsman.com/celticfc/Celtic-fans-held-after-defeat.6795099.jp?

Celtic fans held after defeat in Australia

Published Date: 03 July 2011

By Ahmer Khokar

NINE male and two female Celtic fans were arrested in Sydney yesterday for attempting to invade the pitch during the Glasgow side's fixture with the Central Coast Mariners.

New South Wales Police confirmed that 11 Celtic fans among the 19,482 crowd were arrested after jumping the fence and trying to run on to the pitch during the match at ANZ Stadium, where The Mariners beat Celtic, 1-0.

One male Celtic supporter was charged with assaulting police, while another man was charged with assault. The match was the opening game of the club's three-match pre-season tour of Australia.

Acting Superintendent Mick Rochester, commander of the group of officers policing the Celtic match, said those arrested would face fines in the region of £370 and could be banned from the stadium for life.

"The message is a simple one – antisocial and criminal behaviour will not be tolerated under any circumstances," he said.

"If you can't or won't heed the message, don't attend these events. A sporting event is not an excuse to break the law.

"If your team isn't performing well, or you disagree with a decision by the referee, you can't react by getting intoxicated, damaging property, assaulting others or making an idiot of yourself.

"Be warned. Police and event security staff will continue to act swiftly at sporting and other events to ensure any opportunities to disrupt the enjoyment of others are minimised."

In addition, 27 people were ejected for being intoxicated, while 47 people were refused entry to the stadium because of drunkenness.

Five people were issued with infringement notices for failing to leave when asked, with one of those subsequently arrested.

"New South Wales Police are very disappointed with the way that a minority of Celtic fans behaved tonight," a spokeswoman said. "Fans who assaulted police and other fans will be prosecuted through the courts."

Ball Boy Hospitalised by Celtic fans

2011-06-29T05:07:00.000-07:00

Hearts ball boy pelted by coins from Celtic fans says: I won't let thugs stop me

May 23 2011 Amy Devine

A BRAVE ball boy has vowed to defy the thugs who pelted him with coins and landed him in hospital.

Hearts fan Jack Waddell, 14, was targeted by rival fans during his team's clash with Celtic on May 11.

He suffered concussion after yobs hurled 2p coins at him - just after Celtic manager Neil Lennon was assaulted by a Hearts fan.

But Jack said: "I love helping Hearts and this won't stop me."

Jack, of Loanhead, Midlothian, was covering the away end of the SPL match at Tynecastle as he was one of the Edinburgh club's most experienced ball boys.

He added: "After the Celtic manager was attacked, the crowd went mental. They were shouting and jeering.

"I was hit in the head. I looked down and saw a 2p lying next to me. Then another coin was lobbed and I was hit in the head again."

Jack's mum Linda, 39, drove him to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary after he fell ill the next day.

Tests showed he had sustained a brain injury but he has now fully recovered.

A Hearts spokesman said last night: "A thorough investigation into events on that night is ongoing."

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2011/05/23/hearts-ball-boy-pelted-by-coins-from-celtic-fans-says-i-won-t-let-thugs-stop-me-86908-23150864/

Celtic fans jailed for drunken attack on Wood Green Rangers fan

2011-05-17T02:58:00.000-07:00

http://www.tottenhamjournal.co.uk/news/celtic_fans_jailed_for_drunken_attack_on_wood_green_rangers_fan_1_893225

Friday, May 13, 2011

Two Celtic fans have been jailed for 15 years between them after dousing a fellow Scot in boiling water and beating him with a kettle and table leg.

William Boyle, 43, and Marty Fullerton, 24, battered Alexander MacGillivray until the kettle broke in the drunken revenge attack at his flat in Green Lanes, Wood Green, last year.

Boyle and Fullerton, who was wearing a Celtic shirt, shouted: “Proddy b******” and “Kill the b******” as they battered him.

