Celtic’s Plan to Deal with Racism

Neil Lennon has revealed that he will encourage his players to leave the pitch if they are subjected to the racial abuse that has led to Lazio having a section of their stadium shut for the Scottish Champions’ visit to Rome.

As Celtic prepare for the visit of Ross County tomorrow, the manager was asked about racism after the well documented events in Sofia this week with the English national team, as well as Lazio being fined by UEFA.

Lennon was clear in his message that we need to get better at dealing with it, as reported by the BBC.

“I would not discourage any player from walking off the pitch if he’s getting racially abused.

“I think I would encourage it because it’s pointing out that there is a wrong here.

“We all have to do a little bit more to prevent it and for individuals it’s personal and it’s very, very hurtful.”

The Celtic manager, who has suffered anti-Irish racism and sectarianism throughout his career as both a player and a manager, feels that more needs to be done about it now the issue is in the spotlight after the events in Bulgaria.

“It’s awful. It’s just rearing its ugly head again.

“It’s embarrassing for the individual countries and the individual associations and the people who run those associations as well.”

Lennon has suggested that the way we police and manage games needs to change in order to apprehend and stop the offenders from continuing to create a toxic atmosphere at games.

“I mean, the scenes in Bulgaria looked like it was all premeditated as well with the way they were dressed and behaving.

“How these guys get in to the stadium in the first place, that needs to be looked at.”

However, the Celtic legend has said that football can also be a solution to these suffering from racism, sectarianism and abuse as a safe-haven.

“Sometimes football is your way out, your joy. Without football it would be extremely difficult to go through that.

“I suppose football brings that to your life in this environment but very certainly football is a great motivation for taking your mind away from it.”

Meanwhile Fraser Forster, who was capped six times for England, supported the actions of his national team when dealing racism in football. English players were subjected to sickening racial abuse in Bulgaria.

“It’s 2019 and we shouldn’t have to deal with that behaviour. It’s so disappointing. There’s no place for it in life so we’ll see what punishment gets handed out. It needs stamped out.”

About Author

Born just as Celtic were stopping the Ten, Lubo98 follows Celtic home and away and helps run his local Celtic Supporters Club. He goes to all the games and is a Law Graduate. Has a particular fondness for Tom Rogic among the current Celts and both Lubo and Henrik form his earliest Celtic memories.

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