Crime and Punishment
Sevco and SPFL
Watching Sevco fans running onto the pitch to celebrate another triumph (this time going 2nd), I wondered why they do this, why are they allowed to do this, are there any rules in place to stop them, and if there are, why are they not being applied?
So, onto Google, searched for “criminal offence entering field of play Scotland” and the 4th hit was the SPFL ground regulations. It was a pdf file, so I downloaded it and had a read.
This file lists the dos and don’ts for clubs, spectators and police regarding all things stadia. It’s title line is “Entry to this ground, whether on payment or otherwise, shall be deemed for all purposes to constitute an unqualified acceptance to be bound by and an undertaking to comply with these ground regulations and relevant football rules.”
So, no wriggle room. Unqualified acceptance.
After 6 rules about tickets, matches being abandoned, rule 7 hits the spot.
“Unauthorised persons are not permitted to enter upon the field of play, trackside or any place which is not a spectator area. Such incursions will be treated with utmost seriousness and will be liable to arrest and criminal proceedings as well as to disciplinary sanctions by the Club/Event organiser which may lead to long term exclusion from the ground.”
https://mobile.twitter.com/DavidFlanigan50/status/1090353788962127877?s=08
This rule is clearly aimed at Police Scotland and the HOME club. Now we know why they invade at away grounds but not at Ibrox. The lack of arrests lets the club off the hook. No info from season books to help identify the culprits, faces lost in the crowd, no one to ban, no problem.
Rule 10 states “The use of disorderly, violent and/or threatening behaviour and/or the use of foul and/or abusive language, racial, sectarian, homophobic or discriminatory abuse, singing and/or chanting of any kind and damage to property is all strictly forbidden, is UNACCEPTABLE CONDUCT and each and all of same and if constituting a criminal act and/or acts may result in arrest and/or prosecution and/or in conduct which does not constitute a criminal act, a ban from the ground, regulated football matches, the confiscation of any ticket purchased or held and/or any other sanction as may be determined by the Club/Event organiser and/or in the case of a failure to comply with and/or a breach of football rules by the relevant football body.”
Now, by the time I got to the end of that I had just about lost the will to live. Another rule aimed squarely at Police Scotland. In the time they’ve been in the Premier league, we’ve witnessed all of the defined unacceptable conduct, and the response of plod has been zilch. Again, the club are allowed off the hook. No arrests, no problem.
I won’t reproduce the other rules they breach regularly, but I will summarise them.
Rule 11 list items which must not be brought into the ground. Weapons, knives, fireworks, smoke canisters, air horns, flares, laser devices, bottles, glass vessels, cans and anything that could be used as a weapon.
Rule 12 covers bringing in anything which if thrown could cause injury.
Rule 14 forbids standing in seated areas.
Rule 15 covers “banners and/or other articles which could…..cause annoyance or unnecessary offence…are not permitted within the ground.” I found this particularly pertinent after their disgusting slur on big Jock at the last game.
Rule 16 forbids throwing any objects or materials onto the pitch, surroundings, track or Technical area.
Rule 22 prohibits smoking and vaping.
Rule 23 prohibits granting admission to anyone under a current banning order.
The rules are worded specifically towards what will happen to fans if they break them. Nothing about sanctions against clubs is even hinted at. Until the clubs accept Strict Liability for the behaviour of the fans, they can covertly or overtly encourage unacceptable behaviour, safe in the knowledge that if Police Scotland actually do their job the buck stops with the fans. Evidence the difference in England, look at the response to the events at Millwall this week.
If we want to change this, we should focus our energies on getting the board to champion Strict Liability, and question openly why Police Scotland are turning a blind eye to all Sevco unacceptable behaviour.
Now, when I found the file I sent it to BMCUWP to embed as part of today’s post, but it wouldn’t work. I sent him the link but the document had vanished. I tried to find it again myself – gone.
Google promotes sites, files depending on how many hits they get, except in this case my hit had the opposite effect.
Coincidence? Maybe.
*
Above is a guest post by SOL KITTS. It can be your turn to make your thoughts public by mailing Mahe on
sentinelcelts@gmail.com
SOLKITTS
A great pice of work to find the document in the first place,and an even better job done in dissecting it. As you say,it’s very strange that neither of us could track it down afterwards,even though we started doing so only a few hours later.
No wonder I’m paranoid,ffs!
