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

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. "

Celtic fans challenged Hearts supporters to fight after match

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/106404-celtic-fans-challenged-hearts-supporters-to-fight-after-match/

A group of Celtic fans challenged Hearts supporters to a fight after a match between the two teams.

Edward Ingram, 39, Anthony Begley, 33 and Steven McGowan, 23, have been jailed and banned from going to watch their team for a total of 19 years for the offences.

The three men tried to fight with Hearts fans after a game at Celtic Park, as the visiting supporters made their way back to their buses to go home.

The Glasgow club’s supporters were convicted of forming part of a disorderly crowd, shouting, swearing, inciting and challenging others to fight and breaching the peace on October 28, 2009.

Ingram, from the Gorbals, Glasgow was jailed for two years for the and Begley from Bellgrove, Glasgow was sentenced to 15 months.

The pair, whose last offences were football related matters, were each given a football banning order for seven years.

McGowan, 22, from Johnstone, Renfrewshire, was jailed for 12 months for his part in the crime and given a five year football banning order. He has no football related previous convictions.

Once they are released from their prison terms, each of the men have to sign in at their local police office during Celtic matches, Glasgow Sheriff Court heard on Friday.

Sheriff Kenneth Mitchell told them: "This is a serious outbreak of public disorder and a very bad example of a breach of the peace occurring after a Celtic and Hearts football match.

"I have concluded that the gravity of the matter is such that the only appropriate disposal is a custodial one."

The three men did not go to the game but formed part of a crowd and caused trouble after Celtic lost 1-0 to the Edinburgh side. The crowd on Springfield Road near to the stadium at Parkhead and mounted police patrolling the area were brought in to separate the groups of fans.