{"id":15109,"date":"2020-01-04T14:23:31","date_gmt":"2020-01-04T14:23:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=15109"},"modified":"2020-01-04T14:23:31","modified_gmt":"2020-01-04T14:23:31","slug":"celtic-diary-saturday-january-4-strange-things-are-happening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=15109","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Saturday January 4: Strange Things Are Happening"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not just for me personally.<\/p>\n

Having got a bad back, which is causing me more pain than all of the backs at Celtic, though it’s close, they’ve taken me off the trustworthy Tramadol and put me on a nerveblocker called Pregablin.<\/p>\n

One of its properties is to send me to sleep at any given moment, something which, in fairness , allows me to sympathise with diary readers, only a small portion of which make it all the way through the piece before they are struck down by boredom.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It is a strane world in Scottish football, one that some would call unique.<\/p>\n

James MacLean, the Derry lad who refuses to wear a poppy for reasons that are obvious when you consider from where he hails, has been roundly and soundly racially abused in England.<\/p>\n

He plays for championship side Stoke City, and when he’s playing, opposition fans are wont to remind him of where he’s from..<\/p>\n

The Professional footballers Association said;<\/p>\n

“James has been subjected to this type of vile abuse throughout his career, and he will be fully supported in the same way as any other individual who receives abuse based on their race, religion or nationality…”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Recently, a game against Barnsley\u00a0 was halted as the abuse rained down, and only resumed after a warning over the tannoy. Prompting this from the English FA<\/p>\n

Barnsley have been charged by the FA following an investigation into alleged discriminatory behaviour towards Stoke midfielder James McClean.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

It’s not the first time that a penalty has been handed out as a result of MacLean being abused…<\/p>\n

\"Image\"<\/p>\n

Kirk Broadfoot, formerly of Rangers -or “rangers “, not sure which, to be honest, but their doctrine is the same.<\/p>\n

In Scotland, Graeme Spiers asked;<\/p>\n

\u2022James McClean – would any Old Firm game ever get finished?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

Any doubt that it’s treated differently in Scotland are removed when you note when the BBC use the word “allegedly “…<\/p>\n

\"Image\"<\/p>\n

whereas in Scotland…<\/p>\n

\"Image\"<\/p>\n

Not alleged, presumably confirmed, or so they would hope you believe…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I leave you to judge if you feel the Scottish media take racism seriously.<\/p>\n

They kind of do when it’s that lovable rogue Alfredo Morelos. Even if there is no actual evidence of it, they go for the jugular there, citing how much hatred poor Alfredo has to put up with due to the colour of his skin.<\/p>\n

There’s no excuse for any kind of abuse , be it racist, sectarian or sexist based.<\/p>\n

But when someone behaves like a knob, and Morelos does, then there is an argument he is going to get it.<\/p>\n

Making a gesture outlawed in the USA , for instance, and then claiming it as a colombian custom, despite Colombian media saying he’d stained his copybook, makes one fell that there may be one set of rule for one, and one for another, depending on the colour of your short on matchdays..<\/p>\n

Remember this, abuse of Scott Sinclair at Ibrox..<\/p>\n

\"Image\"<\/p>\n

Didn’t get half the attention Morelos is getting.<\/p>\n

Neil Lennon, who endured abuse beyond the imagination was told by many in the media he brought it all on himself, and when he questioned that, he was told it was his combative style of play that caused it.<\/p>\n

All complete bollocks of course, but it gets stranger.<\/p>\n

Very soon after the game on Sunday, it emerged that a player with another club had been amongst the “rangers ” support, and made a gesture of his own…<\/p>\n

\"Image\"<\/p>\n

Almost immediately, he apologised…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Image\"<\/p>\n

Then he was sacked by his club.<\/p>\n

It was done with commendable haste, probably because further evidence appeared that he was involved in singing about the Billy boys, a song banned by UEFA that will get you fined, and if you keep doing it, your stadium will be closed..<\/p>\n