Of course,I’ve still got it in my mailbox,and if anyone wants a look,they can mail me at
bmcuwp@gmail.com
This article could easily have been titled The Untouchables,but I didn’t want to caste-see what I did there?-aspersions on a bloody enjoyable movie. It really is disgraceful that nothing is done by Police Scotland when they simply ignore the law.
It’s not just invading the pitch either;no-one has been arrested for the brutal slashing of a Celtic supporter in CCTV-heavy Girvan,nor for the stabbings of two Zenit fans prior to that match at Ibrox. Those events in particular are not just examples of daft boayishness,this is wanton thuggery,GBH and attempted murder.
Yet the police do nothing? WTF is going on? If it was Celtic supporters behaving like this,we would ALL be cheering on every bit of detective work undertaken to identify the culprits,and it would be front page news too.
And deservedly so.
Hun thuggery is not a criminal offence,it seems. And that stinks the place out.
HI SOLKITTS AND BOBBY, good article which forces me into a rant, them bassas can do what ever they want, they know they are immune, because the judiciary is full of masons and Orangemen, you know it and I know it, if celtic supporters did that it would be all over the media, about those nasty celtic supporters,, one rule for them and one rule for us,rant over, hope yous are well.hh.
When the Ibrox roof starts to cave in will they be allowed to enter the field of play then ?
So who should discipline these bad men ?
The same authorities that have turned a blind eye to the Ibrox roof safety certificate for 10 years ?
The Scottish public had a once in a lifetime chance to hold the authorities to account to clean up the game in Scotland but they choose not to.
They chose not to because they didn´t want it and that´s part of the deal; the deal being the “part of the fabric of the Scottish nation…” and “…Scottish football” . That is what you pay for as a Celtic fan. The instinctive need to be seen and portrayed as the victim. The PLC are well aware of this encourage it and fully help to deliver that atmosphere for us. That is what you pay for for as a Rangers fan as well. The instinctive need to believe that you are somehow superior and the authorities Especially Celtic PLC deliver for them on this. All the other clubs willingly accept that they are the downtrodden one who´s semi final events can be moved geographically at the whim of the Old Firm , along with ticket allocations etc as long as they keep getting the handouts and vote Old Firm”
It really doesn´t bother me now to be honest now that I no longer pay for it. I used to have more sympathy for our family, the Celtic community but not any longer. Which has been entirely brought about by the belief that the majority of them are nasty bigots as well or as thick as fuck (both in a lot of cases)
Thankfully no longer my fight. My fight is highlighting how complicit our PLC is with it all in the year of your Lord 2019
Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation
We are delighted for Scott to extend his glorious career at Celtic.
“While we are disappointed Scott will not be joining our inaugural campaign we fully understand what Celtic means to Scott and what Scott means to Celtic.”
Broonie staying then. Good News
BIGPACKY
Aye,mate. I used to think the cops treated us like crap because they sent all the hun cops to Celtic Park and the good Tim cops to Ibrox. Well,I was just a wean!
Didn’t take me long to realise that the Ibrox gig was what they got for star performances at Celtic Park,and Tim cops weren’t invited to the party.
AWENAW
I’ll take you up on one part of your post,while broadly agreeing with the rest of it. It is unfair to suggest that the majority of Celtic supporters “are nasty bigots as well or as thick as fuck (both in a lot of cases)”
If that is your belief,as you state,and is based on personal experience,then I apologise to you on behalf of the ordinary Celtic supporter who holds no truck with such.
Having said that,your favourite newspaper has today’s main story on its website splashed with a photograph of a sex offender beggar draped in a Tricolour. I know that’s a favourite tactic of theirs,to portray offenders wearing Celtic gear,but sometimes we don’t help ourselves.
Now,you’re a music fan,and I suspect we are both lovers of the music of Gil Scott-Heron. He came from the downtrodden discriminated-against minorities,and he never let us forget it in his music. Having read The Last Holiday,which he completed shortly before his death,I’d say that his experiences had embittered him,and quite seriously so too.
I don’t think he was a bigot,and he certainly wasn’t thick,but he seriously hated Whitey. But Whitey wasn’t,to him,people with white skin. It was the white-skinned people who ran the system which discriminated against him and his.
Same way that we rail against the masonic basturts who would do us down by their ownership of The Establishment in Scotland.
