Football and Religion Should Never Mix

[Thomson Mouse]

Celtic plan ban for anti-poppy protesters

 

Celtic aim to ban those found responsible for a giant anti-poppy banner displayed at the weekend.

 

The protest unveiled on Saturday read: "Your deeds would shame all the devils in Hell. Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan. No bloodstained poppy on our Hoops."

 

Celtic issued an apology for any offence caused and will launch an investigation aimed at banning the perpetrators from home games.

 

All 12 SPL clubs will wear poppies on their shirts next weekend.

 

Scottish Premier League chief executive Neil Doncaster confirmed that the governing body would also investigate the matter.

 

These incidents do need to be investigated and they are going to be

 

Scottish Premier League chief executive Neil Doncaster

 

"It's clearly regrettable that a weekend of so much excitement on the pitch has been dominated by reporting of events off the pitch," said Doncaster in relation to the banner at Celtic Park and crowd trouble during the Edinburgh derby.

 

"We have invited comments from Celtic, Hibernian and Hearts on the back of the weekend's events and are awaiting the reports of the match delegates."

 

A section of Celtic fans have long campaigned against the wearing of poppies.

 

But Doncaster said it was now an established practice in the SPL for all clubs to wear poppies on their shirts on the weekend of Remembrance Sunday.

 

"We would welcome the fact that Celtic have moved quickly to apologise," he said.

 

"I would also point out that all 12 of the SPL clubs will be wearing poppies on their shirts next weekend in support of Poppy Scotland for the third year in a row."

 

Doncaster would not be drawn over whether the banner was a breach of stadium rules forbidding political demonstrations but added: "There have been a number of instances of inappropriate behaviour at games.

 

"These incidents do need to be investigated and they are going to be."

 

MY SPORT: DEBATE

Give your reaction to this story

 

Celtic responded to the controversy by issuing a statement which said: "The actions of this small minority have no place at Celtic Park and, clearly, we apologise for any offence caused."

 

A spokesman later added: "The club is currently carrying out an investigation into this matter. When it is concluded, it is the club's intention to ban those identified as responsible from Celtic Park.

 

"Celtic fans have rightly earned a magnificent reputation for their positive behaviour and backing of the club.

 

"It is extremely disappointing that the actions of a small minority have embarrassed Celtic and tarnished the club in this way."

 

The charity Poppy Scotland described the banner, displayed during the 9-0 win over Aberdeen, as "disrespectful".

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/9168655.stm

 

 

Being over in Oz I've just seen this now, so apologies if it's already been covered.

 

For me, this is the biggest reason why Celtic and Rangers should never be allowed into the PL, religion has no place in football whatsoever.

 

Also, I was under the impression that poppy thing was for the 1st WW and armistice day, not Iraq or other wars?

 

[Guest gggg]

If they hate Britain so much they should be begging to join the Irish league not ours.

[jdckelly]

while not entirely sure on the poppy thing i do know it does cover ww1 which many irish men fought and died in and celtic fans would do well to remember

one of the main reasons i don't like celtic (not overly fond of rangers either) is things like this

[Guest gggg]

8 Celtic players fought and died during the war too.

[Cronky]

A very bad misjudgement by the anti-poppy brigade. Armistice Day isn't about governments and their decisions about whether or not to go to war. It's about individual young people, who did what they felt was their duty and risked their lives - and often lost their lives - for their country.

 

Whether we think their government at the time was right or wrong isn't the point. It's about those young men who sacrificed themselves for what was felt to be the common good.

[OzzieMandias]

 

For me, this is the biggest reason why Celtic and Rangers should never be allowed into the PL, religion has no place in football whatsoever.

 

 

What a load of bilge.

 

a) It's not even a majority of Celtic supporters doing this. Just a few people with a banner.

 

b) What's "religion" got to do with it?

 

Anyway, I don't agree with what the banner says, but I'm quite attached to the notion of free speech.

[oldtype]

Bunch of charvas who've never even seen a firearm much less ever had to use one should not dare insult the memory of people who've died for them.

 

The end.

[magpie418]

As the poppy has now come to symbolise more than what it was originally the symbol of (Armistice Day), wearing one could in-itself be seen as a political act.

 

[ohmelads]

You'd have to be pretty self-important tosser to think it symbolises anything anti-Celtic, anti-Irish or anti-anything. Anti-war is all it's about. I'm sure many people wearing them in Poland, Italy or New Zealand know nothing about Ireland's history and care even less. It's a universal thing, people wear them in countries around the world and it dates from World War 1.

 

Scotland recognises poppies and people wear them. Celtic is a football club founded and located in Scotland with Irish roots, it's a club with a huge number of Scottish and English fans as well as players down the years. If these supporters (a few pricks with a banner) can't stomach the local culture and traditions, why don't they leave? I wonder if these same fans want their club to be in the English Premier League?

