{"id":6032,"date":"2014-11-19T09:58:17","date_gmt":"2014-11-19T09:58:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=6032"},"modified":"2014-11-19T09:58:17","modified_gmt":"2014-11-19T09:58:17","slug":"celtic-diary-wednesday-november-19-thankfully-its-all-over","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=6032","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Wednesday November 19: Thankfully, It’s All Over"},"content":{"rendered":"

In retrospect, and in a quiet moment today, Gordon Strachan will probably be wishing that he had gone with the fringe players in last nights friendly against England at Celtic Park.<\/p>\n

The English ran out comfortable winners, with Wayne Rooney grabbing a couple of chances which had the Scots not been tired probably wouldn’t have been handed to him.<\/p>\n

More worryingly for Scotland was the amount of respect paid to the visitors, when a good old fashioned “get intae them ” would have done the job. A nervous England grew into the game when they realised that Scotland were a little in awe of them, and when the opening goal came, from an Oxley Chamberlain header, it was all very simple, and that encouraged the English to think that their neighbours were there for the taking.<\/p>\n

However, it doesn’t matter. It was only a kickabout, and if there are any positives to take from the game, its in the shape of Craig Gordon, who made his comeback, and Stevie ay and Johnny Russell, who looked like they didn’t give a stuff who they were up against.<\/p>\n

The English first division players were the biggest let down, oh alright, the two centre halves, who played as though they had just met, and we all know they are capable of much better.<\/p>\n

Ikeche Anya and Andrew Robertson did well, Charlie Mulgrew showed some spirit and Scott Brown was, well, Scott Brown, but that was about it.<\/p>\n

The match was billed along the lines of there being no friendlies between these two, but by and large, thats how the Scots treated it.<\/p>\n

Something did catch my eye, though, or my ear, if you wish to be pernickity;<\/p>\n

\n

The Football Association intervened last night to stop the England supporters\u2019 official band from accompanying the away support at Celtic Park in their chant of \u201cF*** the IRA\u201d during the 3-1 win over Scotland.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

The travelling support chanted about the IRA for long periods of the first half to a beat kept by the England band, who have what the FA describes as a \u201csemi-official\u201d relationship with the governing body. Members of the band were contacted during the game by FA officials and asked not to play the tune in question to discourage the chant during the second half. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Er, hang on. Isn’t that against the law ?<\/p>\n

Offensive behaviour at regulated football matches<\/span><\/h3>\n

(1)<\/span>A person commits an offence if, in relation to a regulated football match\u2014<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(a)<\/span>the person engages in behaviour of a kind described in subsection (2), and<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(b)<\/span>the behaviour\u2014<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(i)<\/span>is likely to incite public disorder, or<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(ii)<\/span>would be likely to incite public disorder.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The behaviour is\u2014<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(a)<\/span>expressing hatred of, or stirring up hatred against, a group of persons based on their membership (or presumed membership) of\u2014<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(i)<\/span>a religious group,<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(ii)<\/span>a social or cultural group with a perceived religious affiliation,<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(iii)<\/span>a group defined by reference to a thing mentioned in subsection (4),<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(b)<\/span>expressing hatred of, or stirring up hatred against, an individual based on the individual\u2019s membership (or presumed membership) of a group mentioned in any of sub-paragraphs (i) to (iii) of paragraph (a),<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(c)<\/span>behaviour that is motivated (wholly or partly) by hatred of a group mentioned in any of those sub-paragraphs,<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(d)<\/span>behaviour that is threatening, or<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(e)<\/span>other behaviour that a reasonable person would be likely to consider offensive.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(3)<\/span>For the purposes of subsection (2)(a) and (b), it is irrelevant whether the hatred is also based (to any extent) on any other factor.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(4)<\/span>The things referred to in subsection (2)(a)(iii) are\u2014<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(a)<\/span>colour,<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(b)<\/span>race,<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(c)<\/span>nationality (including citizenship),<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(d)<\/span>ethnic or national origins,<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(e)<\/span>sexual orientation,<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(f)<\/span>transgender identity,<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(g)<\/span>disability.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(5)<\/span>For the purposes of subsection (1)(b)(ii), behaviour would be likely to incite public disorder if public disorder would be likely to occur but for the fact that\u2014<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(a)<\/span>measures are in place to prevent public disorder, or<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(b)<\/span>persons likely to be incited to public disorder are not present or are not present in sufficient numbers.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(6)<\/span>A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable\u2014<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(a)<\/span>on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or to a fine, or to both, or<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(b)<\/span>on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0Well, no, it seems.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The law, which is \u00a0apparently there to stop sectarian chants, doesn’t actually appear to cover paramilitary references. The reason no arrests were made is that Fuck the IRA, and No Surrender are not covered by the above paragraphs. Unless you term the IRA as a social or cultural group. Which might be difficult for the prosecutor to prove.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Had they sung the famine song, that would have been different.<\/p>\n

\u00a0But haud on, England weren’t playing Ireland, in fact, the Irish had left several days previously, so quite why they chose those chants is a little unusual, to say the least.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Maybe there were some among their number who had been to Celtic Park before, and helped those on their first visit to choose the tunes.<\/p>\n

