El cormaco has been thinking, and points out the media silence around an age old problem. That Ibrox songbook, which inly features one or two relevant to football.
I started writing a piece about the minutes silence, and how it was to be managed by the media, and how Matthew Lindsay at the Herald took the opportunity to blame Celtic fans for breaking the minute’s silence, despite evidence appearing to suggest the first shout was actually “Fenian b*stards”, and so highly unlikely to have come from the Celtic end.
Then I read Harry Brady’s excellent piece on Celtic Underground and our own estimable Ralph here and realised there was nothing I could say that they haven’t with regard to the minutes silence, a silence I think was commendably well observed overall, and how it’s been reported in the press.
What got my goat (not in a masonic way) is the selective deafness Lindsay and every other journalist suffer when it comes to the sounds and songs from our erstwhile Glasgow rivals.
Since the Second Rangers began on their “journey” they seem more determined than ever to belt out the banned song “The Billy Boys” at any opportunity. Now if that’s what they want to do then so be it, however it’s illegal and so the police and football authorities should act appropriately when its sung and the press should miss no opportunity to call these supporters out when they indulge in singing it. UEFA have handed the old Rangers fines for singing it in the past and issued warnings about partial stadium closures, which had an impact in reducing its volume and frequency, and in fairness it’s not sung as lustily now as in the games you can watch back from Ibrox in the 80s and 90s, but it seems to be on the rise again and to be going unchecked.
Since this new Rangers have not been near UEFA competition it hasn’t been an issue they have had to deal with. That does not excuse either the Press, the police or the Scottish FA however I watched the TV cameras scan the Ibrox crowd before kick off as they indulged in singing it, while David Tanner praised the “terrific atmosphere” and again heard it loud right before the minute’s silence. The irony of singing about being up to their knees in Fenian blood moments before a minutes silence as mark of respect for the dead seems to have been lost by the Scottish press pack.
The silence from the press on this has been much longer than a minute.
Why does Lindsay find space to point out the idiocy of a couple of individuals while ignoring the actions of thousands?
Why do the SFA or SPFL take no action whatsoever in trying to curb the actions of these bigots?
Why following Scottish Cup final and the game at Celtic park were the press running with the idea of strict liability for clubs, and Clyde running with a ”campaign for decency”, neither of which have been mentioned as far as I’ve seen in relation to the behaviour of three stands at Ibrox on Saturday?
What is the endgame of this selective deafness; to allow it back into our game as part of the “colour and noise of the old firm”? To encourage more blue pounds out of pockets by winding back the clock to a time when such bigotry was even more commonplace at Scottish grounds?
To fill boats from Ulster and put “Timmy” back in their place?
Personally I do find the song and what is says offensive. It’s only a song sure, but it speaks to a troubling worldview, one in which we are all terrorist sympathising inferiors to be cowed into submission. One in which “The People” are the guardians of the moral compass in the
country and in which any way of life contrary to the Scottish / British protestant culture is fair game for attack?
Were they to be singing about blacks or Muslims or any other minority they would be shamed by the Press, lifted by the Police, and sanctioned by the football authorities. Thats why, as we saw at Ibrox, black players have their abuse in mere shouts. Only the Irish get abused in song.
As it’s about “Fenians” it seems to be okay. The law states otherwise, it’s time those with the power to highlight and act on its flouting took aim in the right direction rather than focus on the one or two who showed their idiocy to the world.
If they don’t where does it end? The Vanguard Bears are already claiming “cultural genocide” against Scots/ British protestants while also singing “We are the people”, and while they can be written off as deranged there will be many others, the more moderate, sensible Ibrox match goer who will feel some of the same sentiments regarding a perceived suppression of their culture and take the opportunity being allowed them to crank up the sectarian nonsense ever higher.
Death threats, assaults, threats to journalists, campaigns to see people sacked for stating views contrary to theirs from *Rangers fans are all matters of record; actions of the deranged who use *rangers as a cloak for their sectarian opinions, if they are allowed to continue singing these illegal songs in their thousands how many more will feel emboldened to act?
There are doubtless many *rangers fans who take no part in it, or want no part of it. However this “silent majority” have for whatever reason done nothing to counter this vocal minority and so either need help to challenge this behaviour or make a choice; to walk away from their team or block their ears and pretend it doesn’t happen.