\"Image\"<\/p>\n

Here’s an easy to read rundown of events…<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
1, Morelos sent off and does the gesture. <\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
2, Gesture is debated over the next 24hrs\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
3, Colombian site all but confirm Colombian gesture excuse is bogus. <\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
4, This wrestles narrative from PR, so an hour or so after Colombian site is quoted as condemning Morelos, Rangers release a statement on VAR, this is a Trojan horse to smuggle a rebuttal in about the gesture.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
5, Morelos gesture isn\u2019t the lead on the statement as it draws too much attention to club officially, so they had to smuggle it in or it causes *more* heat, not less. <\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
6, Peter Adam Smith & Jordan Campbell – at the same time as the Rangers statement is released push the Racist angle on Morelos.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
All based on \u2018alleged\u2019 footage none were willing to share. When analysed the footage is dodgy , as in someone actually removed all the background noise and it certainly does not prove that anything racist was shouted, like when Dembele scored against them and a voice in the crowd clearly shouted out his colour and a statement about his parentage.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
(Insert tweets and Jordan lock down after finding his attitude on racism was somewhat different previously.)<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
7, Whilst all this was going on, a young ex-Rangers player now at Cove Rangers, was unfortunately caught making an offensive gesture on TV footage. (See above )\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0He was punted from Cove Rangers, some say harshly and released a statement apologising, as we have seen.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
8, Alongside this, there is evidence from a fan at the game next to the Rangers fans of The Billy Boys chant. This chant has always been an issue, however this season UEFA came down hard on Rangers closing a stand as it was considered racist.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\"Image\"<\/div>\n
Andrew Dickson at Rangers, now at UEFA, so he must have a hotline to Ibrox to tell them it’s not acceptable anywhere, anytime.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Racist…<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"Image\"<\/div>\n
Religous Prejudice<\/div>\n
\"Image\"<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Oops..guilty on two counts.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"Image\"<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Oh look, the Scottish FA know it’s unacceptable as well.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Fancy that.<\/div>\n
And they’ve been told a few times…<\/div>\n
\"Image\"<\/div>\n
The above kind of negates Jordan Campbell, who tweeted quite a few times…<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"Image\"<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
9, This in itself is newsworthy, particularly in the context of this match. And perhaps understandably Rangers fans weren\u2019t happy it was out, stating it was dubbed and fake. It\u2019s not. There is more footage.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Contrast this reaction and footage to the allegation made by Peter Adam Smith, which many of the same fans backed.<\/div>\n

\"Image\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

10, to add to this already messy business, who else but our young gesture making (Morelos newsworthy link and reason he was punted) young ex-Rangers player (newsworthy) Is seen in footage joining in with \u2018The Billy Boys\u2019 and \u2018No surrender\u2019<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Yet the media are ignoring it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Perhaps they are just filling space, as Celtic have yet to comment on anything at all, including the rumours about what happened in the tunnel.<\/p>\n

Perhaps they have taken legal advice-it is more likely than not something has happened, and there will be serious repercussions, and so we must wait and see.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Not long , though.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On Monday, Ryan Christie is up in front of the beaks…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Image\"<\/p>\n

He grabbed -or is supposed to have grabbed- Alfreod by the short and curlies. Excalty like Alfredo grabbed his in a previous clash, but which oddly enough didn’t result in a charge for the Colombian..<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If Celtic have,\u00a0 as I suspect, engaged a capable and competent barrister, then the SFa could be rather embarrassed on Monday.<\/p>\n

But primarily it’s all bollocks, if I may be forgiven for the lame pun, the media have sided with Morelos, which suggests a nationwide narrative, and begs the question.. why ?<\/p>\n

We explained how it works on Friday, but why would anyone want it to work that way ?<\/p>\n

Morelos is the only saleable asset at “rangers “, at least the only one who will fetch a price that will make any difference to the financial black hole over there.<\/p>\n

they need to sell him, and also to replace their main striker, who has socred 29 times this season already.<\/p>\n

A phenomenal return, but he wants out and they need him to go.<\/p>\n

But they also need the fans to think they have done everything to keep him, and he just couldn’t cope with the racism.<\/p>\n

They’ll be painting swastikas on his house next, and blaming us.<\/p>\n

But that is the truth. They need the money, and he needs to better himself.<\/p>\n

Who knows, maybe he is aware of the anti catholicism connected with the club, like a few others before him ?<\/p>\n

The club\/company has never registered a profit while trading, and is living beyond theor means, just like the original Rangers, which is now in liquidation.<\/p>\n

Oddly enough, the same club myth is also perpetuated in the media, which means that when the shit hits the fam and the footballing world hears whats been happening, Scotland may well be ostracised.<\/p>\n

Unless, of course, we clean our act up.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Something that doesn’t seem to have occured to the media, who merely sit back on munch on this new succulent lamb.<\/p>\n

If this club goes out of business, and Celtic win a ninth title, the establishment will implode.<\/p>\n

Thats why they are doing their level best to derail Lennons side.<\/p>\n

It’s also why Lawwell must back his manager with cash, and with public support over the issues that are arising that are detrimental to the club and it’s image.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We’re being portrayed as racists, which we aren’t.<\/p>\n

As bigots, which we aren’t<\/p>\n

and those who would portray as such are proven offenders in both cases, as we have seen above.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The club must fight back, and we hope that starts with a resounding defeat for the SFA.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On Friday , we had..<\/p>\n

\"Image\"<\/p>\n

\n
Puggy67<\/div>\n