Jason Burt in the Telegraph summed up the bemusement down south;<\/p>\n

\u00a0England supporters let themselves down<\/em><\/strong>
An incessant chant of \u201cf— the IRA\u201d rang around Celtic Park for a few minutes in the first half from the England fans. It was not coming from just a handful of them. It was even accompanied by the England band \u2013 and with a drum beating along to the unsavoury chanting \u2013 and is surely a matter for the Football Association to address. Presumably the supporters were directing their chant at Celtic and not Scotland fans. It was all distasteful and unnecessary. What were they thinking? It temporarily soured a superb atmosphere and was completely uncalled for.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0The Tartan Army predictably booed the English anthem, despite a number of them voting to keep their masters in place-you’re right, i still can’t get over it- and as a result received this damning indictment from Joe McHugh, on Videocelts;<\/p>\n

\n

Tartan Army shame Scotland by booing anthem<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Tartan Army brought shame on Scotland by booing throughout the English anthem before tonight\u2019s international at Celtic Park.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Football\u2019s governing bodies take a dim view of such actions with the SFA heavily involved in various anti-racism campaigns aimed at educating supporters in tolerance.<\/em><\/p>\n

That was marked absent when Wayne Rooney led his team-mates out for the match with the anthem barely audible as the vast majority of the home fans booed and jeered the playing of God Save The Queen which ironically is the British national anthem that Scots such as Chris Hoy and Andy Murray have stood to attention for at Olympic Games.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Er, so what ? Should the fans have stood to attention and saluted ? Doff the cap to the Imperial masters ?<\/p>\n

\u00a0Maybe Flower of Scotland, insipid as it is, should also have been dropped, and a few verses of Maries Wedding sung instead , so as not to upset them ?<\/p>\n

It remains to be seen if the SFA condemn the fans that booed and jeered through the anthem. Tonight\u2019s match is the biggest money spinner that the SFA have known in years with the majority of tickets costing \u00a350 plus.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Oh, seriously, who gives a toss ? If you can’t abuse the other teams fans at a game, especially a Scotland -England game, then whats the point ?<\/p>\n

\u00a0Or maybe the fifty notes plus price tag was designed to keep the riff raff away…..<\/p>\n

Next time, we hear the SFA have arranged for \u00a0these three to perform “We Hate Jimmy Hill, He’s a Poof “<\/p>\n

\"salmond-lawwell\"<\/a><\/p>\n

and they have already ordered their costumes;<\/p>\n

\"B2wVJNIIEAEqtro<\/p>\n

Incidentally, Alex Salmond was at the game last night, and he seemed fairly chilled;<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

\u00a0Thats the international football done with. Thankfully. At least until March.<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0The papers didn’t wait too long to get back on message.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Record, for instance;<\/p>\n

French eye John Guidetti.<\/h1>\n

Well, they could hardly not “eye ” him. France played Sweden last night. He appeared as a 67th minute substitute in the game, which was played in…Marseille.<\/p>\n

They’re sharp, these reporters.<\/p>\n

French giants Marseille have joined the chase for Celtic loan star John Guidetti.<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, they could hardly not “eye ” him. France played Sweden last night. He appeared as a 67th minute substitute in the game, which was played in…Marseille.<\/p>\n

\u00a0They’re sharp, these reporters.<\/p>\n

The 22-year-old Swede\u2019s sensational scoring run for the Hoops has alerted scouts from all over the continent ahead of the January transfer window.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Manchester City ace, who has hit nine goals in 10 games since arriving at Celtic in August on a one-year loan, is out of contract at the end of the season and is in line for a Sweden call-up for the forthcoming match against France.<\/em><\/p>\n

Guidetti had a \u00a325million buy-out clause in his deal at City in 2012 but may be available for \u00a35m in January.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0How many times ?<\/p>\n

No he will not be.<\/p>\n

He will be at Celtic Park until the summer at least.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Over on the other side of town, there was a welcome break for Ally Mccoist, manager of the stricken club which emerged a couple of years ago from the ashes of Rangers, who were put into liquidation when they ran out of other peoples money.<\/p>\n

\u00a0McCoist was on the ITV panel to offer his opinions on the Scotland England game-told you the level of expert was even lower than Sky, and when you add Adrian Chiles and doo lally former England boss Glenn Hoddle to the mix, you can guarantee thoguht provoking and revealing insight.<\/p>\n

\u00a0If you talk to the cat instead.<\/p>\n

My wife doesn’t follow the football, but she was surprised to learn that the chunky chap on the telly was , in fact, Mccoist, and asked me if he had something wrong with him. Before I embarked on a long list, she pointed out that she meant medically, as he looks a little bloated and grey, which she-not me-reckons is heart attack territory.<\/p>\n

\u00a0I mention McCoist because the powers that be have been arguing with the powers that want to be at Ibrox again, with Dave King, the convicted fraudster telling fans not to give the current lot any money, presumably because he wants it when he sets up Third Rangers next year.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Ally, of course is right behind him.<\/p>\n

\u00a0In fact, as we know, Ally is right behind everyone,<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

\n

That was Celtic Park, during the rebuilding of the main stand, and it was last stand of the Lions, against Clyde.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Whats unusual about this programme ?<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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