 

I know the Irish don't wear them largely because it's less relevant to them but the people who made this banner have totally mistaken what poppies are about, so it's a pretty embarrassing protest to be honest. Just a few charvas trying to get attention and it's worked but for the wrong reasons.

[mrmojorisin75]

i'm far from being a tub thumping nationalist but i'd let some of the forces boys track them down for a little discussion myself, despicable cunts, deserve whatever is coming to them and i hope it's some awful awful shit

 

[Ryan_Taylor]

Aye they don't want no bloostained poppy on their hoops. Fail 

[Disco]

Sepp Blatter will be loving that title.

[BlueStar]

No doubt the same type variety of fuckwits that were singing "Al Quaeda!" (to the tune of 'Ar-gen-teena! clap-clap-clap-clap-clap") at SJP during the last friendly.

 

a) It's not even a majority of Celtic supporters doing this. Just a few people with a banner.

 

Looks like more than a few to me like

 

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/7510/capturevij.jpg

 

Their proofreader must have been banned from the stadium already.

 

EDIT: Even Newcastle fans can spell the name of their club right

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BPBojSYFPDw/RvdrXftLEbI/AAAAAAAAAns/pJnlK120XPc/s1600/Celtcs%2BFeeder%2BClub%2Bbanner.jpg

[Thomson Mouse]

 

For me, this is the biggest reason why Celtic and Rangers should never be allowed into the PL, religion has no place in football whatsoever.

 

 

What a load of bilge.

 

a) It's not even a majority of Celtic supporters doing this. Just a few people with a banner.

 

b) What's "religion" got to do with it?

 

Anyway, I don't agree with what the banner says, but I'm quite attached to the notion of free speech.

 

a) No it's not. Have you been to one of either Celtic or Rangers matches? If you had you would be able to comprehend the size of the problem.

 

b) Everything when you follow football and live in Glasgow

[Bad Mongo]

Bunch of charvas who've never even seen a firearm much less ever had to use one should not dare insult the memory of people who've died for them.

 

The end.

 

You think they fought in WW1 for them? It was a stupid imperialist war that turned a generation of young men into cannon fodder, not some abstract-idealist good vs evil bullshit.

[henke]

I'm baffled by the whole thing. I have a serious green streak due to my family background, and while i can see how a tiny minority of celtics support would have a beef with the british army, upwards of 90% of the people behind it are scottish. Possibly english. My granddad was a irish and catholic and a republican, yet he fought for britain in ww2.

 

It seems to me that some celtic (and rangers) fans are intent on seing who can be the most offensive. Bang out of order.

[Thomson Mouse]

Bunch of charvas who've never even seen a firearm much less ever had to use one should not dare insult the memory of people who've died for them.

 

The end.

 

You think they fought in WW1 for them? It was a stupid imperialist war that turned a generation of young men into cannon fodder, not some abstract-idealist good vs evil bullshit.

 

More of a German family feud really.

[BlueStar]

I'm baffled by the whole thing. I have a serious green streak due to my family background, and while i can see how a tiny minority of celtics support would have a beef with the british army, upwards of 90% of the people behind it are scottish. Possibly english. My granddad was a irish and catholic and a republican, yet he fought for britain in ww2.

 

It seems to me that some celtic (and rangers) fans are intent on seing who can be the most offensive. Bang out of order.

 

Celtic's "Green Army" ultras seem to have more recently styled themselves along the lines of the Antifa hooligans you get in some European areas where the divade between local rivals is (rather than, say, primarily Catholic/Protestant,) characterised by one side being facist/capitalist/rightwing/nationalist and the other side being leftist/socialist/antifacist/seperatist.  So the Rangers morons have their Nazi salutes and Israel flags (yeah, work that one out), and the Celtic morons have their Che Guevara banners, Palestinian flags and believe western troops to be imperialist baby killing murderers.

[Ryan_Taylor]

I'm baffled by the whole thing. I have a serious green streak due to my family background, and while i can see how a tiny minority of celtics support would have a beef with the british army, upwards of 90% of the people behind it are scottish. Possibly english. My granddad was a irish and catholic and a republican, yet he fought for britain in ww2.

 

It seems to me that some celtic (and rangers) fans are intent on seing who can be the most offensive. Bang out of order.

 

Celtic's "Green Army" ultras seem to have more recently styled themselves along the lines of the Antifa hooligans you get in some European areas where the divade between local rivals is (rather than, say, primarily Catholic/Protestant,) characterised by one side being facist/capitalist/rightwing/nationalist and the other side being leftist/socialist/antifacist/seperatist.  So the Rangers morons have their Nazi salutes and Israel flags (yeah, work that one out), and the Celtic morons have their Che Guevara banners, Palestinian flags and believe western troops to be imperialist baby killing murderers.

 

Doubt the word twats has ever been more appropriate

[madras]

Celtic plan ban for anti-poppy protesters

 

Celtic aim to ban those found responsible for a giant anti-poppy banner displayed at the weekend.

