Heart of Midlothian complain about Celtic supporters behaviour

Sunday past - November 30th - was, of course, St Andrew’s day - a day when we should all be proud to be Scots!  Unfortunately, I was certainly not overly proud of some of the behaviour I witnessed and heard about both during and after the game.

The match was a disappointing football spectacle for both sets of supporters. However, as football supporters, we know that things will not always go our way on the pitch; we know that players will make mistakes; we know that referees will make calls that we do not all agree with. That is football! It does not justify bad behavior - on or off the field. 

At Hearts, poor on-field behaviour is scrutinised, disciplined and, where appropriate, punished. The same approach must apply off the field.

The police report confirms that one Hearts supporter was arrested at the match for sectarian abuse. That is unacceptable and dangerous. In line with my previous statement of zero tolerance, that individual will not be allowed back into the stadium.

The same police report confirms that five Celtic supporters were arrested for sectarian abuse, coin throwing and disorderly behaviour. I hope that Celtic will take appropriate action against those individuals who let them down. Certainly, at Hearts, we will do everything in our power to ensure they are never again allowed into Tynecastle.

I was appalled at the vandalism carried out by our visiting supporters on Sunday.  Having recently spent significant sums to replace broken seats in the Roseburn Stand, for the benefit, primarily, of our away supporters, I was hugely disappointed to witness the destruction of close to 100 seats. Similarly, the graffiti on walls, tiles, doors - basically all types of surfaces - was quite disgraceful and this is not to mention the damage to toilets.

I have discussed all of these matters with members of the Celtic Executive and we are working co-operatively to address the issues.  No club should be on the receiving end of such unacceptable behaviour and no club should be put in the position of having to defend such behaviour.

The most distressing emails/reports I have received are of intimidation both to fans and to staff from away fans. Everyone gets frustrated when officials and police appear to take little or no action. 

This is something I will discuss with the authorities but as many of us know, their response is very often influenced by a need not to further inflame a situation. The only real answer is to try to remove those people who cause the problems and who spoil the whole experience for so many others.

I was pleased to learn that approximately 20% of the Hearts supporters on Sunday were youths. This is fantastic evidence that we are appealing to the family. The not so good news is that I have received a number of emails/letters from parents stating that their children were terrified/had to be removed part way through the game/were traumatised - and as such would be unlikely ever to want to return to a game. This is appalling.

http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/4010

Sick Celtic fans daub sectarian graffiti mocking dead football fans

Sick yobs daubed Tynecastle with graffiti mocking the memory of the Ibrox disaster dead.

The Sunday Post has obtained shocking photographs which show the carnage inside Hearts’ ground following last Sunday’s match, which was marred by ugly scenes.

The revelations come as a war of words rages between Hearts owner Ann Budge and Celtic over the fixture.

Our explosive images from inside the ground’s Roseburn stand – where Celtic fans watched the match – show toilets and doors daubed with sick tags including “66 dead huns”.

It is a direct reference mocking the number of fans who died in the 1971 Ibrox disaster.

Last night those who lost loved-ones in the tragedy, said the minority of “despicable” fans ought to be ashamed.

Craig Smith, 48, from Livingston, West Lothian, who lost his dad George in the tragedy, said: “It is despicable that people find the deaths of 66 football fans funny.

“Immature, uneducated idiots is really the only way to describe them. Each of those 66 have become a missing part of someone’s life since 1971.

“Those who wrote it should be ashamed and put themselves in the shoes of those who lost someone.”

The graffiti is believed to have been daubed on the walls by a gang known as the Style Mile Vandals (SMV).

A small faction of so called “ultras”, the SMV was formed in 2011, and is believed to have a membership overlap with the Green Brigade.

The Green Brigade has previously caused outrage with sectarian singing and controversial banners.

Last night Mark Dingwall, editor of Rangers fansite followfollow.com, said tarnishing Tynecastle with the Ibrox disaster slur marked a new low for Scottish football.