Celtic are supported largely by Catholics in Scotland while Protestants tend to follow their rivals Rangers.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard Catholics Boyle and Fullerton were with a third man, Gregory O’Goan, who was not charged in relation to the attack on July 14, 2010.

Boyle had called Fullerton and Mr O’Goan to help him take revenge on Mr MacGillivray, who had scuffled with Boyle in the sheltered accommodation the two men shared in Wood Green, leaving Boyle with a three centimetre cut to his head.

The three men went to Mr MacGillivray’s flat armed with the kettle and table leg to exact revenge, breaking down his door, the court heard.

Prosecutor Joanna Staples said: “Mr Boyle started hitting him with the table leg on his arms, legs, side and shoulders.

“Mr Fullerton was holding the kettle in his hand and Mr MacGillivray was able to see steam rising from it. The contents were thrown at him, hitting him on the front.

“He was then hit by Mr Fullerton with the kettle repeatedly until it broke. Mr MacGillivray says that parts of the broken kettle were then used to stab towards his left arm. He then describes the assault continuing with fists.

“He said that at one point Mr Fullerton grabbed the floor lamp, which was weighted at the bottom, and used that to hit him as well.”

Boyle later told officers: “I got beaten up because I’m Catholic.”

Jailing the pair for seven-and-a-half years each today (May 13), Judge Nicholas Huskinson said: “I view this as a very serious offence. Both defendants were very drunk and had armed themselves beforehand.

“They invaded Mr MacGillivray’s home by breaking down the door, something I view as a serious aggravating factor.”

Boyle, of Cheshire House, Cameron Close, Edmonton, and Fullerton, of Arundel House, Heritage Close, Uxbridge, both admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in January.

Celtic fans riot and IRA chanting video

2011-05-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

Celtic fans fight with police and chant sectarian songs

2011-05-12T09:07:00.000-07:00

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/spl/Hearts-03-Celtic-Jambos-crumble.6767032.jp

A NIGHT when Scottish football plumbed to unprecedented depths of despair.

Neil Lennon attacked by a so-called fan while inside his technical area, Celtic supporters battling police and stewards while pretending to be Irish republicans, and two sending offs that verged on the farcical. One of the most controversial seasons

ever is drawing to a close, however one last round of chaos at Tynecastle just about topped it all.

After refereeing cover-ups, conspiracy theories and parliamentary summits to discuss Old Firm matches, season 2010/11 added another chapter to its book of infamy last night. In the 49th minute of play, Celtic's celebrations following Gary Hooper's second goal were cut short. A man leapt from Tynecastle's main stand to sprint down the track and assault Lennon. The surprised Celtic manager barely had time to react before stewards pounced on his assailant, but that did not stop Lennon swinging his boot at the flattened thug several times. In fact, twice he mistakenly connected with one of the grounded stewards as his rage took over.

Few could blame him given the letter bombs, death threats, 24-hour security and everything else he has tolerated of late. No-one should be subjected to physical abuse for simply doing their job, especially when that job is managing a football team. Where was his protection? Lennon hurled a few expletives at his attacker as he was marched down the tunnel by police and the Irishman was later described as "shaken but fine" by his assistant, Johann Mjallby.

Hearts may now be punished. It might only have been one brainless buffoon but that he emerged from a section of home supporters to attack Lennon leaves the Edinburgh club open to possible sanctions from the Scottish Football Association.

Perhaps there should also be action taken against Celtic for the equally unacceptable conduct of their supporters in the Roseburn Stand. Groups of them fought with police and stewards in the aftermath of the attack on their manager, accompanied by deafening chants of "we are the IRA". Feet and punches were swung at the local constabulary as things threatened to get completely out of control in the away end.

On the field it was actually quite the opposite. Celtic were in total command of a match they had to win to keep their SPL title hopes alive. David Obua, Hearts' Ugandan midfielder, was red carded on 32 minutes for an innocuous slap at Charlie Mulgrew.