 

The protest unveiled on Saturday read: "Your deeds would shame all the devils in Hell. Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan. No bloodstained poppy on our Hoops."

 

Celtic issued an apology for any offence caused and will launch an investigation aimed at banning the perpetrators from home games.

 

All 12 SPL clubs will wear poppies on their shirts next weekend.

 

Scottish Premier League chief executive Neil Doncaster confirmed that the governing body would also investigate the matter.

 

These incidents do need to be investigated and they are going to be

 

Scottish Premier League chief executive Neil Doncaster

 

"It's clearly regrettable that a weekend of so much excitement on the pitch has been dominated by reporting of events off the pitch," said Doncaster in relation to the banner at Celtic Park and crowd trouble during the Edinburgh derby.

 

"We have invited comments from Celtic, Hibernian and Hearts on the back of the weekend's events and are awaiting the reports of the match delegates."

 

A section of Celtic fans have long campaigned against the wearing of poppies.

 

But Doncaster said it was now an established practice in the SPL for all clubs to wear poppies on their shirts on the weekend of Remembrance Sunday.

 

"We would welcome the fact that Celtic have moved quickly to apologise," he said.

 

"I would also point out that all 12 of the SPL clubs will be wearing poppies on their shirts next weekend in support of Poppy Scotland for the third year in a row."

 

Doncaster would not be drawn over whether the banner was a breach of stadium rules forbidding political demonstrations but added: "There have been a number of instances of inappropriate behaviour at games.

 

"These incidents do need to be investigated and they are going to be."

 

MY SPORT: DEBATE

Give your reaction to this story

 

Celtic responded to the controversy by issuing a statement which said: "The actions of this small minority have no place at Celtic Park and, clearly, we apologise for any offence caused."

 

A spokesman later added: "The club is currently carrying out an investigation into this matter. When it is concluded, it is the club's intention to ban those identified as responsible from Celtic Park.

 

"Celtic fans have rightly earned a magnificent reputation for their positive behaviour and backing of the club.

 

"It is extremely disappointing that the actions of a small minority have embarrassed Celtic and tarnished the club in this way."

 

The charity Poppy Scotland described the banner, displayed during the 9-0 win over Aberdeen, as "disrespectful".

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/9168655.stm

 

 

Being over in Oz I've just seen this now, so apologies if it's already been covered.

 

For me, this is the biggest reason why Celtic and Rangers should never be allowed into the PL, religion has no place in football whatsoever.

 

Also, I was under the impression that poppy thing was for the 1st WW and armistice day, not Iraq or other wars?

it grew out of that but is for the aid of british (not sure if it's the commonwealth aswell with it being ran by the british legion) injured and killed sevicemen and ex-servicemen and their families of all wars,conflicts, police actions call them what you will.

 

 

PS i am against the putting of poppys on football tops for matches, it smacks of having to do it and it shouldn't be that way. a bit like jon snow the other year.

[Guest gggg]

Both the Celtic Supporters Trust and Celtic Supporters Association have backed the protest, aswell as the Ultras who have been given a whole section at Celtic Park. So much for a minority.

[henke]

I'm baffled by the whole thing. I have a serious green streak due to my family background, and while i can see how a tiny minority of celtics support would have a beef with the british army, upwards of 90% of the people behind it are scottish. Possibly english. My granddad was a irish and catholic and a republican, yet he fought for britain in ww2.

 

It seems to me that some celtic (and rangers) fans are intent on seing who can be the most offensive. Bang out of order.

 

Celtic's "Green Army" ultras seem to have more recently styled themselves along the lines of the Antifa hooligans you get in some European areas where the divade between local rivals is (rather than, say, primarily Catholic/Protestant,) characterised by one side being facist/capitalist/rightwing/nationalist and the other side being leftist/socialist/antifacist/seperatist.  So the Rangers morons have their Nazi salutes and Israel flags (yeah, work that one out), and the Celtic morons have their Che Guevara banners, Palestinian flags and believe western troops to be imperialist baby killing murderers.

 

It's just nuts. I used to go to celtic park with friends and family semi ragularly, and i can remember in about '02 when the whole israel / palestine flag thing started. Most of these retards couldn't even find israel on a map yet they're happy to use this conflict to try to wind each other up. And that's what it is, just looking for something controversial to wind the other side up.

They've gone too far this time though. I've defended songs and such like in the past on toonultras and elsewhere but i won't try to defend this. You can't.

[CaliMag]

Same "Old Firm" shite. I feel for you TM.

 

I have a few family connections to Rangers, but no chance would I ever support them (or Celtic).

 

In a perfect world Glaswegians would abandon them and support teams like the buddies.

[Incognito]

Mind you,I'd pay good money to watch Tiote hurtling into a 50-50 with David Cameron.

[Foluwashola]

Scum. Absolute scum.

 

Should make the twats swim back to potatoland.