He said: “I am horrified anybody would mock the Ibrox disaster or any other tragedy connected with football.”

The ugly scenes at last week’s Scottish Cup tie, which Celtic won 4-0, sparked a fierce war of words between the rival clubs.

Hearts owner Ann Budge said she was “appalled” at the level of vandalism visited on the Edinburgh ground.

Celtic immediately hit back with its own list of accusations, claiming missiles had been thrown at Celtic supporters and sectarian abuse directed at staff and players.

Dave Scott, who is campaign manager at anti-sectarianism campaign group Nil by Mouth, said: “This graffiti is both moronic and deeply offensive and I’m sure all real football fans would be appalled.

A spokesman for Hearts refused to comment. A Celtic spokesman said: “These people are not Celtic supporters.”

BY BEN ROBINSON, Sunday Poste 7 DECEMBER 2014 9.12AM.

http://www.sundaypost.com/news-views/scotland/outrage-over-ibrox-disaster-graffiti-1.724311

Celtic fan faces new case over IRA songs

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/celtic-fan-faces-new-case-over-ira-songs.21397966?utm_content=buffer9d140&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer

A CELTIC fan who was acquitted of breaching controversial anti-bigotry legislation is to face prosecution again after a ruling by appeal judges.

Joseph Cairns, 20, had denied taking part in behaviour which would be likely to incite public disorder by chanting songs in support of the IRA at a match between Ross County and Celtic.

Police officers claimed during Mr Cairns's trial at Dingwall Sheriff Court that he had been singing lyrics from The Roll of Honour, a song about Republican hunger strikers, and the pro-IRA The Boys of the Old Brigade.

Mr Cairns, of Glasgow, was cleared by Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist, QC, after a no case to answer submission was made.

Prosecutors appealed against the decision and judges at the Justiciary Appeal Court in Edinburgh have recalled the acquittal and sent the case back to the sheriff to proceed with it.

Sheriff Gilchrist had taken the view the Crown had led evidence which, taken at its highest, was enough to prove he had sung words which expressed praise for hunger strikers and contained a line about joining the IRA.

However, the sheriff also had to believe the behaviour would be likely to incite public disorder. He told the court video evidence made it clear Mr Cairns and many other fans could be seen singing songs.

But he said: "It was quite impossible for the uninitiated listener to make out the words of what they were singing. Since there was no proper basis for inferring any person who might be incited to disorder would have been able to tell he was singing about the hunger strikers and the IRA, there was no proper basis for inferring his behaviour was likely to incite public disorder."

Lord Brodie, who heard the appeal with Lady Paton and Lord Philip, said they could not agree.

He said that, in enacting the initial clause of the offensive behaviour at football matches legislation, the Scottish Parliament had "created a criminal offence with an extremely long reach".

Advocate depute Andrew Brown, QC, said that as the police officers were able to recognise the song and hear words other people must have been able to do so.

Lord Brodie said the act distinguished between "a reasonable person" and a person "likely to be incited to public disorder".

The judge said: "The person likely to be incited to public disorder may have particular interests and particular knowledge. He may have particular views about the two songs in question and those who sing them."

However, he said the legislation meant such people need not be present for the purposes of deciding whether specific behaviour was likely to incite disorder.

Ball boy attacked at Celtic match

Hearts vow thug fans won't win as ball boy, 13, struck by coin ...

By DAVID McCANN

Published on Friday 10 February 2012 15:55

HEARTS today vowed to keep ball boys at games against Celtic despite another schoolboy being injured by a coin thrown from the crowd during the high-pressure clash.

The latest incident saw a 13-year-old struck in the lower back about 30 minutes before full-time, prompting Tynecastle security to withdraw all ball boys and girls from the area as tensions mounted.

Police have launched an investigation but it is understood CCTV footage of the incident was “inconclusive” and it is not known which set of supporters was responsible.

