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.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Neil Lennon's QC warns Celtic fans over sectarian and racist behaviour
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
Monday, July 18, 2011
STV presenter attacked by Celtic fans
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.
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
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
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
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Violence mars Celtic match in Sydney
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'
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.
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.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
11 arrested as Celtic fans go on rampage
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.'
Monday, July 4, 2011
POLICE MEDIA RELEASE - Celtic match marred by poor behaviour
http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/latest_releases?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3LmViaXoucG9saWNlLm5zdy5nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjE3NjAxLmh0bWwmYWxsPTE%3D
Saturday, 02 Jul 2011 11:35pm
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.
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
http://www.scotsman.com/celticfc/Celtic-fans-held-after-defeat.6795099.jp?
Celtic fans held after defeat in Australia
Published Date: 03 July 2011
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