Today’s Scotsman newspaper has decided to carry an article concentrating heavily on the fact that tomorrow’s Celtic-Rangers referee is a Religious Education teacher.
For any referee put in charge of the most volatile and contentious fixture in the Scottish game it is an anxious time as they come under the spotlight.
Highlighting an officials religion however is new ground but not untypical of the Scotsman who could hardly hide their contempt for Artur Boruc blessing himself before matches.
On one occasion they devoted their entire front page to a picture of Boruc blessing himself at Ibrox and produced a heavily critical editorial to the matter.
Turning to tomorrow’s match it’s Collum’s religion that is under scrutiny- can we expect the same depth of investigation into the religion of other referee’s given their first Celtic-Rangers fixture in future?
The Scotsman states: “It is more than a little ironic that a teetotal religious education teacher has been placed in charge of proceedings this weekend.
“Collum is employed as an RE teacher at Cardinal Newman High School in Bellshill. His faith even saw him feature in a Sunday newspaper earlier this year as, prompted by the kind of risible internet supporter conspiracy which still lays bare the worst elements of the Old Firm rivalry, he was forced to defend the small cross he has attached to his referee’s whistle.
“It’s because I’m a Christian person,” Collum was quoted as saying. “I don’t believe anyone could question my honesty. I’m stunned.”
It’s very doubtful that today’s article was instigated by a sports journalist, more likely someone in the news department wishing to delve excitedly into the matter.
It’s quite a common feature of so called quality newspapers to highlight issues then distance themselves by describing it as an internet matter or something that other newspapers have highlighted overlooking their own involvement.
Typical of this is rumour mill or transfer speculation round-ups which is basically bringing attention to stories that other newspapers have run with ie; stories that they failed to cover.
While Collum is the subject of today’s interest Artur Boruc is now employed in Florence where his pre-match ritual won’t be treated with the same high brow level of scorn that he encountered in Scotland.
In December 2006 The Scotsman turned their full attention on the Celtic keeper ignoring an incredible decision to deny Celtic a penalty when Neil Lennon was virtually chopped in half by Stevie Smith with Celtic leading 1-0 at the time.
“ARTUR Boruc, the Celtic goalkeeper, was at the centre of fresh controversy last night after blessing himself in front of Rangers supporters during yesterday’s Old Firm game,” wailed the Edinburgh based newspaper.
“Television footage showed the Polish internationalist making the sign of the cross as he walked towards his goal at the Copland Road end of Ibrox Stadium before the start of the second half,” The Scotsman continued highlighting an act witnessed in almost all continental football matches.
Hiding their own disapproval of Boruc behind others The Scotsman added: “Last night, a Rangers fans’ spokesman accused the Celtic goalkeeper of trying to incite the crowd by blessing himself during yesterday’s game – which ended 1-1 – and called on the Parkhead club to warn Boruc about his behaviour.
Any fans spokesman with those sort of views really needs to be questioned on what is so offensive about a person crossing themselves.
John Macmillan, the secretary of the Rangers Supporters Association, told The Scotsman: “In normal circumstances, there is nothing wrong with someone blessing themselves but in today’s environment, it is not advisable to do it at a football match.
“I was at the game and although I didn’t see him doing it, I did hear a roar from the Copland Road end before the start of the second half and it was pretty obvious what Boruc had done.
“A couple of the guys who get on my supporters’ bus said they had paid particular attention to him before the game started and they said he hadn’t blessed himself in front of the Celtic supporters. If that’s the case, you really have to ask why he did it at the Rangers end.”
Unfortunately factually incorrect but never mind, lets get on with the Boruc bashing.
McMillan added courtesy of The Scotsman: “These things shouldn’t really mean an awful lot, but if a player is out to provoke other fans, someone has to do something about it. It should be clamped down upon and it’s time the Celtic management advised him not to do this type of thing.”
Keeping the story going The Scotsman then decided to waste police time adding: “A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police would not comment on whether any supporters had complained about Boruc’s action. “No offence or crime has been committed,” she said.
Some sanity at last but The Scotsman wasn’t going to let that put them off adding: “A Celtic source insisted Boruc had blessed himself before both halves.
