Poppy causes problems among Celtic supporters

Phil Mac Giolla Bhain

The annual Remembrance Day commemoration of Britain's war dead has led to a bitter row between Celtic FC and a section of their supporters.

The Association of Irish Celtic Supporters' Clubs (AICSC) issued a statement earlier in the week condemning the decision of Celtic to support the Poppy Scotland charity appeal and the fact that the first team squad would wear the poppy during the match against Motherwell at Celtic Park on 8 November.

"We are disappointed at this decision [apparently taken without consultation with supporters' groups] in light of [how] the poppy is seen as a more divisive symbol in Ireland where many Celtic supporters are based ... Many ... have wholly negative views of the British army's operations in Ireland."

Celtic was the only club in Scotland to opt for a minute's applause as opposed to the traditional minute's silence. This choice was offered to all clubs by the Scottish Premier league. Many in Scottish soccer believe that Celtic elected for this option as they feared that the traditional minute's silence would not be observed by all.

Some supporters walked out of the match after 10 minutes as part of a pre-planned protest. Its organiser, Stephen McAleese, 45, a civil servant from Glasgow, told the Sunday Tribune: "TAL Fanzine, Green Brigade and local republican support group Cairde Na hEireann – under the umbrella of Celts Against Imperialism – decided to leaflet all sides of the stadium before last Saturday's match."

McAleese claimed that up to 500 had taken part in the walk-out protest with many congregating outside the main entrance chanting slogans against the British Army and Celtic chairman and ex-cabinet minister Dr John Reid. He also claimed the club had taken revenge on some protestors a few days later at the midweek Kilmarnock match.

"Approximately 32 young Celtic supporters were ejected from the area of the ground where the Green Brigade ultras normally gather. Those with season tickets had them confiscated and some were told that they were being ejected and banned from the stadium for participating in last Saturday's protest, which they were informed Celtic PLC finds 'unacceptable' ... We are discussing the possibility of taking collective legal action against the PLC board for the way that they bullied some of our youngest supporters out of Celtic Park."

The club claims the ejections were over sitting in the wrong seats: "These ejections were completely unrelated to last Saturday's match." Despite attempts to solicit an answer to McAleese's allegations, the club was unavailable for further comment.

November 16, 2008

Comments

#1 Frank commented, on November 17, 2008 at 10:49 a.m.:

Yes, possibly 500 people took part in the demonstration against the imperialist war monger Reid and his decision to foist a minute's applause on the Celtic support. Phil omits to mention that upwards of (at the very least), a thousand supporters simply refused to enter the ground until the 'kick off'; others made the decision (like myself) to refuse to attend the game lest they be compromised by showing support for British imperialism. Apart from that it was the most pathetic weakest minute's applause I have ever heard at a football match. Also, by all accounts, there was very few people in Celtic Park wearing poppies.

#2 Aonghas O'Cathian commented, on November 17, 2008 at 11 a.m.:

Well done to Celtic for kicking these knuckle draggers out of Parkhead. The embarrassing spectacle that is an Old Firm derby only goes to highlight the 400 years old mentality most of these fans have.
I for one wore my poppy with pride.

#3 Kevin Kelly commented, on November 17, 2008 at 12:18 p.m.:

As a life long supporter of Celtic and a member of the Royal Marines both of which I am very proud - I found the whole spectacle of these so-called "supporters" once again draging the name of Celtic into the mud for political ends a digusting pantomine!
These "supporters" should be banned for life as they have no interest in football or the long-term reputation of a great club.
The only thing they did was underline their petty bigotted, racist attitudes to the club they allegedly support and the great country we live in. They brought shame to Celtic and to Scotland!

#4 croppy commented, on November 17, 2008 at 1:46 p.m.:

So Kevin, wearing your blood-stained poppy in Celtic park isn't political? Catch yourself on

#5 William commented, on November 17, 2008 at 1:58 p.m.:

As a Rangers supporter, I find the views of Kevin and Aonghas refreshing and honest. Frank and Phil, you live in a world that has long gone....and both of you and Mr McAleese, a Glasgow civil servant, should all be ashamed of yourselves...
We at Rangers have a lot of idiots too, but there are those of us who just wish to enjoy the football and at Old Firm matches have a bit of friendly rivalry with our Celtic counterparts. In many homes in Glasgow and beyond, there are supporters of both clubs. My niece is a rabid Rangers supporter, her husband equally committed to Celtic, but they are still married. These 'scum of the earth' supporters on both sides, should be rooted out and banished from the terraces and the stands of these two great clubs, for ever. The quicker the better.

#6 John D commented, on November 17, 2008 at 7:32 p.m.:

Aonghas and Kevin, you are well within your rights to wear your poppy. However, many people feel quite strongly about the meaning of the poppy and therefore were disgusted at the thought of our proud hoops being tarnished with a British symbol of war.
Being forced to wear it contravenes the very rights and freedoms which we are told our heroes fought for. As an Irishman and lifelong Celtic supporter who is committed to tackling bigotry and racism, I am insulted that you can label me as a knuckle dragging racist bigot. Also, I will not applaud or hold a minutes silence for soldiers who have butchered my country and its people for a century right up until very recently.If British people were asked to hold a minutes silence and wear an Easter lily for the Irish who have died fighting their imperialism, I'm sure there would be an outcry right up to the highest level. I was well within my rights to protest against the poppy at Celtic and I wish those who seem to have taken the moral high ground on this issue would just accept that I do not hold the same opinions as them and not try to demonise me as someone who is stuck in the past with outdated views. Iraq and Afghanistan are very much here and now. Just think of the hundreds of thousands of innocents dead in Iraq before you pin on your poppy next year!

#7 Darrell commented, on November 18, 2008 at 9:10 a.m.:

These Irish Republicans (of the Mugabe type mentality) enjoy the freedoms to protest because the British army fought and died for those freedoms. If Hitler had won the war these people would be very happily wearing the swastica very proudly.

#8 JohnMcC commented, on November 19, 2008 at 12:28 p.m.:

My grandfather was a proud Irishman, a soldier and a Celtic supporter. What Phil, Frank etc seem to forget is that a lot of Irish regiments also fought, and died in both wars and are remembered along with millions of others who fought for the very freedom to post on this website. Phil et al need to take an (old) firm grip of their arses and drag them into the 21st century.

#9 DANNY DUBLIN commented, on November 19, 2008 at 8:53 p.m.:

AS A LIFELONG MEMBER OF THE CELTIC SUPPORTERS CLUB IN D15 LET THE 500 SO-CALLED REPUBLICANS GO AWAY AND TAKE A HUGE BITE OUT OF THE WISE UP SANDWICH.IT TOOK ME 20 YEARS TO EDUCATE SILLY DUBS THAT CELTIC ARE A BRITISH CLUB SO IF THEY HATE THE BRITS SO MUCH START SUPPORTING THE ROVERS WHO ARE 100% IRISH. REMEMBER THEY FLEW THE GERMAN SWASTIKA FLAG OVER THE GPO IN DUBLIN IN 1946 - POOR IRAQIES POOR JEWS

#10 John D commented, on November 19, 2008 at 11 p.m.:

Can you lot read? When will you listen to the fact that this protest had nothing to do with two world wars? This is about Britain invading a country for its own ends and sacrificing the usual working class cannon fodder while the ones who gain are out on their horses chasing foxes for a little sport. The poppy has been hijacked to classify ALL British soldiers as heroes to be remembered. Just more abuse of power by the wealthy.

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