‘Hidden well, what are you concealing?’ Poker Face Celtic, Lucky Frimpong

You’re as tight as a hunter’s trap,

Hidden well, what are you concealing?

Poker face, carved in stone

Amongst friends, but all alone

Why do you hide?

Well, it looks like Jeremie Frimpong’s, much questioned of late, defensive positioning may have been perfect on Sunday. Indeed, it may well have been advantageous when it comes to his long-term availability to Celtic and avoidance of a lengthy period on the sidelines.

Devante Cole’s second half assault – and that is what it was – on our young full back was mistimed at best and with unreasonable force at worst. Whether it was malicious only he can know but it’s height and ferocity smacked of frustration, even a loss of control, that bubbled over as a red mist descended. If it was either of those things’ compliance officer Clare Whyte’s silence, some three days after the offence, is now deafening.

The on-field punishment handed out by Andrew Dallas was clearly an insufficient retribution punishment in comparison to the offence and should now be addressed and rectified by those of a higher paygrade. Both the player and the on-field authority should have questions asked as to their actions on Sunday.

The news that Jeremie Frimpong has avoided serious injury had more to do with the fortunate positioning of his body rather than any lack of force or malice in the ‘tackle’ and although Celtic, Frimpong and the support can breathe a sigh of relief, it doesn’t take away from the fact that the sitting on hands from the compliance officer is both concerning and part of a re-occurring pattern.

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It is after all only been a matter of days since an attempted fore-arm smash on Albian Ajeti by Aberdeen’s Lewis Ferguson, another challenge borne of frustration that also went without a suitable level of punishment. While Kris Ajer and Odsonne Edouard can also point to on field justice not matching the punishment meted out to our players.

All those instances have been met with inaction, indeed silence entirely, by the compliance officer. Perhaps its best we don’t hold our breath on this one, else we may do ourselves a mischief.

The opening lyrics to this article were penned by James front man Tim Booth, and although they are relevant to the deafening silence emanating from Hampden, they also have relevance to a Celtic board who have also exhibited a stoney silence, publicly at least, on this matter and far too many before. If Celtic are working in the background, questioning the health and safety standards are being upheld with regard to their employees, that is good. A little communication with the support, yes support not customers, would also be welcome.

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In the world of politics there appear to be two current schools of thought when it comes to communication with the masses. Make incredulous statements without fact, then batten down the hatches when it comes to debating the inevitable questioning, or ignore everything entirely and make no public comment whatsoever. The argument that it’s best to say nothing out loud seems to be the tactical preference of the Celtic board on far too many issues, this is not a stand-alone incident.

Celtic fans invest a great deal in their football club, not just financially –though the season ticket sales and merchandise uptake this year was much needed for the bean counters at Celtic Park, but also emotionally. We are deeply invested in that regard. We therefore want to know that those in charge have our backs and that of our club. Celtic fans ask little in return bar a suitably qualified team on the park and some transparency as to how the current guardians look after our own.

A series of assaults without punishment can impact on Neil Lennon’s ability to put a team on the park and have a detrimental effect on our attempts to win a tenth consecutive title. Tim Booth’s writing had some relevance there too.

‘Say something, say something, anything

Your silence is deafening

Pay me in kind’

We hope for some sort of justice from Clare Whyte at the SFA, thought we expect just that- SFA. If we really want to put referees and governing bodies on notice, hushed conversations behind the scenes won’t suffice. It needs to be public, consistent and vocal. Turning the other cheek is rarely a good defence.

Niall J