Trouble breaks out during Celtic fans IRA shame

2011-05-12T06:51:00.000-07:00

"trouble also broke out when the police moved into the Celtic end; the most vocal pro-IRA chanting of the night surrounded what bother occurred there."

Full Story
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/11/hearts-celtic-match-report?intcmp=239

Celtic fans bigots shame Scotland at Hearts

2011-05-12T06:48:00.000-07:00

RICHARD WILSON

12 May 2011

Lennon landed several kicks on the grounded man before he was dragged back by Thompson and Johan Mjallby. Once the police hauled the assailant away, and some kind of order returned on the field, what suddenly reared around Tynecastle was a vicious intensity.

In the directors box, three individuals were singled out by stewards, and reacted with fury before then approaching Dr John Reid, the Celtic chairman, to smooth out whatever the disturbance had been.

Then in the away end, Celtic fans began to fight with police and stewards as some were pulled from of their seats and dragged out of one of the exits. It prompted a fierce, almost visceral chant in support of the IRA, which in turn caused a tumult around the stadium. There had been similar chants earlier, with the home fans responding by singing The Billy Boys, but that dark edge had diminished.

Now it returned, full of vengeance and aggression, and it seemed once more that what was taking place on the field bore no relation to what was happening around it. A flare was let off during the commotion and it was only by the time the green smoke had carried off into the dark sky that some of the fury dissipated, too. It had been nasty, but also short-lived.

Full story http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/celtic/scottish-game-dealt-yet-another-sad-blow-1.1100949

Celtic escape SFA punishment for crowd trouble

2011-05-12T01:34:00.000-07:00

Published: 21 Jan 2004

By RODGER BAILLIE

SPINELESS SFA chiefs will take NO action over the Tynecastle mayhem which shamed Scottish football on Sunday.

A TV audience watched in disbelief as Celtic keeper Rab Douglas was struck on the head by a coin and Hearts goalie Craig Gordon was gobbed on.

But the beaks will ignore both incidents because they haven’t been mentioned in ref Kenny Clark’s match report ? despite SFA chief David Taylor demanding tougher action to stamp out yob fans in football.

SFA disciplinary chief Drew Herbertson said: “We have received the misconduct report and there was no mention of the coin-throwing incident. All that was mentioned in the report were the cautions incurred during the game so there will be no action by the SFA.

“Hearts are keenly aware of the measures they need to take in terms of their supporters.”

Just 24 hours earlier Taylor had insisted it was time to take a hard line, saying: “These matters are viewed very seriously. We need to make it clear it is not acceptable at any level.”

One Celtic fan has already owned up to the club and had his season ticket suspended indefinitely following the disgusting attack ? but Herbertson insists that is a matter between the club and their supporter.

He said: “That matter was not the subject of a report here and clubs are responsible for their own supporters. They will no doubt be keen to avoid things like this happening.

“I suspect this will be a matter between Celtic and the supporter. These days clubs investigate incidents to some degree and will decide what action should be taken.”

A Celtic official said: “While we utterly condemn the behaviour of this supporter, we appreciate the honesty he has shown in making contact with the club to apologise.

“He is thoroughly ashamed of his behaviour at the match and has requested the opportunity to apologise to Craig Gordon in person and to representatives of Hearts.”

With the Scottish Cup return between the two clubs at Tynecastle looming on February 7 players union secretary Fraser Wishart has admitted he fears for his players ? and Hearts ? if there is any repeat.

He joined calls for fairminded fans to shop the yobs and pointed out: “They are running the risk of forcing the club behind closed doors and you can imagine the financial implications of that.

“You have to ask fair- minded fans to identify the culprits.

“These people have to be weeded out. We don’t want them in the game because its image is low enough as it is.”

Then when he switched to Ibrox he was on the bench when keeper Ally Maxwell was attacked by a fan at Parkhead.

He knows the dangers when the yobs are at work and said: “The re-emergence of coin-throwing is very worrying.

