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St Johnstone explain Celtic flag ban

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Fly the flagSt Johnstone have made a club statement about the ban on flags for Thursday’s match with Celtic.

Celtic fans have reacted angrily to the decision with some suggesting that a boycott be called as the club’s travelling support is again singled out for special treatment.

The pyro threat is being used to justify the ban but with the high number of police and stewards at matches that problem should easily be eradicated as it was for Celtic’s recent Scottish Cup trip to Tynecastle.

Police Scotland issued a statement after the match at Motherwell highlighting eighteen smoke bombs but seem slow in identifying the culprits despite extensive video footage in the South Stand at Fir Park.

Explaining the flag ban the St Johnstone statement said: “Supporters will be aware that, regrettably, there has been a significant increase in the letting off of flares, smoke bombs and other pyrotechnics at games across the country this season.

“These are inherently unsafe not only for those around the devices but also for spectators in general, particularly those who suffer from breathing disorders. They also have the potential to set seats alight and cause flags to burn.

“St Johnstone FC and Celtic FC fully support Police Scotland in their attempts to eradicate this nuisance from our game and as part of the planning process for this match between the three parties and other agencies, and as there have been several instances of flags being used as cover for the igniting of these devices, a decision has been taken that for this specific fixture flags and banners will not be permitted inside McDiarmid Park.

“Fans are asked to be considerate of this requirement in the interest of their own safety and the safety of others.”

The St Johnstone statement added: “As with all fixtures, alcohol, containers, smoke bombs and pyrotechnic flares are not permitted in the ground and again, appropriate action will be taken against anyone in possession of such items who is breaching ground safety regulations or involved in any criminal activity.

“Police officers will be active outside the ground to prevent the misuse of alcohol and there will be stop checks carried out on supporters’ buses en route to the game.

“With road works ongoing on the local network, supporters are also advised to allow plenty of time for travel to the game to ensure that they arrive at the ground in plenty of time to be inside for kick-off.”

With limited public transport and the game live on television it seems certain that Police Scotland will have only a small number of visiting supporters to turn their attention on.

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0 comments

  • Jhimmy T jnr says:

    Flags n flares dont mix…thats a fact and sooner or later it will end in tears. So stop the f*kcer pirofeckintechnics ffs!! But I think we’ve been down this road and paid for it with our GB.

    Cant believe its came to all this with out fans – I still think something stinks though.

    HH 1NL GBTGB TAL

    • ballybhoy says:

      you are bang on Jhimmy, something does stink and unfortunately our CEO wont tell. The longer this secret 5 way agreement thing and shareholders having a whisper about not challenging the new club about why on earth they did not get the proposed and legal punishment set aside then we are f..ked! Celtic FC want numbers, Celtic FC FANS want Celtic

  • enattendanthector says:

    Drivel. This is utter nonsense. The game should be boycotted.

  • ballybhoy says:

    will the guys doing the roadworks have to take their signs down???

  • Rod says:

    May be the only way to stop this attack on our support is to boycott if this is put in place at other grounds

    • peter says:

      I agree,Rod.

      Why do Police Scotland not use ‘ undercover ‘ cops to seek out these undercover devices.In other words do the
      job you are well paid to do.
      Banning of flags is just a smokescreen.

      Next it will be NO Celtic colours at away
      games. Too extreme ?
      Anything is possible in this Politically Correct day and age.

      If they are going to.treat us like lepers then, hit them in the pocket.
      BOYCOTT !!

      CELTIC FANS UNITED, NOT DIVIDED.
      .

  • Col says:

    seems like common sense to me, once these idiots stop the fireworks and pyro’s/smokebombs etc you’ll find the flags will be allowed into the grounds again, i for one don’t see any conspiracy here or singling out of Celtic fans on this one, sometimes you’ve got to put up your hands and say, yep, we deserved this one. It won’t be long till everythings back to normal as i believe 95 percent of Celtic fans are fantastic and have built up such a great reputation around the world in the last few years, just such a shame things have got all political and idiots feel the need to use football as a platform for there political agenda’s…may i suggest parliament for such activities and leave the football grounds for ……….and wait for it, this might just be a totally far out and radical idea, but how about leaving the football grounds for …..well, for football …..just saying like….

    • peter says:

      Col,

      Deserved the banning of flags ?

      You,sir,are part of the PC Brigade in our
      support I DETEST.

      What about standing up for 98% of GOOD
      FANS in our support !!

      COL you are a WIMP !!

      • Col says:

        Deserved banning of the flags?…….Yep, as i said, seems like a sensible solution to the fact that the cowards are hiding behind the flags when they light the smoke bombs/pyro’s etc.

