Martin O’Neill is amused but not surprised by the demands of some to play Scotland’s Euro 2016 qualifier with Ireland at Ibrox rather than Celtic Park.
Playing at a Champions League stadium that holds 10,000 more than a dilapidated lower division ground would seem the obvious choice but when it comes to anything Irish related there are always different though processes at play in Scottish football.
Social media, supporter websites and radio phone-in’s have provided a platform for some fans to ‘articulate’ their opposition to Ireland playing Scotland at Celtic Park.
Pushed to justify their thinking the reason usually given is ‘just because’ or ‘well you know what it’s like’.
O’Neill worked among that mentality for five years and isn’t surprised at the reaction from the hard of thinking to Ireland running out for a competitive international at Celtic Park.
Informed yesterday about opposition to playing at Celtic Park the Ireland boss responded asking: “Who wants it moving? Scottish fans? Do they but Gordon (Strachan) has also been manager at Celtic so I don’t know why they would want to shift it.”
Reminded about the potential for the SFA to bring in an extra £200,000 from the fixture at Celtic Park O’Neill added: “Exactly. And you know what the Scottish FA are like, same as us. Surely to heavens they would want extra money.”
Celtic Park will also be used as the venue for next weekends League Cup Final with Aberdeen about to receive additional tickets after selling out over 30,000 of their original allocation.
In the summer of 2012 SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster forecast Armageddon for the Scottish game as supporters rallied their clubs against parachuting a new club into the top flight after Rangers went into liquidation.
Whether it’s at Celtic Park or Ibro,x O’Neill is likely to give one of his greatest ever pre-match talk as he sends his side out to face the former employers of Hugh Dallas, Andy Davis and the current employers of Campbell Ogilvie and Sandy Bryson.
This Parkhead v ibrox argument could go on and on with opinions divided, To be honest Easy answer, Play it at Murrayfield, 68,000 means extra income and the atmosphere would be great.
Murrayfield is not a football stadia! Aye but the seats and surrounding are blue…lets be honest this is what this pathetic argument exists of
playing at murrayfield means that the extra income goes to the sru and not the sfa
I ask again, do,s that shithole Ipox have a safety certificate? Hh
No one but the media are stirring this pot with a large wooden spoon in a vague but nasty attempt to drive a wedge between the Scottish supporters and all things Irish and all things Celtic.
The Sevco supporters have bigger fish to fry so I can’t see them being too upset other than the loss of some of the loot and a chance to spew their bile once again at the green and white of Ireland were it to be played at Cathkin’s ibrox Park.
It’s a ‘no brainer’!
Think of the embarrassment to Scoddish Foodbaw if the game is played at the Crumbledome ;
Booing The Soldiers song, The Famine Song being belted out, Up to their knees etc etc – the whole vile repertoire would be there for all to hear.
The world would see Scotland for what it is.
Quite frankly your comment is bang out of order, As someone who along with Celtic supporting family and mates attended Scotland games for the last few years to suggest that these songs are sung at these games is nonsense.
LMAO ……don’t think the Tartan Army will be to impressed by those comments, where ever the game is played Ireland will get X% and I am sure the sale of tickets to home fans will be regulated as previous done …….
Joe,
I love your line,”…..dilapidated lower division ground ” Pure class.
In any other country,the most modern and biggest ground,would get the nod.
But Scotland ?
Those who protest,is down to Bigotry.
The majority of the Tartan Army would
love the game played at CP.
Whereas Sevco fans,tell you they can’t stand Scotland.And indeed sing a song,
” if you hate the Tartan Army clap your hands”
So,I am sure,the fans that count,the Tartan
Army,will gladly go to Celtic Park,with extra reinforcements.
With the bigots at Ibrokes,the furthest thing on their minds,on the day of the game.
First up..I’ve watched Rugby at Murrayfield….and the seating is worse than Hampden’s.
Unless you’re in the “side” stands….it’s not good for viewing….at all.
I can’t believe Celtic are going there for European ties.
As for the ROI playing at Ibrokes….??
Aye…that’ll be the day.
After they recently sung about how they hate Scotland fans at ibrox, it would be madness to play it there. It is a non-story made up by the msm to stir up hatred between the bigots and the Celtic fans. We all KNOW that most Celtic fans support Scotland but have a soft spot for ROI but the media like to run with Celtic fans all supporting Ireland.
Huge sad thing is that in Ireland a lot of people think the game will be rangers fans against Celtic fans. They don’t realise that the ex- Huns are Scotland haters.
What about this reason for NOT playing the match at CELTIC PARK..and opting to play at
ayebrokies…stop sniggering now…..FANFARE…IT IS CLOSEST TO THE AIRPORT..
The hunnery is not fit for international football
jb byrne,
You were not wrong with gunnery either.
Each year they bring the BIG GUN out at
soldier’s day.
How very sad.
The Game SHOULD be played at Celtic Park, this would prove beyond any doubt, just exactly who the BIGGOTS ARE in Scotland, apart from the Financial benefit, the decision was probably made on the Health & Safety point, if ibrokes IS broke, then it should STAY broke until they cut Mcmoist’s wages in order to repair it, let them whistle and boo as much as they like, they dig their Hole deeper…..VOTE YES & Hail-Hail.