“You only have to look at the damage caused to Hugh Dallas when he was hit on the BACK of the head.

“If it hits a player in the eye you are threatening his entire career.

“I have to say that players take a lot of criticism but you have to look at how Rab Douglas handled that whole incident.

“He made no drama of it and conducted himself superbly.”

Celtic escape SFA punishment for crowd trouble

2011-05-12T01:31:00.000-07:00

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-celtic-blame-anticlimax-for-disorder-rangers-rampant-amid-unrest-1397698.html

DAVID MCKINNEY
Monday, 3 January 1994

CELTIC are likely to escape severe punishment following scenes of disorder at the Old Firm match at Celtic Park on Saturday which saw three supporters running on to the pitch and others in the main stand aiming vitriol and missiles at the directors' box.

The fourth meeting of the season between the two rivals unleashed brutal passions not seen from either set of supporters since the infamous 1980 Scottish Cup final.

The most worrying incident from Celtic's point of view was the supporter who had to be bundled to the ground by the collective efforts of John Brown, Richard Gough, the police and stewards as he ran towards Ally Maxwell, the Rangers goalkeeper.

The Scottish Football Association, which has options ranging from a fine to ground closure, awaits reports from the referee, David Syme, his supervisor, and David McLaren, the SFA security adviser, who also attended the match. But yesterday Jim Farry, the chief executive of the SFA, hinted that punishment could be lenient when he said: 'The SFA will retain a sense of balance and perspective.'

There was a heavy police presence at the game and it is likely that the governing body will appreciate that the home club did everything within its power to obviate danger.

Kevin Kelly, the Celtic chairman, said: 'It was bitterly disappointing both in terms of the result and the trouble but we hope to identify the culprits and ban them from the ground.

'We will consider whether the stewards and police might have acted more quickly and will have our own information to present to the SFA. I feel the fans' optimism then disappointment was the root of the trouble.'

Celtic were indeed victims of their own high expectations. The team had suffered just one defeat in 14 league matches and had not conceded a goal at home under Lou Macari. In contrast, Rangers have severe injury problems and have been stuttering since the start of the season, yet were three goals up within the first half hour.

Stuart McCall dissected the home defence to allow the imposing figure of Mark Hateley to run unchallenged for the first goal. A similar move saw Neil Murray burst clear and when his shot was saved Alexei Mikhailichenko followed up for a second goal with just three minutes on the clock.

The Ukrainian added a third for Rangers after 28 minutes and a fourth came in 76 minutes through Oleg Kuznetsov. John Collins raised Celtic hopes with a goal in the first minute of the second half but a second from Charlie Nicholas was no more than a consolation.

Goals: Hateley (1) 0-1; Mikhailichenko (3) 0-2; Mikhailichenko (28) 0-3; Collins (46) 1-3; Kuznetsov (76) 1-4; Nicholas (81) 2-4.

Celtic (4-4-2): Bonner; Grant, Gillespie, Wdowczyk (Biggins, 61), Boyd; Byrne, McGinlay, McStay, Collins; Nicholas, O'Neil (McNally, 51). Substitute not used: Given (gk).

Rangers (4-4-2): Maxwell; Pressley, Gough, Brown, Stevens; Steven, McCall, Murray (Kuznetsov, 70), Mikhailichenko; Durie (Huistra, 82), Hateley. Substitute not used: Scott (gk).

Referee: D Syme (Rutherglen).

Celtic fine for pitch attacker

2011-05-12T01:26:00.000-07:00

Celtic fan jailed for racist jibe at El Hadji Diouf

2011-05-11T04:57:00.001-07:00

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-13361478

A Celtic fan who made monkey gestures towards Rangers player El Hadji Diouf during an Old Firm game has been jailed for three months.

Sean Smith, 19, from Spittal, South Lanarkshire, taunted the West African striker as he took a corner kick at Celtic Park on 20 February.

He admitted committing a racially aggravated breach of the peace after being reported by fellow Celtic fans.