        You sir, are part of the PC Brigade in our support that i detest……… Sorry mate, but you don’t know me to make an informed opinion on whether i’m PC or not and good to hear that you detest your fellow Celtic fans…..well done you.

        What about standing up for the 98% of Good fans in our support!!……That’s exactly what i was doing with my comments, 98% of the fans, aint throwing pyro’s and smoke bombs and disrupting the game for others, not to mention that these activities are dangerous, but if your happy for that to happen, then i suggest your not a real football fan or a real Celtic fan but merely someone who wants to cause trouble or at least justify the actions of a minority of idiots, who are ruining everyones enjoyment of the game and even worse the good name of Glasgow Celtic.

        Col you are a WIMP!……….YAWN YAWN!!!! Again, you don’t know me to make that judgement, but if that’s the level of your intellect and that’s the best you can muster in an educated discussion then good for you mate, whatever floats your boat 🙂

        • peter says:

          Col,

          I have read your posts on other sites,
          and in my opiniion you are a WIMP.
          Furthemore the only time you are on
          this blog is to have a disagreement with fellow fans.
          Whatever floats your boat.

          Sensible solution ? Really ?
          So the 98% have to.be punished for
          the actions of a few.
          So Police Scotland can’t do their job
          properly,even with CCTV,to keep an
          eye on 2% misbehaving ?
          Therefore you endorse a blanket ban on flags as a sensible approach.
          Nonsense !
          Don’t take my post personally,it’s your
          ATTITUDE I detest,let’s say it’s PC.

          Did I say I condone use of dangerous
          devices ? NO. I don’t.
          Not a real fan ?
          Shareholder, 40 years going,had season-ticket for 27 years.
          Nuff said, on that point.
          Intellect ?
          I am happy with the intellect I have,
          which has gave me, a good professional career to date.

          A Merry Christmas to you, Sir.

  • corrib04 says:

    If silly wee bhoys are letting off flares then what do they or the wider support expect?
    Flares are dangerous for numerous reasons. However some single brain cell fans continue to bring them in.

    Perhaps a film before kick off and at half time might play to highlight why the flares are a danger to health and safety. Im getting pretty hacked off with some of the bad attitude within our support. Grow up!

  • phil says:

    It’s part of the killing game…..football is nearly dead in this country and this will probably be the last straw..Celtic fans want tae start boycotting games..starting with this game….football is nothing without the fans…sack the board…..sack the board

  • Joe says:

    Actually as a rwal Celtic fan I happen to think this is an extremely logical explanation. Judging by the size of some of those banners and flags I for one eould not want to be caught under one when burning, and no way out!

    Kill a problem by finding the root cause. Find the root cause by opening the path to seeing where it starts. Removal of the banners etc opens that door. The banner ban will be temporary, the pyrotechnics ban had to be permanent.

    If you really care, think about the safety of those around you. Help catch the real guilty parties and expose them. Unless of course you have something to hide!

  • Rod says:

    Something similar was tried in the 50,s when it was deceided by the then powers that be to bann all flags and emblems at Celtic park not associated with Scotland ( Britain) in other words they tried to stop the Celtic support and even Celtic fc from flying or displaying the Irish Flag, Robert Kelly the then Celtic Chairman fought back and won the day, hopefully our present day Chairman and the board will do the same if we need them to.

    There are still those who hate Celtic today as there was back then and they are always looking to try to destroy in anyway possible our heritage and what it means to us, unfortunatly the thickos who we seem to have in our support give them that chance.

    Hail Hail and a blessed Christmas to Tims everywhere

    • harry Monaghan says:

      The “flag” incident you refer to was after an outbreak of trouble at a celtic v rangers game, there was an inquiry held and led by the hibernian chairman it was decided to demand of Celtic that they remove the tricolour flying above the stadium.
      Robert Kelly stood firm and with the backing of the then Rangers chairman, support for the hibs chairman melted away,the deadline passed and it was quietly consigned to the history books.
      The answer to this problem is the eradication of pyrotechnics. I have been caught up in the setting off of a flare; and as an asthma sufferer it was not a nice experience. And if a burning nylon or plastic banner is dripping into your face and skin ill bet you wont think pyros are fun then!!!
      Its up to the young boys to stop it or face arrest, simple.

    • peter says:

      Rod,

      I couldn’t agree with you more.

      To a fellow like-minded Tim, have a
      Merry Christmas and a Happy GREEN
      New Year.

  • john flaherty says:

    maybe police Scotland have a f***** dick sorry dictator at the top.