Wednesday night’s incident, which saw paramedics treat the boy for a minor injury, is the latest in a string of ugly incidents during games against the Glasgow club.

It comes less than a year after Hearts supporter John Wilson ran on to the pitch at Tynecastle and lunged at Celtic manager Neil Lennon. During that same match, a 14-year-old ball boy was reported to have been hit by a 2p coin.

And in October the News told how a schoolboy football team was left “shaken and shocked” after being subjected to foul-mouthed abuse from Celtic fans when they took to the Tynecastle pitch.

It is understood fans from both clubs had been aiming coins at each other during Celtic’s 4-0 win.

Linda More, a Hearts season-ticket holder whose 14-year-old daughter was a ball girl at Wednesday’s match, said there was a “poisonous” atmosphere whenever Celtic visited.

“It’s so hostile at these games now and it’s kids who have got caught in the crossfire,” she said.

“My daughter said there were coins being thrown and that they were told to leave the pitch and go into the main stand for their safety. It seems like in each game we play now there’s some sort of incident.

“Why do kids need to be subjected to that, especially when you are trying to encourage them to go to football? It’s just wrong.”

Gorgie Councillor and Hearts supporter Eric Milligan said: “Last season there was a very bad edge at the Hearts games against Celtic and it has led to things that shouldn’t have happened.

“Throwing coins on the pitch or doing anything that might disrupt the business of the ball boys has to be deplored.”

A Hearts spokesman said: “There was a ball boy struck by a missile and he was examined by the medical people, but no further treatment was required.

“The ball boys and girls were removed as a matter of precaution.

“They will be back in place when we next play Celtic, but if their safety is compromised the same action will be taken.”

Celtic FC said they had not been informed about the incident, but it is understood that they would co-operate with Hearts and the police if necessary.

A police spokesman, said: “Inquiries are ongoing following a report of a 13-year-old ball boy being struck by a coin.”

Meanwhile, a 42-year-old man has been charged with a breach of the peace aggravated by religious prejudice during the game and is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.

Eight people arrested after Celtic match at Tynecastle

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/203208-seven-people-arrested-after-hearts-v-celtic-match-at-tynecastle/

Eight people have been arrested following the match between Heart of Midlothian and Celtic.

Police arrested them at the clash at Tynescatle on Wednesday after "disruptive behaviour" in the stadium.

Six of the men, aged 30, 41, 43 and three 17-year-olds, are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday after being charged under the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.

Two others, who were arrested over drunk and disorderly behaviour, have been released.

Match Commander Superintendant David Carradice said: "Our priority is everybody's safety and we will take action against the small number whose disruptive behaviour spoils the match for the decent fans.

“It is important to remember there was CCTV and video recording equipment within the ground. Working with our colleagues in the FOCUS unit, this will enable police to take action in the coming days to trace those responsible for unacceptable behaviour. "

Police hunt Celtic fans after sectarian chants on train

COPS are hunting Celtic yobs who sang vile hate songs on a train after the team’s defeat at St Johnstone.

Around 20 louts were blamed for sectarian chants on the service from Perth to Inverness.

Last night British Transport Police appealed for witnesses to the incident on Saturday evening. They said the foul singing was kept up “throughout the journey — particularly around Aviemore.”

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OCTOBER 2011 — HIBS v CELTIC

AROUND 20 Celtic hooligans brought chaos to the streets of Scotland’s capital when they battled with casuals associated with Hibs.

Mayhem erupted at Edinburgh’s International Bar after the Wednesday night League Cup quarter-final between the sides at Easter Road stadium.

The mass brawl spilled on to the street outside the pub.

And terrified families cowered for safety inside the nearby Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

Lothian and Borders Detective Sergeant Mike Leask said later: “This disorder has been pre-organised by those involved in football-related violence.”

http://thesun.mobi/thescottishsun/news/4545280/Return-of-the-casuals-Cops-warn-plague-of-Eighties-soccer-hooligans-is-back.html?mob=1