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McGeady expects Tartan Army abuse

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Aiden McGeady Ireland newsAiden McGeady is expecting abuse from the Tartan Army when he faces Scotland as an Ireland player.

From his breakthrough at Celtic as a 17-year-old he was racially abused at virtually every ground in the country as the SFA paid lip service to their various anti-racism campaigns.

While the football authorities patted themselves on the back at media launches and photo opportunities racist football fans were given a free ride to target Glasgow born McGeady for playing for Ireland while the Scotland team was packed with players like Craig Makail-Smith, Nigel Quashie, Graham Alexander, Liam Bridcutt and Russell Martin.

The draw for the Euro 2016 qualifiers has put Scotland and Ireland together with McGeady expecting another night of abuse when the two teams meet on November 14.

“I’m expecting a bit of abuse from the Scotland fans,” the Everton midfielder told the Sunday Mail. “It’s also bound to happen to James ( team-mate McCarthy). I expect the verbal abuse will be worse if the game is played at Ibrox but I won’t let it bother me.

“I hope we can get off to a good start and aim for second place. We don’t really want a play-off as that could be a nightmare. There is a big chance for ourselves, Scotland and Poland to finish second.”

The group is bound to catch the imagination of Celtic fans with two former hoops managers going head to head in Martin O’Neill and Gordon Strachan with Roy Keane assisting O’Neill.

Ireland qualified for the last European Championships in 2012 while Scotland’s last appearance was in 1996 in England.

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0 comments

  • peter says:

    Excellent aricle,Joe.

    Front page of Sunday Mail today,Jordan
    Tapping on the racial abuse he has suffered.A disgrace.

    However did the media EVER highlight the
    racist and sectarain abuse Aidan suffered.
    Front page forget it.

    As you say Joe,did the authorities speak
    OUT about Aidan’s treatment ( to a lesser
    extent McCarthy ) ?

    An emphatic NO, to that one.

    In Scottish football, it is considered FAIR
    game,by the bigots,to verbally abuse ANY
    CELTIC PLAYER OF IRISH DESCENT.

    • peter says:

      I meant to say earlier,

      Comparisons can be made between Aiden’s ‘ treatment ‘,and that of Neil Francis Lennon,when he was in a NI shirt.

      Lenny was ‘ accepted ‘ as a good player,
      when he played for Northern Ireland.
      The minute he switched,to his beloved
      Celtic,the bigots were out in force ( forced
      out ) at Windsor Park.

      Like Aiden,the Celtic shirt seems to be,
      like a red rag to a bull,for these BIGOTS !!

  • Ciaran says:

    A certain amount of “abuse” is only to be expected. As an Irishman I would expect the same if the roles were reversed. However, the kind of vitriol Aiden received during his Celtic days is beyond what could be expected as banter. Many players choose to play for countries other than their birth country. As you point out in your article, it;s not unusual.
    Aidan made his decision as a young man, I thank him for that. Many others can’t accept this decision. It’s clear to see the country he chose brings out the worst in people. Shame on them.

  • edward says:

    The Protestant Establishment in Scotland does sometimes concern itself with racism,it depends on what you call Racism.They however, because of the Northern Irish Orange Protestant influx in the early 1900’s into to Scotland as a result of opening up of a Northern Irish Shipyard on the Clyde and the emergence of Rangers , feel that virulent hatred and bigotry of Catholics of Irish origin playing for Celtic is their duty and right as Orangemen and see no Racism in that at all.

  • vino says:

    The bigotry that is in Scotland and a so-called club in govan is so bad that toddlers are taught in the pram. Look at the scum NOW around govan,they are at WAR with themselves. HAIL HAIL THE CELTIC THE CHAMPIONS.

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