Finally in an attempt to bring some balance to their article they turned to Peter Kearney of the Catholic Church who told them: “It’s my understanding that it’s common practice for Artur Boruc to bless himself before the start of each half. We’re pleased with the reassurances we’ve had that blessing yourself is not deemed to be offensive in any way.”
It’s not known if the Polish Embassy, the European Union or the United Nations were asked for their thoughts on Boruc blessing himself in a backward little country.
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Typical Scottish media making a mountain out of a molehil and will only serve to add to the tension between fans.
It really doesn’t matter to me what the refs do as a job unless they’re a minister of a church who sings ‘simply the best’ to his congregation while wearing a big foam hand 😉
Stopped buying The Scotsman (after 30 years) when they attacked Artur Boruc. No surprise in their piece on Collum.
I hope he has a good game and both teams are treated fairly. Not too much to ask in a game of football, is it?
In my opinion partiality towards Rangers by the SFA has reached the point of ridiculous unsustainability. Something has to give. Time for action Celtic.
I’ll be at the game, confident that if we are fairly allowed to play the game, we’ll win; and optimistic we will win anyway, regardless of bias.
“They can’t chalk them all off!”
A wee bit disappointed that there is more column space here given to Artur’s ” blessing” …than the original reason for the article.
For a so called “quality” newspaper to get remotely involved in highlighting a person’s religion…especially in this context….is inexcuseable. It is gutter “journalism” at it’s best …and only serves to fan the flames of bigotry which are bad enough in this wee country.
I will conclude by confirming, however, …it’s not a surprise…some muck raking hack was going to do it…and it’s not a surprise that it’s the Scotsman….par for the course for this rag.
I really do wonder what the hootsmon finds ironic.
“I really do wonder what the hootsmon finds ironic.”
He educates people about different religions – Tomorrow the air will be full of religious intolerance.
He doesn’t drink – Tomorrow everyone will be half cut.
Maybe that’s what they find ironic, because…er…it is ironic.
Just read the Scotsman article and it was entirely appropriate to mention that the referee is a religious man – it’s a major aspect of his background. The referee has mentioned his religious background himself when being interviewed, it would be a bigger symptom of a broken society if the Scotsman had’nt mentioned it. Also I see absolutely nothing cynical about either this article or anything you have quoted from the Artur Boruc article.
It’s sites and articles like this that get us ridiculed as being paranoid when we have genuine reasons to be aggrieved, such as last Sunday vs Dundee Utd – not just some amateur journalist desperately trying to find anything to get offended about.
Ironically they appear to have altered the online article to drop any reference to the school. Embarrasing article at first. Highlighting Christian values is all very well but highlighting which religion and employers is ridiculous. Scotsman – expect anything else??
Mick Reid: Good job we live in a Democracy…where everyone has an opinion…eh??
Mick Reid – you seem to have missed the point – in the build-up to other matches, do we have articles that focus heavily on any other refs day job?
It is deplorable to see “The Scotsman” again, for the sake of mammon, seeking to exploit the sectarian nature of our society with regard to Willie Collum’s status as a Catholic RE teacher.
The reasons for Willie Collum’s selection must be that his appointment is broadly acceptable to both parties.
Rangers will be happy with his appointment as they have won the last nine games at which he has taken charge of, five of these wins coming away from home.
Celtic should also be reasonably happy with his appointment as they will have confidence in his fairness and know that we have won all eight previous home games that he has officiated in at Celtic Park.
Our only concern as regards his appointment must be that we have lost two of the last four games played which includes the Scottish Cup semi-final against Ross County, Celtic’s only domestic defeat under Neil Lennon.
Although two of these games were played away from home and one on neutral ground, on balance, I think Rangers should be the happier, as any psychological advantage from this, if any, would be in their favour.
20/12/09 Hearts 2-1 Celtic
24/01/10 St Johnstone 1-4 Celtic
10/04/10 Ross County 2-0 Celtic
11/09/10 Celtic 3-0 Hearts
I know someone who knows Mr Collum and he says he is a PE teacher, not an RE teacher.
Huge difference.