Celtic chairman Ian Bankier has made a statement to explain comments made during the Question and Answer session at the club’s AGM.
Responding to a question about the suitability of Tory peer Ian Livingston on the board of directors Bankier used the terms criminally racist and criminally abusive.
Some shareholders called for those comments to be retracted with fans on social media alarmed at the quotes from the club chairman.
In a bid to clarify the context of those comments Bankier issued a statement on the club website saying: “I would like to thank all our shareholders and supporters who attended today’s AGM. As ever, we enjoyed a healthy exchange of views and yet again it was fantastic to see the passion for all that is going on around our great Club.
“Already there has been some media coverage of my comments relating to Ian Livingston and his proposed re-appointment and much of it has been wildly exaggerated and taken totally out of context.
“I have not branded our supporters racist and it is outrageous to suggest that I would ever do that. I was only referring to a small number of specific comments which have been made on social media, which I believe are unacceptable, and I know Celtic supporters would agree with me.
“Celtic supporters are the lifeblood of the Club and I am delighted to say the best in football, with the best of values. I thank everyone again for attending today’s AGM to express their views.”
Surely the place for dealing with criminal or racist comments is to tackle them individually through Police Scotland rather than allowing it to dominate the agenda after the AGM.
Joe………..A utter disgrace the ” criminally racist” comment by Bankier!
He should make a full unreserved apology or better still resign.
The so called media are already all over these remarks, Bankier then has to “clarify” through an official Celtic statement, another prat on the board who has just put a dark shadow on the club…….stupid comment in the extreme, the other half are already purring over these statements
HH
Swiss, I don’t give a toss about the ‘other side’ or the msm. What I give a toss about is the scum we have running the club and the sheer disdain they are now treating the lifeblood of the club. Time for change, these people need to be removed asap.
henk………..you know what……you are right, time for change and they do have disdain for
the lifeblood of the club,…………especially Bankier!
HH
F-cking capitalists one and all. Rid them. Not be back. Hh
Shameful comments from a man sticking up for his mate and sticking fingers up at some of our support. Losing faith in our board
I would like to know if the “criminally racist” slur was part of a prepared speech? Or was it just a rant? He does also appear to have taken a much softer tone when dealing with the SCUM smsm this afternoon, than he did shareholders, just a few hours earlier. Somehow I’ve got a feeling he’ll quite proud of his days work. “You showed them Ian, you showed them”. HH
We have to decide what kind of club we want, the whites and kellys were no different and wee fergus made a healthy profit.
We are fortunate that we have a support that is well clued up on the goings on at the club.It’s a business first now and we either buy into it with all that goes with it or we demand change.
Although I believe that we do pay at least the minimum wage “why not sign up to it then”but having a tory peer that supports taking money off celtic supporters and football fans in general never mind the general population is beyond the pale.We the fans need a effective voice on the board to express what the season ticket holders the merchandise buyers really want as was stated at today’s agm we are the lifeblood.
There is so much wrong happening at Celtic, in boardroom and dugout!
Sad really!
The comments were a disgrace, Livingston on the board is a disgrace and paying one man a million pound a year while refusing to pay the living wage is a total disgrace.
The clowns running the club are as bad as the ones who run the country, they live in another world who think we are here for them in stead of the other way about.
The club has lost its soul and Brother Walfrid would be ashamed of what we have now
I knew Bankier would issue a statement through official club channels after his disgraceful statement today, exactly the same as Lawwell did when he claimed Celtic FC had absolutely no link, historical or otherwise with Ireland on TV only to “clarify” his view through a club press release later.
Pathetic mealy mouthed cretins, the pair of them.
The fact that in 2 consecutive years Lawwell’s wage has risen whilst our squad is weakened to cover the cost of non Champions League qualification whilst the club refuses to sign up to paying the Living Wage is appalling.
In no way, in the boardroom, through initiatives, in the dugout or on the pitch does what’s going on at Parkhead represent what Celtic FC should be.
Bankier is a cretinous, Livingstone a Tory spiv and Lawwell an aggressive insulting non entity.
As for Deila, said I would give him a chance and would gladly accept being proven wrong in summer 2014, but the man is tactically inept and he and Collins have the motivational skills of an undertaker.
Still, Kilmarnock tomorrow, can’t wait …………
People earning millions from Celtic telling people that they won’t pay them all a wage that affords them basic dignity. Shameless capitalists
The board are a disgrace. This is worse than the 90s. Fleecing the fans and if we challenge them they pull the racist card on a club that has been subjected to racism over the years. Disgrace
Bankier says that Celtic welcome people of all races, religions and political stripes. Apparently this DOESN’T include at least 10,000 fans who disagree with his opinions, as they’re classed as “criminally racist”.
Mind you, no doubt the board will continue to happily accept money from these “criminally racist” fans, in the form of payment for tickets and merchandise.
The sad truth is that Celtic are no longer a football club. They’re strictly a business whose sole purpose is to fleece fans who mistakenly believe the board share their enthusiasm and love of what was once a proud football club. Unfortunately, that club has returned to the Kelly era economics and is now looked upon once again by the chosen few, as simply a cash cow to be milked at will.
not from this “criminal racist” any more…………………………..
maybe someone can explain to me why its ok for livingstone to be a political vehicle with the blessing of the board but if the fans raise any issues then we’re told not to use the club for expressing political views . it is because of people like livingstone that we have to have a collection for food banks . I know the supporters will be generous as always and Bro. Walfred will smile on us , God Bless and H.H.
I rarely feel the need to comment on any social media regarding Celtic off field matters, however i seriously worry about the kind of people running our beloved club and the direction they are taking us. I recently signed the petition for the removal of Lord Livingston along with thousands of others. Like most Celtic fans i would imagine the thought of having a Lord in board room was bad enough but one that voted for further austerity cuts is just sickening. The statement released from bankier is a complete climb down. This board genuinely think as Celtic supporters that this will just blow over and the cattle will just move to a different pastures. The battle for the heart and soul of Celtic is under way and as long as Celtic board fail to understand that a large chunk of fans fundamentally disagree with having unelected Lords representing our ‘interests’ then the closer they move towards a real split between board and supporters. The ideals and ethos of Celtic as a club are being washed away as we watch insipid football on the pitch and all the time being told by people like Bankier that ”We play football and we are good at it” These people need a wake up call.
S A C K T H E B O A R D
Bankier is a thoroughly unpleasant character. His remarks are completely offensive. I’m not surprised. During an address at the annual AICSC dinner dance in 2014 he referred to his family’s Irish connection. Some close relative who had visited Ireland in his capacity as a member of the British Army. Talk about contempt for an audience. He should go and take his Tory friends with him. He is not welcome at our club.
they should take their butchers apron over to the dead cheats gaff where they belong
I feel sick at this. Clearly Livingstone has no place in a Marist Brother founded club. That should be obvious to everyone.
But to have Bankier call us, or any of us, criminally racist is beyond the pale.
His explanatory statement fails to explain what was criminally racist in his ivory towered mind.
If you despise us so much Bankier please feel free to divest yourself from our family.
You can make money at our expense.
You can dine out as the king of your kingdom.
You can claim to be the bastion of all things Celtic.
But you can not call us racist.
Resign.
I read the comment saying we are grateful to Lord Livingston for the time and effort he puts into the club, I am sure he does it for free then, what tosh we do not want tories who are a classless society and look out for only themselves and others above the medium income theshhold
i honestly “fear” that we are heading back to “pre Fergus” times…. the arrogance and narrow mindedness of the people in charge is absolutely totally frightening !!!