Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond has defined sectarianism as hating other people.
Salmond was speaking at Hampden yesterday at the launch of a 40 point action plan produced by the Joint Action Group that was assembled earlier this year after three Rangers players were sent off in a Scottish Cup defeat to Celtic.
After four years in power where little or no attention was paid to the problem of sectarianism the populist Salmond is keen to be seen to be taking action despite his Justice Minister, Kenny MacAskill, going on record to praise the behaviour of supporters during the League Cup Final in March during which sectarian chants were broadcast without comment from the BBC.
Salmond explained: “I hope there won’t be another season like the last one. There is a ‘screw the nut’ element to this which all decent fans understand. I don’t want to take passion out of football or badges of identity but sectarianism is hating other people.
“The future of Scottish football is at stake and we’re all culpable.
“I’ve been in power for four years and you might say that it was a minority government etc etc – and some of the reactions to the proposed legislation indicates why you need to be in a strong position with these things.
“I agree that we should all have dealt with it sooner but sometimes in any situation things need to come to a head before you get a consensus for action.”
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No Alex, Sectarianism is hating other people because of their Religion!
The last four words are very very important
You are wrong Mr Salmond, you are not in power your party is.
Idiot !!!
who votes for these idiots?
Very nice of Mr Salmond to re-write the meaning of the word. I hate people who snore (loudly) on planes, does that make me guilty of sectarianism ?
I am actually quite worried that someone with such an opinion is running the country.
I opened a bag of crisps last week ..and wee Alex turned up for it…..
seriously, this publicity seeking idiot needs to be told where to go….
” I agree it should have been dealt with sooner”….
like over 100 years ago when ” we arra peeepul” sprung up…Alex.
the only reason it’s being discussed now …is thanks to the Internet and Celtic Forums making big noises about it.Before this a sycophantic Scottish Media kept it under wraps and the Establishment carried on regardless…
Well those days are gone Mr.Salmond …we have a voice now…and you’ll keep on hearing it …until you TRULY listen….
Oh and tell MacAskill as well…another dumplin’.
A ‘Screw the nut’ element… Such eloquence, could he not have researched a better metaphor before this interview. How much of a ‘head’ should things come to before action is sought, heads should roll imo.
Assault, bullets in the post, bombs in the post, death threats, criticism from other nations, from football’s governing bodies, various fines for sectarian singing at European matches, not to mention dismissal of a refereeing official for his unsavory antics.
I guarantee there will be a heavy handed approach and a lot of innocent fans caught up as they cast their net on the so called perpetrators and as they are seen to be FAIR…
My neighbour is an ignorant rude scumbag who talks to his wife and kids like they are pieces of s#it and is a cowardly little rat of a man, I HATE him! so am I a bigot?
bhoylondon67:…of course you’re not….
but give him a slap for me please….
What a clown. And to think this man heads the party which runs Scotland. Thank fekk I live overseas and don’t have to listen to this muppet’s rantings on a daily basis.
To date I’ve yet to hear or read any comment from Salmond regarding the huns being fined on numerous occasions for bigotry. As usual, we’re tarred with the same brush as they are by a useless politician on a very cynical vote garnering campaign.
Hopefully anyone with half a brain who actually voted for this clown will now have the common sense to use their vote to get him as far away from government as is possible.
Everybody hates somebody so the world is sectarian. This problem will never be resolved if they avoid it with remarks like this.
All Salmond is doing is dragging Celtic into it yes we hate Rangers and Hearts but not because they are Scottish, British or anything else. They hate us for our associated religion and ties with Ireland that’s sectarian Mr Salmond- how can a Celtic man vote for SNP is beyond me