Good news about Broonie. Let’s try to keep him for the big games,the ones where we need his drive and determination against teams who actually attempt to play against us,rather than have him playing every week against teams with ten men behind the ball.
That would help extend his career,and give our midfield a chance to grow together without him.
SolKits
Nothing new there, it’s been going on for a long, long time in bonnie scotland, a land where you can murder Catholics in NI, relocate to scotland and are afforded 24h round the clock protection in ayrshire by police scotland.
“On the terracing at the Dalmornock end on Saturday there was congregated a gang, thousands strong, including the dregs and scourings of filthy slumdom, unwashed yahoos, jailbirds, night hawks, won’t-works, ‘burroo barnacles’, and pavement pirates, all, or nearly all, in the scarecrow stage of verminous trampdom. This ragged army of insantitary pests was lavishly provided with orange and blue remnants, and these were flaunted in challenge as the football tide flowed this way or that. Practically with out cessation for ninety minutes or more, the vagabond scum kept up a strident howl of the ‘Boyne Water’ chorus. Nothing so designedly provoking, so maliciously insulting, or so beastially ignorant has ever been witnessed even in the wildest exhibitions of Glasgow Orange bigotry…..Blatantly filthy language of the lowest criminal type assailed the shocked ears of decent onlookers. There was no getting away from it, chanted as it was by thousands of voices in bedlamite yells. The stentorian use of filthy language is a crime against the law of the land. Policemen lined the track and listened to the hooligan uproar, yet nothing was done to stop it. The scandal was renewed with increased violence in London Road after the match. Is it possible the blue mob can do just anything and get away with it? Prompt official steps were taken to suppress and prosecute the green brake-club lads who dared to sing ‘The Dear Little Shamrock’ in Paisley Road. Yet thousands of foul-mouthed and blasphemous Orange ruffians are free to run amok over the East End of Glasgow. How do you account for it?”
Great news about Broonie, shame that the news had to come from the other side of the world, tho.
BMCUWP,
The proof is in the pudding. It is based on your personal experience as well as mine. There is no debate here. To be unable to do so with the litany of evidence that we have witnessed since 2012 would only emphasise and backup my assertion. We are getting into Einstein territory here it´s insanity or stupidity. I don´t need your apology as I don´t need apologised too. It is not your fault that you have not went through the same experiences that I have since then. Well not yet I reckon. You may not like my assertion. Only Celtic fans with a rigid belief system do so.
The “Keep the faith” brigade can fuck off .. the veil was lifted a long time ago. You are only unwilling or unable to accept that
I didn’t know I have a favourite newspaper but yep that´s the very fabric of Scottish society that the Celtic support is prepared to be portrayed as
Gil Scott Heron was a racist but he wasn´t stupid. That´s probably his get out compared to our bigots.
We as a community will not rail against the Establishment. Our PLC is the establishment I aint seen no railing apart from the Res 12 bhoys and they were shat on.
What did the vast Celtic community do apart from those 4 bhoys and their helpers ? FUCK ALL See Profit and Loss statements since then
Why ? because they are stupid bigots … possibly it doesn´t even mean that much to them , as they are too stupid to recognise what is actually going on and think things have actually become better as they cling onto their Old FIrm tickets to watch a game under a roof that is about to collapse in a stadium where 66 dies in 1971 and 25 in 1902 .. collectively thousands injured.
Clearly nothing has changed.
Hearing the news that Guttman,our US left back has gone AWOL,I hope the same thing doesn’t happen if we sign this fella.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/premier-league/fulhams-australian-teenager-tyrese-francois-is-attracting-attention-from-valencia-crystal-palace-and-celtic/news-story/de51acfa3474758b3400084639a5505f
Billy Connolly’s old sketch about schemie kids with daft names,the punchline-“Tyrone,come back here!!!” springs to mind.
Seems like a prospect,rather than a project.
AWE NAW
I’ll mail you in a few minutes,not for public discussion,but I’m as pissed off as you about Res 12 in particular. That whole affair has been handled despicably by Celtic Plc.
Bobby, my feelings entirely about Broonie. Good as he is our midfield was a revelation without him. He has a part to play but not every game.
JIMTHETIM53
Howdy,old bean. How’s trix? Blazing sunshine down here for the last few hours,and it still hasn’t melted the ice on the windscreens-I needed a chisel to clear mine last night!