Smith was also banned from attending football matches for five years.

Sentencing him at Glasgow Sheriff Court, Sheriff Lindsay Wood told Smith he had pleaded guilty to "despicable racist behaviour".

"You thought you were making a fool of the player but you were actually making a fool of yourself.

“Start Quote

I can see no alternative to a custodial sentence to mark the court's disapproval of such behaviour”

Sheriff Lindsay Wood

"You have brought shame on the club you support and on Scottish football generally."

Sheriff Wood noted that Smith had been drinking before the game, but said this was "no way to go to a football match and appreciate it".

He added: "I have to look at these matters in the context of an Old Firm match where tensions are running high and I can see no alternative to a custodial sentence to mark the court's disapproval of such behaviour."

Defence lawyer Raymond McIlwham told the court that his client has received death threats as a result of what he did.

He also added that Diouf has a bad relationship with Celtic fans.

Mr McIlwham said: "The relationship between the player involved and the Celtic fans has been a difficult one.

"That in no way excuses Mr Smith's actions but it's conceivable that another player may not have roused that level of passion in a supporter."

The lawyer added that his client is ashamed and now "deeply regrets" what he did.

Neil Lennon Fakes Headbutt from Inverness player

2011-05-06T06:51:00.000-07:00

Martin O’Neill had not seen any pictures of the incident but stated later that Lennon had claimed he had been headbutted by Juanjo. “It marred the game,” the Celtic manager said.

Lennon’s run-in with Juanjo, which led to the Spaniard’s early expulsion for an alleged headbutt and left Inverness Caledonian Thistle to play for 73 minutes with just ten men, incurred the ire of one half of Pittodrie. The baying Highland fans jeered Lennon’s every touch thereafter

By Phil Gordon

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article473143.ece

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill had told BBC Scotland that Lennon claimed he was headbutted by Inverness winger Juanjo before the Spaniard was sent-off.

"I genuinely didn't see it, but it looks like it was the fourth official who saw the incident," said O'Neill.

"I can only go by what Neil has said and he told me that the guy came in late and then he was headbutted.

"I haven't seen the pictures yet. But, if people are guilty, they have to face the consequences."

Inverness are to appeal against Juanjo's red card.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/3588932.stm

Juanjo wins red card appeal

Inverness Caledonian Thistle winger Juanjo has won his appeal against the red card he received against Celtic last weekend.

Juanjo had been accused of a head butt against Celtic's Neil Lennon, who was previously cleared of any wrongdoing.

But the Scottish FA video review panel decided that the Spaniard was wrongly dismissed by referee Dougie McDonald.

Juanjo is now free of suspension and will be available to face Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday.

He had been shown the red card after fourth official Alan Freeland drew the incident to McDonald's attention.

Caley Thistle manager John Robertson had been bemused as to why Juanjo was sent off while Lennon escaped punishment after the pair clashed.

"The fourth official has seen something, but the referee has only sent our guy off," he said.

"Neil Lennon raised his hand and Juanjo's done something back.

"The fourth official says he saw a movement of Juanjo's head towards Lennon, but that is clearly not what happened in this incident."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/3588898.stm

CELTIC PERV CAUGHT BY CLEANERS; Bare boy pics found.

2011-05-06T01:50:00.000-07:00

By Grant McCabe
13 Mar 2004. Daily Record

A PERVERT photographer was snared when cleaners at Celtic Park uncovered a bin bag full of photos of naked boys. John Cullen,who worked for official club magazine The Celtic View, took pictures of nude and semi-naked youths.

And he was snared after a hoard of the snaps were discovered inside Parkhead stadium.

Cullen's antics went unknown for almost 20 years, Glasgow Sheriff Court heard.

In May 2002, cleaners had been clearing out a storeroom where the 49-year-old kept his camera equipment.

They discovered a black bag and opened it to check if it was rubbish.

