Over forty-eight hours after broadcasting anti-catholic hate songs BBC Scotland have finally acknowledged the matter.
Rather than take the lead and confront the issue the state broadcaster has passed on the half-hearted apology issued by the football company.
An hour after the club issued their statement the BBC announced: “Rangers have condemned fans who took part in “inappropriate singing” during Monday’s victory over Hibernian.
“Describing them as a minority, the Ibrox club have vowed to assist Police Scotland in identifying the culprits.”
Just like at the League Cup semi-final in February, also broadcast live by the BBC without any comment or apology, ‘The Billy Boys’ was chanted by thousands of supporters. At a conservative estimate on Monday it sounded like at least 15,000 fans were joining in to celebrate the acts of Billy Fullarton.
In 2006 after intervention from UEFA the song was banned by the SFA although it is regularly heard at away grounds including Hampden Park without any punishment being applied.
According to the statement ‘The Club will assist Police Scotland in identifying those responsible for the unacceptable behaviour on Monday.’
With over 30,000 season ticket holders and CCTV coverage of the match identification should be fairly straightforward.
While most broadcasters and news outlets covered the story on Tuesday after the Press Association released a statement from the SPFL the BBC body-swerved the issue.
Earlier this season BBC reporter Chris McLaughlin had his media facilities withdrawn for commenting on the arrest of Sevco fans at Easter Road.
That incident triggered a brief stand off between the broadcaster and the football company before Sevco announced: “FOLLOWING a meeting with the BBC the media privileges of Chris McLaughlin have been reinstated.
“Rangers has received assurances from the BBC that their reporting of Rangers; affairs will be balanced.”
As they wait to be prompted from Ibrox to cover the story it appears that the attitude of the BBC is as much a part of the problem as the catholic hating chants of thousands of supporters at Ibrox.
CLICK HERE to read of the silence of the BBC.
A Half Hearted Apology is NO APOLOGY AT ALL
It’s always a minority guessing they are pretty thick when comes doing the Maths can’t Coont
As usual the same action will be taken – none.! And as only a small number were they must have very powerful voices as it sounded like it must have been at least 10 to 15 thousand of them. But once again the BBC stick their head in the sand and say nothing. Are sevco now also trying to run the whole country. For goodness sake they are only a first division team. (Now called championship). This song is sung at every game sevco take part in. Where are the people with the camera`s that are at every Celtic game??? Does the Glasgow police not film the sevco`s support? Is that because they (the police) are in the crowd but as supporters! Now that sounds so much more likely.
I seem to recall Pat Nevin being quick to condemn the Celtic support when any Irish rebel songs were heard and how disgusted he was ,and that he distanced himself from the club as he was ashamed. Maybe he and his ilk Neil Mccann can condemn all of these scum . I will wait a long time for these media people to do what is right for they have no backbone, they think they own the moral highground. This song is banned by EUFA, no?? , they have already had special dispensation and they want everyone to move on. Sorry not on my watch!!
TIME TO TELL bbc SHOVE THERE ORANGE LICENSE UP THERE ARSE ? AND TELL sfa NO BHOYS IN HAMPDEM TILL THIS ANTI-IRISH PROBLEM FROM ONE SECTION OF OR COMMUNITY IS ERADICATED FROM THE BEAUTIFUL GAME ?
REMEMBER WE KNOW THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY NEED US MORE THAT WE NEED THEM REMEMBER ? HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERY BHOY AND GHIRL AND THERE FAMILY HH
Why if you are irish and living in England are you getting so upset about things in Scotland. Every celtic away game is exactly the same with the said MINORITY joining in. I’m not condoning the singing but FFS get a life.
Found myself in the old BBC in Queen Margaret Drive on the morning after our defeat in Seville. Never saw so many smiling faces. I like to think of them as the BB( no R) C. It was ever thus. Just ask them where the 7-1 footage went.
“Rangers has received assurances from the BBC that their reporting of Rangers’ affairs will be balanced”
Rangers have received nothing BUT balanced reporting, even way beyond bigoted reporting. Does that mean the BBC now have been threatened to report any ‘wrongdoing’ the the Glasgow Celtic supporters? “Aye, but what about the…” as the schweinabauers (pig farmers) point the finger elsewhere. ” “As long as you report about us you better report about them…”. Seems to be the jist of the threat.
All the Celtic Supporters buses and supporters affiliations need to come together en masse to demand from Peter Lawell, the S.F.A., B.B.C and others final and complete explanation as to why nothing is being done. If they don’t get it, stage a peaceful and public demonstration attracting the attention of European and Atlantic based media highlighting a global wide anti Catholic agenda stemming from the backward backwoods of the south side of Glasgow. This is where the story starts and ends. Show them to the world, shame them out of existence and render them and their fans a pariah to the nations.
Contrary to the squeeks from a St. Mirren football fan(ny) (St.Mirren? Football? In the same sentence?), religion only matters to Sevco, not to Celtic, the club who embrace ALL people- after all, why build a statue and name a supporters trust after the ‘legend’ who stated ” there is no Catholic good enough to play for Rangers”….good enough to win 1 more European Cup than the ex-football team from Govan.
Long live decency, honesty and integrity.
They let their club die ! Dead cheats
Joe,
This is an old tale everyone and i mean everyone at Celtic know that our National Broadcaster the B.B.C. Scotland that bastion of equality and diversity are a shower of bigoted pricks, but what do our club Celtic do about it?
Nothing, we continually take every bit of shit from everybody and nothing, not a peep,never a word said or if it is we never hear a thing,they can take seriously quick action against the fans if they step out of line,but everyone else who takes a pop at us,Nothing.
It makes you wonder whos side are they on?
Is it any wonder that the fans are feeling seperated from the Board,that IMHO is bad very bad business, we are your customers FFS, stand up for us .
The ref should stop the game when these chants are heard and a warning given. If they are chanted again within hearing distance then the game should be abandoned and awarded to the opposing team. I think that would shut them up.
a thought uefa told sevco that b4 every game they had to announce on tannoy no sectarian singing b4 during n after match,,ad love them to pull them n the spfl for disobeying an order,,then of course they would say that was the old club as theyre defence n seen their deed n were the tribute act you canny do us,,,if only,,,ah well here,s hoping they sign the lad crooks fi real accrington,,,crooks 54,,,