Celtic stepped into the murky water of political banners and protests with a statement tonight condemning support for Palestine at Saturday’s match against Kilmarnock.
It read:
Banners displayed in a section of Celtic Park prior to Saturday’s game do not represent the views of Celtic Football Club and we disassociate ourselves from them. We condemn the display of such messages at Celtic Park.
Celtic is a football club and not a political organisation. One of our core values from inception is to be open to all regardless of race, colour, politics or creed. That is why the Club has always made clear that political messages and banners are not welcome at Celtic Park, or any match involving Celtic. At a time of loss and suffering for many, it is entirely inappropriate for any group of individuals to use Celtic Park as a vehicle for such messages.
We call on all supporters, regardless of their personal views, to unite in backing our players and the Club while respecting the rights and beliefs of others; particularly those whose lives are affected by violence and hatred.
Fair enough if Celtic want to distance themselves from the banners. But the line “political messages and banners are not welcome at Celtic Park” just seems hypocritical when they play Let The People Sing, This Land Is Your Land, Grace & Bella Ciao etc over the PA system. ?????
— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) October 9, 2023
In the real world it is impossible to separate sport and politics, last season Russia were expelled from the World Cup qualifiers with Russia clubs excluded from UEFA competitions over the last two years which has boosted the Scottish co-efficient.
Celtic were formed in 1887, playing their first match in May 1888 and were strongly linked with Irish home rule from their earliest days.
It is unusual for sports reporters to stray into the grounds of politics, Joseph is a London based Celtic fan that is usually fairly close to the story in terms of Celtic transfers and stories.
CLICK HERE for Celtic statement.
For once, our Board should have done what it is really good at: kept quiet.
As for politics in football, yes:
Ukraine is invaded / oppressed by Russsia,
and FIFA & UEFA are tripping over themselves to display their support for Ukraine
and their displeasure with Russia.
Palestine is invaded with more illegal settlements / opressed by Israel,
…and it’s just :tumbleweed: from FIFA & UEFA.
And regardless of the OTT, UK MSM bias:
it’s everybody’s individual right to decide who they see as the oppressor,
and who deserves our support.
Now Chairman Lawwell can see – and comment on – banners,
yet he ‘failed’ to read that 5 Way Agreement email he received…?! 🙁
according to col douglas mcgregor , the russians living in the donbass , crimea for 100s of years were forbidden to speak russian and their children were schooled in ukranian , he said that the russians were not treated like 2nd class citizens , but third class , th e russians are oppressing no one , they annexed the russian populated areas and to stop nato setting up on its borders , the west annexed kosovo without a murmur from the serbs because albanian muslims out bred the serbs , that was a different kind of oppression i suppose ,
I’m not gonna lie – I don’t know anything about that conflict between Palestine and Israel and I simply just haven’t watched the news for three years now as it’s just too depressing…
But I cannot help hearing an hourly news bulletin on the radio as I chill out to music so much of the time –
But I VERY VERY MUCH want independence for Scotland and Ireland to be United, Gaelic, peaceful and free…
That’s why I was GUTTED with the result of The Rutherglen & Hamilton West by-election and a Butchers Apron supporting party taking the seat –
I’ll be honest – In the old Jungle days I sang ‘political’ songs as much as the rest of ma fellow Hoops supporters but not so much in The new Paradise but every pub after games when I was going I certainly gave the freedom songs laldy !
Ireland will eventually be united , there is no doubt about that now , the irish cleverly gave up their claim to the 6 counties in their constitution in exchange for a border poll , the majority in the 6 counties are now the nationalist natives , and not the settlers ,
I have never known the Political system here to be so weak!
Sometimes I wonder if who you vote for makes any difference at all.
Keeping the status quo is all politicians want because clearly that is all they are capable of understanding. No grass roots association seems capable of changing things by themselves.
So Celtic plc Board has made a mistake by disassociating themselves from the views of their supporters.
They have laid themselves wide open to ridicule from the very people who keep them going!