But they were left sickened when they found bundles of pictures of young boys. They showed the youngsters in various states of undress, with some completely naked.

Celtic chiefs were alerted and they called in the police.

Cullen, of Pollokshaws, Glasgow, was probed about the 250 pictures.

He admitted inviting the boys to a house in Glasgow in 1982 before getting them to pose for the camera.

The snaps were locked away in his Parkhead store-room for years with him thinking they would not be found.

Despite the help of Scotland Yard's special paedophile unit, the identities of the youths, reckoned to be aged 10 to 13, were never discovered.

Cullen was dismissed from Celtic Park in June 2002.

He admitted lewd and libidinous conduct and will be sentenced next month.

A spokesman for Celtic said: 'We condemn criminal behaviour of this kind.'

Six years ago, ex-Celtic Boys' Club chief Jim Torbett was jailed after being found guilty of sexually abusing three young players in the 60s and 70s.

Celtic fans taunt U.S. captain with airplane gesture (Osama Bin Laden)

2011-05-03T02:44:00.000-07:00

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) -- American midfielder Claudio Reyna of Glasgow Rangers was taunted by a fan imitating an airplane in a "disgusting" gesture recalling the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States.

Reyna, captain of the U.S. national team, was named to a 23-man roster on Sunday ahead of Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Jamaica in Foxboro, Mass. (2 p.m.; ABC). A loss would virtually eliminate the U.S. from the 2002 World Cup finals.

However, he limped off the field in the second half Sunday in his first game back after a groin injury. According to the Rangers official Web site, the club has no major injury worries over Reyna, but his status for Sunday is not known.

Said Rangers team doctor Gert Goudswaard: "Claudio hurt his knee when he collided with the post and, although it is causing him some pain, we managed to get ice on it quickly and it's not too badly swollen."

But is wasn't his injury that drew headlines on Monday.

"It's disgusting to think about it because of how horrible the tragedy was and how someone could stoop that low," Reyna said Monday after Rangers was beaten 2-0 by Celtic at Rangers' Ibrox stadium.

The "Old Firm" match is one of the most bitterly contested in world soccer, with the clubs divided along mostly sectarian lines -- Roman Catholics supporting Celtic and Protestants behind Rangers.

A Celtic fan made the plane gesture toward Reyna as he was taking a corner kick.

"I did honestly think about it afterward and I was surprised," Reyna told STV Scotland Today. "I thought that if anything it [the tragedy] would teach people to unite and not to act like that.

"I wouldn't care even if he had had a lot to drink, you wouldn't think that something as sick as that would come into someone's mind. If they can punish the person they should because that's pretty awful. Or they should at least point it out to the fans because it's just uncalled for."

A Celtic spokeswoman, who asked not to be named in keeping with club policy, said the guilty fan would be "banned for life." She said his "blurry" image was caught by at least one newspaper. She said video footage of the incident had not been located.

"This one person has managed to drag the supporters into the mud with the lowest and most despicable behavior imaginable," she said.

Meanwhile, two planeloads of Northern Ireland residents who attended Sunday's game arrived home a day late Monday in Belfast after airline pilots decided they were too drunk to fly following the match.

The passengers included supporters of Celtic and Rangers. Ferries that serve the Belfast-Scotland routes before for Celtic-Rangers games often segregate the two sets of fans on alternate decks.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/2002/world_cup/countdown/news/2001/10/01/reyna_hurt/

Celtic fans mocks 9/11

Celtic fans can clearly be seen mocking American Claudia Reyna by making aeroplane gestures as he takes a corner kick just weeks after the 9/11 atrocities.

Race-hate Celtic fan in Court

2011-04-18T07:52:00.000-07:00

THE race-hate Celtic fan who made monkey gestures at El Hadji Diouf bawled foul-mouthed abuse at photographers outside court this week.

Shamed Sean Smith, 19, snarled "'shove that camera up your a***" at one snapper as he left Glasgow Sheriff Court after admitting racially abusing Rangers star Diouf.

