Celtic chairman Ian Bankier decided against issuing a denial about the rumoured appointment of Bernard Higgins to a senior security role within the club. There had been speculation that the Assistant Chief Constable, who enforced the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act against regular football fans, would be offered a high profile role at the club. However, today’s AGM presented an opportunity to issue a denial and label the story as a fabrication – which Celtic’s chairman declined, saying he would not give assurances either way.
“I’m not going to give assurances on what will be an operational matter.
“Health and safety at big arenas is a massive issue. We don’t need to recite human tragedies which have occured over the decades. It’s a big topic, high level, strategic, it’s not a role which polices Celtic fans.
“I’m not giving assurances one way or the other. When we’re ready to announce something, we will.”
This answer isn’t good enough, and to allude to tragedies of other eras is crass.
Apparently this answer was booed in the room (via @celticrumours) https://t.co/WgId2YWwf8
— John McGinley (@jhnmcgnly) November 17, 2021
A board member today claimed that Celtic may employ Bernard Higgins to help prevent any possible tragedy at matches. This video however explains in detail how Higgins and his force contributed to a near disaster at Celtic Park in 2018. Watch and share. https://t.co/RWIYlhdKzC
— FAC (@FACKilltheBill) November 17, 2021
Higgins was Assistant Chief Constable and repeatedly came under fire during his tenure in the role due to the treatment of football fans. The legislation was flawed and its subsequent repeal highlighted the enormous amount of injustices that were transpiring. Celtic fans across social media have united against the potential appointment. It will be interesting to see how this pans out over the next few weeks. Surely Celtic cannot hire a man with a background that involved targeting football fans.
Higgins was recently deployed dealing with COP26 but alarmingly there is yet to be a denial from Celtic that he is being considered for any role. A question was asked about Higgins, allowing the perfect opportunity to issue a denial but it is alarming that this rumour wasn’t shot down and even the attempts to justify an appointment.
