Paul Lambert has delivered a magnificent testimonial to the Celtic support while many sections of the media literally put the boot into the hoops fans.
The joint attack on Celtic fans in Amsterdam, orchestrated by Ajax hooligans and local police ‘intelligence’ produced shocking scenes on Wednesday afternoon as innocent fans were attacked from all directions in the Dutch city.
Celtic fans were unaware whether they were being attacked by Ajax fans or undercover cops with one beige jacketed thug seen to be leading the assaults on supporters- popping up on various video clips showing the full force of the Dutch in action.
There has been little backing given to the Celtic support with the state broadcaster, Radio Scotland, allowing one pundit to liken the scenes to Manchester 2008 unchallenged.
Passing sentence on Rangers fans in 2010 Judge Andrew Blake said: “The riot police were deployed in full riot gear and struggled to contain the trouble and restore order.
“What followed was the worst night of violence and destruction suffered by Manchester city centre since the blitz.”
At his media conference on Friday Neil Lennon highlighted similar problems that Manchester United and Manchester City fans had experienced in Amsterdam with his former team-mate Lambert also backing the reputation of the hoops support.
“I played for many years at Celtic and I never encountered any bother,” the Aston Villa boss stated.
“I played in the UEFA Cup final and we took over maybe 80-90,000 to Seville and there was not one arrest while we were there.
“Knowing the club and the fans the way I do, I find it incredible (what has happened). I’m not sure they would have started anything.
“I know there was trouble in the first game at Parkhead and it might have spilled over from that.
“But if you look at Celtic over the past 30 years there has not been one bit of bother.
“So I would disagree with anybody thinking the Celtic fans would go out looking for trouble when they never do it.”
Celtic fans were given Fair Play awards by FIFA and UEFA in 2003 with 60,000 fans turning out for a charity match earlier this year to support former Celtic and Villa midfielder Stan Petrov.
FACEBOOK PAGE to free Padraig Mullen jailed in Amsterdam for getting attacked by undercover Dutch thugs in plain clothes.
CLICK HERE for Facebook page to free Andy Vance stuck in an Amsterdam jail due to plain clothes thugs in Amsterdam police force.
I have watched the video of the cowardly attack On a Celtic fan by 4 or 5 alledgedly Officers of the law!! I say alledgedly because no Police officer anywhere in the civilised world would be allowed to punch kick and basically assault a man who could not defend himself by being so out numbered by yobs who where not dressed as Policemen I believe that Celtic Football Club should be actively pursueing who these people where and if it turns out they are policemen Ask what has to come of the assault on a defenceless man Guilty or Not Guilty
Cheers Lambo!
Celtic FC really need to step up their defence of the fans being held in Holland and if necessary pay for lawyers to defend them.
Agree completely Joe.
The cub has to pursue this to the last, Peter Lawell and the board need to stand up for the club and our fans and not allow this to go unchallenged. We cannot allow the reputation of our club and it’s fans to be dragged into the gutter by the disgusting behaviour of a bunch of degenerate thugs masquerading as Dutch police or those vile scum who call themselves Ajax supporters.
I would urge all Celtic fans to bombard UEFA with any video or photographic evidence they might have and not allow this to be portrayed as merely fan violence but to show it for what it was, orchestrated attacks on Celtic fans by both the Dutch police and Ajax hooligans.
If that’s the way the police operate in Amsterdam then UEFA shouldn’t allow games to take place in that city. They are not only putting the safety of travelling supporters at risk by doing so but are condoning the despicable actions of Dutch police who seem to act more like an extremely violent gang of football casuals who are no better than the scumbag hooligans of Ajax they failed to control.
I agree with Paul Lambert and the other comments on here. The Dutch did everything they could to start trouble, and eventually, they got some.
Totally agree with above comments that the club must do everything on its power to defend these lads and get them back home ASAP! Also get the vermin masquerading as “police” prosecuted!
I agree with Paul and most of the sentiment above.
As for the wreakage in Manchester where there was the attempted murder of two police officers, a fact confirmed by Superintendent Wessel (sp) and a Russian supporter stabbed INSIDE O.T., our situation was the complete polar opposite with shots fired through windows at Celtic supporters, including small children and CCTV footage of ajax cowardly scumbags attacking Celtic supporters sitting well behaved in a cafe with baseball bats that, unlike the ‘sticks’ Celtic supporters has been accused of using, most certainly never ‘appeared out of thin air’.
HH