Their inherent fear that we will ultimately achieve “Ten in a Row” – David Early

I have watched with interest the fallout from Sunday’s game and feel it’s time to make a comment.

I saw Scott Brown and indeed our club being vilified in all quarters of this succulent lamb culture that exists within the Scottish media. Those within the corridors of the Scottish FA who have allowed this to snowball need to be taken to task and it has to be the club and our directors who do so.

Let’s put this into perspective when the Rangers players and fans celebrated after winning in December there was thought to be a credible, genuine title challenge. Scott Arfield mocked Scott Brown and our players were subjected to the glory taunts and same old repertoire of a 300 year old song book. They accepted defeat however hard it was and left those who wanted to celebrate to do so.

Fast forward 3 months and we have their title challenge in tatters, broken dreams and another trophy-less season with the prospect of The Ten looming.

They have thrown all of their chickens into a basket-case of a so called marquee manager this season in an attempt to derail our shot at Ten and it has backfired spectacularly. His stats are hardly any better than the last 5 managers/interim managers, but to admit this would be the ultimate surrender to the inevitable that we will again triumph this year.

Why those in power have chosen to pursue this charge is astounding and smacks of hypocrisy. Is this an attempt to gloss over their own failing with a national team in complete disarray? Calls to overthrow the power brokers who collectively have failed to enhance our game, made disastrous appointments and whose previous silence on a variety of contentious issues have been deafening?

There are many many instances of players celebrating in front of opposition fans and has never been deemed “not in the best interests of the game”. I give you Neil Lennon’s airplane. Ryan Kent’s finger to mouth on Sunday, Rangers mimicking the huddle, Kyle Lafferty’s red hand when Hearts ended our unbeaten run.

Provocation. Kyle Lafferty supposedly head-butting Charlie Mulgrew and winking towards the old Rangers bench once Mulgrew had been red carded. Short memories indeed.

It’s not about “the best interests of association football” that’s the issue here. It’s the inherent fear that we will ultimately achieve “Ten in a Row”.

With every passing month the prospect gets ever closer and the failure to prevent this is the root of the issues that have blighted our game this season and I fear that there is a real risk to our supporters and players over the next two seasons the closer we get to achieving the “Holy Grail”

All the talking in the world won’t take that fear away until it’s achieved or not. This is what’s driving the unruly element’s within the game this season.

And the Directors at Celtic have to make a stand for the safety of our players and the supporters but ultimately for the integrity of our club.

Scott Brown is innocent of all charges. He has been verbally abused and physically assaulted for what?

Being a Celtic captain celebrating an important victory that sticks in the throats so much that they can’t even get the words of their vitriolic songbook out!!

Celtic FC. It’s time to make a stand…Over to you…

David Early

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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