Smith handed himself in to cops after the News of the World published a shocking picture of him taunting the Senegalese striker at an Old Firm match.

After being shown our photo on Thursday, Sheriff Celia Sanderson said: "This is far more eloquent than anything the Crown can say."

Smith, from Rutherglen, near Glasgow, will be sentenced next month, but he has already been banned from watching any UK club play at home or abroad and he must sign in at a local police station during the first half of every Celtic game.

The court was told how Smith sprinted from his seat to mock Diouf just five minutes into the February 20 match. Prosecutor Claire Connaghan said: "As he approached the stand to take the corner kick, the accused approached the front of the stand where he commenced making ape-like physical gestures.

"Witnesses were offended by what they saw as a racial gesture and the matter was reported."

After the creep's bawling match outside court, an onlooker said: "He doesn't appear to have learned his lesson. He clearly needs to do some growing up."

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/notw/nol_scottish/nol_scottish_news/1273656/Racist-yob-Sean-Smith.html

Celtic fans in stand-off with police

2011-04-18T07:44:00.001-07:00

A GROUP of Celtic fans was involved in a tense stand-off with police at yesterday's Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
Strathclyde Police officers went into the crowd to arrest supporters responsible for setting off a green flare.

However, they were unable to remove the individuals because fellow fans - believed to be members of the Parkhead club's "Green Brigade
" group of hardcore support - physically held on to them.

Police said four men were later arrested in connection with setting off what they describe as "a smoke bomb".

The arrests came as figures emerged showing police dealt with more than 2,400 crimes linked to the Old Firm in the past two years alone.

Strathclyde Police and British Transport Police said they dealt with 264 serious assaults, 18 attempted murders and 44 attacks on emergency workers linked to Rangers and Celtic.

Last night, a spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police confirmed the latest arrests.

She said: "Officers went into the crowd to lawfully arrest a number of people."

She acknowledged the police's initial attempt to apprehend the fans had been unsuccessful, but said the alleged perpetrators were later detained.

She added: "Four people were arrested in connection with someone setting off a smoke bomb inside the ground. This is contrary to the stadium regulations."

All the arrests involved Celtic fans, though a red flare was also set off in the Aberdeen end of the ground.

More than 100 Green Brigade members walked out of Hampden in protest at the arrests, missing the final goal by Shaun Maloney in their side's 4-0 victory.

Trying to enter a ground in Scotland armed with a flare is contrary to the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995.

One fan who made an early departure said: "The cops tried to remove one of the young boys, but the Green Brigade were having none of it.

"He was asking the cop why he was being led out, but the officer wouldn't tell him. So he just said, 'Well, I'm not going then'."

Members of the Green Brigade made headlines last year when they unfurled an anti-poppy banner around the time of Remembrance Sunday.

Some Celtic fans say the group has brought shame on the club, while others insist it has improved the atmosphere on match days.

Next weekend's Easter Sunday match between Celtic and Rangers will see 35 Strathclyde Police officers mingle with the crowdto target sectarianism. The plan was drawn up after the 2 March game, which resulted in three red cards, touchline and tunnel confrontations and 34 arrests.

Strathclyde Assistant Chief Constable Campbell Corrigan said: "We believe alcohol is the problem. Football is just the excuse.

The vast majority of football fans out there enjoy these high-profile matches, without being affected by any violence.

"Unfortunately, there is a minority of people who use the matches as a cover to cause disorder and disruption.

"As a result, they get drunk, become full of aggression and, inevitably, they cause antisocial behaviour or seriously assault somebody."

In February, after the widely condemned behaviour at an Old Firm clash, Scottish Police Federation chairman Les Gray called for an outright ban on any Celtic versus Rangers games.

