CELTIC had other things in their mind this week to get too heavily involved in the sectarian story that is dominating Scottish football after Kilmarnock’s club captain and then manager spoke out after coming in for sectarian abuse in last Sunday’s game at Rugby Park against Celtic and then on Wednesday against the Rangers at Ibrox.
Putting the frustrations of exiting the Europa League to one side, the Celtic manager gave his thoughts on what has been happening and how it can negatively affect the Scottish game.
Any politicians are circling once again – fresh from licking their own wounds concerning the abolition of the Offensive Bahaviour at Football Act, they see the supporters shooting themselves in the foot and they sense blood.
There is a pathetic statement released today by Club 1972 the co-owners and fans group over in Govania.
But just like the club the support has had Valencia as the top priority this week.
Now that’s put to bed we need to ask ourselves, as a support, what we are going to do about these songs?
We have said this already on The Celtic Star several times this week, starting on Sunday after the game, that the chants directed at Boyd damaged Celtic and were wrong.
We suggested “You Let Your Club Die” and “ Who Ate All The Pies” would have passed as acceptable banter to noise him up.
The Cheer Up song, which had been heard at Celtic Park twice this season – against the Rangers and Hearts is awful. It makes other supporters cringe and it also is a song that they used to bash Tommy Burns with.
Regardless of who it is directed at – Gerrard, Levein or maybe McInnes – it is an insult to the memory of Tommy, one of Celtic’s favourite sons.
It should NEVER be sung again by the Celtic support.
Then there’s that OB,OB chant that I seem to remember being widely chanted st Murrayfield against Hearts in the Betfred Cup semi-Final.
It’s awful, embarrassing, makes us sound as bad as them. Bonita please!
Then there’s the Jimmy Bell – Hope ye Die – disgraceful. Disgusting. Evil.
There has been no mention of any Rebel or political songs but this will come and the political parties will target them if they are allowed to muster a head of steam.
We play Hearts in midweek and the grass will be short. If we are winning, and I expect us to win, then the test will be whether we sing Cheer up Craig Levein. If we do then Celtic might be on their way to a win but the support will have scored a massive own goal.
Here’s what Brendan – who spent his youth at home in the North of Ireland and is well aware of the issues that sectarianism brings. It’s not something he wants any part of, so everyone take the hint please!
“There is every possibility it could put other managers off from coming up here,” Brendan said.
“It’s on top of the other stuff, in terms of pitches and quality of refereeing, then you throw this into everything.
“You start to question it and say ‘Well, what is the attraction of Scottish football?
“The whole Catholic-Protestant thing has only come back into my life since I’ve come to Scotland, that’s the reality.
“But, listen, it’s about education. It is about trying to put sanctions in place to stop all of this. But it is a challenge.
“Things have moved on in Northern Ireland, but what you still have in Glasgow is this big showpiece every week with Celtic or Rangers playing at home.
“You maybe can’t keep it all in. You have a wee bit from Northern Ireland who come over to the games and that can build.
“But it’s about education, it’s about persistence and it’s about trying to drive home the message that it’s not acceptable. There has to be zero tolerance.
“I feel sad for Steve Clarke. I worked with him at Chelsea and he’s a really good guy as well as a really good coach. To have to go down the route of what happened to him this week is tough for him.
“It’s hard, because as managers you are going through a lot anyway. There’s a lot of stress, pressure and anxiety.
“Your family get lots of issues and anxieties around it. So to add that on top, it’s not very pleasing especially for a former Scottish international player who is highly respected.”