To avoid any doubt the same goes for Celtic fans singing pro IRA songs. I don’t, and never have, even when the Troubles were at an intolerable level, see glory worthy of song in the actions of the IRA. I don’t sing the songs because frankly I don’t support their actions, even if
supposedly, as a “norn Irish” born nationalist, they were being carried out in my name.
Others will have their own views on that, but I do think as a collective we are a better, more decent and humane group of fans than the *Rangers fans but indulging in this kind of singing only allows the “two cheeks of the same arse” argument to continue, which is doing us no
favours.
However in 21st Century Scotland it seems no one has the will to challenge or upset “ra peepul” and we should probably just surrender now for a quiet life, or “go home” now that the Famine is over.
Well that’s not going to happen, we are rightly proud of our heritage and going nowhere, there are laws in place supposedly to punish these activities and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect those with the power to call it out, take actions against individuals
and clubs to do their jobs, rather than either ignore or praise it.
Surely a journalist worth their salt would hear the extent of the sectarian singing on Saturday and feel compelled to speak out about it?
Or they can just blame a few Celtic “eejits” and disregard the real problems as usual ?
What we are seeing is a return to the old firm, both on the park and off it.
The attitudes and values of the new club , inherited from their now defunct predecessors are back, and no one is more delighted than the media.
Especially when they can blame us as well.
Great read and well said, I agree with most of it but not all.
This has been an issue for many a year,we need our so called Government to tackle this,along with the games ruling bodies,do they have the moral courage,I will believe it when I see it.
so called gov,t that far too many tims voted for along with the crazy independence referendum
The Silence of The Billy Goats is deafening when it comes to the Ibrokes sectarian songbook – not only from the “club” & their fans, but the media (essentially the same thing), the Police, the football football authorities , and both local & national government. That it itself speaks volumes.
I used to just hate rangers (the original version) because they were our rivals. Living in glasgow, your senses were numbed somewhat to their songs of hate, but in February 2012 things changed – for the worse! It seems that, although they were “demoted” (we all know the truth of what really happened), they developed a heightened sense of self-entitlement, instead of learning humility. They, and they alone, have destroyed Scottish football, utterly! Now, I long for the day when they are dead and buried, the way of Third Lanark (but without the “romantic” memories of yesteryear). It’s high time the Scottish media, the Scottish government, and Police Scotland took action against this rabid entity! I also hope that uefa takes a very firm stance against them!
Just think Steven THIS could be that year.
I’d take that over a rollover jackpot on the Euromillions any day, Mike!!
great interesting points made, but 1 slight thing i don’t get is the so called pro “ira” songs, it’s Irish rebel songs
Wanting an overzealous plod to use an illiberal and outrageous law in order to punish people for singing is just as stupid as applauding Lizzie’s Revenue Service for going after people employed by a company that didn’t withhold funds to pay taxes.
Don’t know why the Billy boys annoys hoops fans so much ,yes it’s a crass song and is illegal ,but for me it highlights how backward and racist these fans are and I don’t think anyone or anything will erase this from their DNA,I’m far more offended when chants of paedo and the famine song are continually screamed by thousands,how low do these so called football fans want to drag Scottish football down,being a football fan you have to be very thick skinned but for me this is about as low as it gets,the smsm and police Scotland should be doing everything in their power to eradicate this shameful trend happening on our terracings,I used to have a wee soft spot for Aberdeen fans but they seem to be getting dragged down by sick bluenoses to their level how long before other club supporters start following this scummy trend .
I also agree with most of this article. The narrative has been Celtic and Rangers are two sides of the same coin. I absolutely reject that in every sense. Rangers both old Rangers and Sevco have been a place where anti Irish anti catholic bigots can loudly enjoy and try and impose their “culture”. Rangers stand alone in this world, they are their own currency and we are no part of it. We are no mirror image. Celtic has stood for tolerance, charity and having an open house for our long and distinguished history. Our roots are Irish and that ethos is rightly celebrated by our fans. We are no bigots, we are no hate mongers and the few eejits that get drunk and disgrace themselves as just that – a few. I’d like to hear the Rangers Board, the Church of Scotland, the Catholic Church and the Scottish Government condemn the songs of hate we hear at sevco games. Why the silence?
How can they hear it when they’re also singing along? Not being clever but that’s the reason!! They are all culturally from the same place. As I heard yesterday on twitter they sing about things they hate we sing about things we love. But don’t expect anyone to say anything whilst tapping their toes to the tune!!
fair point
I live in a area where the Sevco supporters far it way the Celtic supporters, their hatred for all things ‘ Tague’ is incredible. Grown educated men referring to Celtic and Parkhead in the he most derogatory terms. These are the ‘peepul’ that allowed the previous incarnation to trade on the basis of for every £5 they spend we will spend£10.