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/glas...?articlepage=2

Celtic stars' pub clientele in racist shame

2011-04-18T06:37:00.000-07:00

Mr. Stokes certainly has a constituency to keep happy. I went back to the Players Lounge the following Sunday to see the Celtic supporters in action and it was standing room only as the crowd watched their team play arch-rivals Rangers on the 70-inch screens. Before and after the game the Celtic jersey-clad fans were kept happy with rebel ballads by the Players Brigade. During extra time Rangers brought on Senegalese player El Hadji Diouf and he faced an audible chant of "ooohhh, ooohhh, ooohhh" monkey noises from a certain element in the pub.

Read full article here

Police and Celtic fans in stand-off

2011-04-18T01:24:00.000-07:00

CELTIC fans were involved in a tense stand-off with cops yesterday after a flare was set off during their Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden.

Officers quickly moved in to the crowd to nab the yobs responsible.

But members of the controversial Green Brigade supporters' group stopped them by shielding the suspects.

One fan said: "The cops tried to remove one of the young boys but the Green Brigade were having none of it.

"He was asking the cop why he was being led out but the officer wouldn't tell him. So he just said 'Well, I'm not going then'."

Over 100 Green Brigade fans walked out in protest.

Cops later nicked four men in connection with setting off a "smoke bomb" during Celtic's 4-0 win over Aberdeen.

But they denied the arrests were a dress rehearsal for a 'snatch squad' who will clamp down on sectarian singing at the Easter Sunday Old Firm derby.

A spokeswoman said: "There were no snatch squads. Officers went into the crowd to arrest a number of people."

The Green Brigade have divided opinion among Hoops fans.

Last year they caused fury with an anti-poppy banner.

Real IRA mingle with crowds at Celtic for recruitment drive

2011-04-12T02:30:00.000-07:00

Click on image for full view of article printed in the Daily Express, Monday 12th April 2011

Father of Celtic player arrested over firearms find

2011-04-08T07:21:00.000-07:00

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/west-central/242469-father-of-celtic-player-arrested-on-firearms-charges/

The father of Celtic player Anthony Stokes is understood to be one of three people who have been arrested in the Republic of Ireland on suspicion of possessing firearms.

Two men, aged 54 and 46, and a 55-year-old woman are being held after ammunition was taken from the back of John Stokes' pub, the Players Lounge, in the city's Fairview district. The trio are being detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. They are being questioned at Store Street, Bridewell and Whitehall Garda stations.

Garda officers raided the pub at around 10am on Friday as part of an operation targeting dissident republican and organised criminal activity in the Irish capital. A handful of bullets found in a shed at the back of the pub have been taken away for ballistic tests. It understood Mr Stokes, 54, was arrested at the scene.

Cocaine with a street value of about 500 euro was also recovered during searches this morning.

A number of private houses were also searched in the Donaghmede area in a crackdown involving more than 100 officers, including the force's special detective unit. It is understood the raids are linked to an investigation into a long-running turf war between the so-called Real IRA and drugs gangs.

The bitter rivals are battling for supremacy in a protection racket targeting pubs and clubs. Last month, a judge ordered Mr Stokes to remove a 40ft anti-Queen banner ahead of the monarch’s visit to Ireland.

Old Firm cup final

He also made the headlines when he discussed the omission of his son in Celtic’s Cooperative Insurance Cup final defeat to arch rivals Rangers.

He told the Scottish Sun: "It is crazy Anthony didn't play when he is Celtic's top scorer. Neil Lennon needs to understand that. He isn't going to be at Celtic if he isn't going to play against Rangers or in the big games. My advice to him is to move from Celtic and put in an immediate transfer request. I think he will because he has told me he wants out."

Mr Stokes later denied the reports to Irish radio station 98FM. He stated: "Basically, it’s misquoted by the papers. I didn’t say that.

"I was asked by a journalist in the heat of the moment after they lost. I’m a big Celtic fan as everybody knows and Anthony is a big Celtic fan. I was asked my view at the end of the game by a particular Scottish journalist. I was completely misquoted and I never said he should leave Celtic so I don’t know where that story’s from.