  • mickelmac says:

    Corrib04
    If you dont behave like a ned your not a true supporter these days, your a pc happy clapper.
    Wouldnt worry most of ‘ these’ commentators dont actually go to the games. Their bhoycott started a long time ago.

  • john mckee says:

    Do not rush to judgement. Let’s see if the same ruling applies when Motherwell and or Sevco visit after all they both have previous history of flare misuse.

  • john says:

    Hi lads , as an asthma sufferer i have stopped going to away games as these things could potentially kill me. I know others in the same position, but the young lads letting these things off need to think about their fellow supporters beside them. Merry Christmas one and all.

  • Windsor Tim says:

    Why do clubs have to pay for police and stewards if all they do is stand to one side and let a minority break the rules and or law then try to find them via cameras Their only solution seems to be ban everything and everyone

  • Andybhoy says:

    I really despair at some of the garbage I read on here these days. Does anyone really believe that banning flags is going to stop some moron setting off a flare or smoke bomb? Get real. There are more cameras, police and stewards monitoring the behaviour of fans than there has ever been, they could easily identify and ban these idiots whether there are flags being flown or not.

    And why only this particular fixture, why not all fixtures. The use of flares, smoke bombs and pyrotechnics has been widespread and not confined to one particular fanbase as we have seen on many occasions this season, if this was a genuine safety concern then it would not be confined to one fixture the ban would be rolled out across the board, and as that is not the case then it stinks of something more untoward.

    I know the singling out of a club and it’s fans when I see it and our club and it’s support are being directly targeted while the actions of the moronic elements at other clubs are blatantly being ignored even though they are engaging in exactly the same type of behaviour.

    A stunning display of double standards and hypocrisy by all who made this pathetic decision.

    Hail Hail.

    • Jack says:

      we cannot kid ourselves on that we are not far worse than other support for it

      We should have self policed this one as this was always going to be the outcome when those idiots would not listen to club officials, police and follow fans and continued to set off flares and smoke bombs the vast majority have no interest in

      We can rightfully point out Rangers fans should be the main target when it comes to targeting people singing songs they should not. Even though other teams do it too Rangers were clearly the main and worse culprits. We really should just hold our hands up on this one

      • Andybhoy says:

        Who’s kidding who Jack? If it’s all about safety and it’s not confined to one particular fanbase it is immaterial who the worst offenders are because it’s still taking place elsewhere and it’s still dangerous no matter who is doing it, if safety really is their objective here should those safety concerns not extend to other matches if they view it as such a serious issue. Maybe then all the idiots no matter who they support would get the message.

        Self policing? Aye that’s a great idea! Fans confronting other fans in the stands, is that not a major safety risk given the fact it could lead to crowd trouble and escalate out of control?

        This isn’t about holding our hands up, we know there is a problem with this sort of behaviour within our own support but it is not confined to us alone so to impose restrictions on one fanbase and not the rest devalues and undermines their whole argument that this ban is about safety.

        Whether it is flares and smoke bombs being set off, offensive banners being flown, or seats being damaged it only ever seems to be a major event that warrants the attention of the police, press and governing bodies when the Celtic support are involved. I’m not defending these actions I am asking for an even hand when dealing with them and press reporting on them. Is that what we are seeing? No! So spare me the bullshit that we can’t take umbrage with this ban because it is nothing more than a very deliberate and public attempt to collectively vilify our supporters and drag Celtic’s name through the mud once again.

        Hail Hail.

  • peter says:

    Andbhoy,well said.

    Jack,diagree re.self-policing ?
    Is this no Police Scotland’s job to monitor
    the 2% morons, in this CCTV world ?

    98% good Celtic fans do not need to put
    their hands up for anything.

    It’s a crass,OTT decision,attacking good
    Celtic fans.
    It’s sinister in nature (decision ), as it is
    discriminating against OUR fans and ONLY
    our fans.

    So,this is fair ??

  • richie says:

    The baws well and truly burst now. Unbelievable over the top knee jerk nonsense. If you’ve not bought a ticket I urge you to stay at home and hit St Johnstone in the pocket. Teams like them need us to fill their stadiums ,if we don’t go they’ll soon back down. Unfortunately I’ve already purchased tickets so I can’t practice what I preach ,but hope others stay away

  • Anthony Brannan says:

    You have a choice. Allow yourself to be dictated to by a shower of no mark fermers who know nothing about supporting a proper football club, OR, tell them to GTF and exercise your right to stay away.

    If no Celtic supporters attend, they’ll soon have a rethink.

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