They actually believe the days of Gazza, Laudrup and Hately are just around the corner.
When you are standing in a school playground and a senior staff member sweeps past in his Mercedes as he blasts out ‘Hullo,Hullo’ what hope have you got. This disease is throughout the Wesr of Scotland at all levels.
They use the argument that ‘ Fields of Athenry’ is a RA song, wonder what they think of Liverpool or Everton fans.
I would add that it is a total Scotland thing. East, West, North and South. I lived in the East of Scotland and was subject to the same bigoted BS.
Agree totally with the article – the utter failure by the media to make anything of all of this is contemptible if not complicit. But then again objective and factual reporting by the media is a rare event.
Let the people sing their stories and their songs! I’ve been a Celtic fan for nigh on 50 years and to tell you the truth,I don’t give a damn what “ra peepul” sing.We have more choice of song than them and I say let battle commence.Their mob used to go mental when the Celtic fans,led by the brilliant Jungle used to belt out the Rebel Medley.Everything these days is so PC and everybody looking to be offended.Lets get back to the old days of 90 mins bedlam,then meet up with your pals,agree to disagree,and get on with life.WHGA
For me it is about the lies,the preference throughout the media,to take the huns side in every way,distorting the truth,the cheating of the governing bodies,the SFA,SPFL,even our esteemed national broadcaster,we pay them to distort the truth or to show a clear bias towards the mankies.
STV Sky the whole shebang,telling lies distorting the truth,showing bias.
What is the point of Scottish fitba. if the governing bodies cheat us out of titles,cups or European monies.
If our wee pretendy parliament,cannot deal with this,then why are they there?
The contents of the Song Book is not the only question that Scotland’s ‘Fearless and Free! And You Can’t Gag Me’ media cannot, or more realistically will not raise.
Try posing the following question in any arm of the Scottish media.
If, for the purposes of the reflected glory bestowed on it by the winning of numerous trophies, the club presently playing out of Ibrox, is Rangers 1872 continuing; why then is the same club not Rangers 1872 continuing for the purpose of debts owed at February 14, 2011?
Try as you might, not a word of the above will be tolerated.
Why do the media have selective hearing?
Simple economics.
Every football supporting constituency in Scotland, bar one, has largely abandoned the print media.
They lose the Rangers readership, they go out of business.
Celtic fans lead the way with alternative news sources 20 years ago when the media were in Murray’s pocket and they collectively laughed at skint Celtic.
Their arrogance and shirt sightedness gas come back to bite them.
The Daily Rectum is losing 6000 readers per annum and will fold by 2025.
I highlighted the singing of the Billy Boys immediately before the start of the minutes silence..a gap of around 15 seconds before the end of one and the start of the other.
It wasn’t 1000’s singing it either it was 10’s of thousands and sung with real gusto too.
Not content with merely bringing this up on here I decided yesterday to ask the following Journalists their own opinion on this and what effect would they think it would have on the 7500 or so Celtic fans:
Keith Jackson
Matt Lindsay
Gerry McCulloch
Tom English
SKY Sports Scotland and Clyde Super scoreboard
NOT ONE OF THEM REPLIED.
That was over 24 hours ago.
It is apparent to me that the singing of that particular song just before the minutes silence was to achieve one aim and one aim only.
A response fro the Celtic Support.
The fact only 1 or 2 actually made a noise is nothing short of a fuckin miracle I think given the resentment behind that particular little ditty?
The response from the Stenographers does not suprise me after all we are dealing with a collection of spineless fucks who are more concerned about a telling off from the boss than actually delivering an unbiased and honest opinion.
Rangers died.
Nothings changed since before or after the event.
Great post, great read and great comments make you realise how destructive words can be. If you allow them too.
Will our government do anything? Probably not but will say it’s a matter for the police.
Is there a more hateful group of humans on the earth? Arrogant, racist vile bigots. Roll on liquidation and hopefully no more tribute acts to follow.
Fantastic article. Agree with pretty much everything in it and kind of stole my thunder on a lot of things. Good work.
Thanks to everyone who read this and / or commented. To be clear I have no issue at all with Irish songs, but glorifying the IRA “the I the I The IRA” type stuff – count me out – I have my own reasons which I ll spare you
JJ is our very own Woodward and Bernstein.