The Scotsman's sneering attack on Celtic and John Reid
In an editorial today, which could have been stitched together by listening to the comments of morons from a radio phone-in, the Morningside chin-strokers know exactly who to blame for the troubles in Scottish football.
It’s the club whose manager was attacked in their city on Wednesday night. The club whose manager has received bullets and bombs in the post. It’s the club whose supporters have earned UEFA and FIFA recognition for their behaviour and support.
The Scotsman is at it’s happiest criticising Celtic and is clearly uncomfortable with a club that doesn’t wish to cover up it’s Irish and catholic origins.
Having previously put a picture of Artur Boruc blessing himself over it’s front page alongside a sneering commentary there’s clearly an appetite for such material within the publication.
Earlier this season the same newspaper felt it worthy to highlight the fact that the referee in charge of the first Celtic-Rangers game of the season was an RE teacher in a catholic school- for good measure they virtually published the address of the school.
Stephen McGill recently squealed with horror at the discovery that the Archdiocese of Glasgow held shares in Celtc- even though they have been sold.
After setting the scene for tomorrow’s security arrangements at the Celtic and Rangers matches they really get into their side stating: “If this is to be the face of Scottish football, it is a deeply depressing prospect.
“No less depressing is the view that we are witnessing the surfacing of anti-Catholicism endemic across all walks of Scottish life.
“While sectarian violence and boorish behaviour are to be deplored, it is deeply inaccurate and inflammatory to suggest this is but one manifestation of more widespread hatred and intolerance of Catholics.
“The vast majority of Scots simply do not recognise their country in this caricature. Others may well see it as an attempt to deflect attention from the need for club officials to take responsibility
“But such is the extremity of thinking behind the assertion this is a problem for which all non-Catholics shoulder some blame, even attempts at reasoned denial are denounced as evidence of the depth of prejudice.
“Denial becomes evidence for the prosecution – maybe Celtic chairman John Reid hasn’t quite left his Communist days behind.
“Certainly, we must be vigilant in seeking to repel, isolate and eradicate sectarianism, but this is a symptom of wider social problems like the culture of drug and alcohol abuse and violence fed and fuelled at football grounds. Celtic cannot shrug off their responsibilities.”
Fortunately Celtic take their responsibilities- and the safety of their employees- very seriously.
With their daily circulation now under 40,000 that poisoned editorial could well be one of the last as the fading Edinburgh broadsheet drifts off into the sunset carrying the views from a time thankfully no longer tolerated.
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