Aye,I tried hard not to damn Broonie with faint praise. He is immense for us in certain types of games,but there is more to be learnt by the others in the midfield without him,especially up against the backs to the wall merchants in the SPL.
Rotation and rest will be good for his longevity too,and there’s no point doing yer pan in against pish.
The article in the newspaper referred to earlier,I’ve now read it,and I hope the basturt gets life,and that it is a very short life sentence at that.
Just in case anyone thought I was more concerned about the reporting of it than about the offence itself,which was not my intention.
Apologies to anyone who thought otherwise,as could be construed by my reference to it.
No need to be homesick today Bobby, it’s grey & miserable and freezing! God forgive me for wishing my life away but I’m always glad to see the back of January.
A pal of mine’s wife is going into hospital tomorrow for a section, the wane is in breach. I’m sure everything will be alright but a wee prayer would be appreciated. Btw, she works for Celtic!
JIMTHETIM53
You know me,mate. No request goes without a word or ten upstairs. I know He listens,and I’m forever grateful that he doesn’t answer me back!
Hope you enjoy the Christening!!!
Yehudi macewan.?
Ha Ha, good one!
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
JIMTHETIM53
Hope you don’t mind me adding my tuppence worth.
I am a fan of Brown but not convinced Brendan has found the right mix or formation for Broonies talents.
As a lone deep lying mid he has far to much ground to cover.
And in our playing from the back style he is often isolated as our only out ball.
Both of the above situations would be hard on the body of a young fit guy.
We have plenty midfielders but the formations and tactics are not getting the best from them.Some have to little to do while others have a huge burden.
Calmac is the perfect player for that position, he proved quite convincingly the last time Scott was injured. It’s a brave man tho that would put his captain and stalwart on the bench. How brave are you Brendan? por cierto.
Asked my higher power to look out for her, didn’t answer me, but he has previous for listening 🙂 por cierto.
Fanatic,,,
Glad you’ve joined us. Hope all good and Hail Hail
John,,welcome to the blog pal and delighted you’ve joined us.
You’re not actually in Taz are ya?
Hail Hail
TET
Yes, it has been going on for years, and there’s no sign of it getting any better. The clubs refuse to accept Strict Liability because that would mean serial offenders being serially punished. Far easier to blame the fans for the behaviour that THEY encourage. If it’s ever challenged in the press (now that’s a laugh) they make soothing, hand-wringing noises about it being a minority causing the problems, despite the fact that every 2 weeks we hear Sevco fans blasting out their sectarian songbook, throwing anything they can lay their hands on, etc, 40000 strong from the stands. Ian Archer, another of the previous generation of great journalists, labelled the previous incarnation as a permanent embarrassment and an occasional disgrace. They are a new club, but they still conform to Archer’s description of them.
Our own club by their inaction are complicit in the malaise. They should be shouting from the rooftops, demanding that the governing bodies, SFA, SPFL, treat Sevco without fear or favour. That they don’t do this tells its own story.
Hibs Statement re Lenny: http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/9671
Och ghere it is:
The management team of Neil Lennon and Garry Parker has left the club by mutual consent.
They have not been dismissed and have not resigned.
The suspension, put in place to allow an internal review, was lifted by the club as part of this agreement. Despite widespread speculation, the club confirms that neither Neil nor Garry has been guilty of any misconduct or wrongdoing and no disciplinary process has been commenced.
However, Neil, Garry and the club now consider that it would be in the best interests of all parties to part amicably.
The club would like to place on notice its thanks to both Neil and Garry for their hard work and the success they have brought the club. Their period in charge has seen the club:
– restored to the top flight,
– reach the top 4 with a record points total,
– qualify for Europe,
– have their record season ticket sales since 1958
Neil and Garry would like to thank the club for having faith in them when they were appointed in 2016 and for their support over two and a half years. They would like to thank their players for their hard work and dedication and finally, the fans for their loyalty and support over their tenure.
Rod Petrie, Chairman said: “We are grateful to Neil and Garry for all their efforts and in particular for leading the club back to the top flight of Scottish football. We wish nothing but the best for Neil and Garry and their families for the future.”
Neil Lennon said: “I would like to thank the board, the coaching staff, the players and all the fans for making the last two and a half years so enjoyable. It has been my privilege to serve the club and I wish it every success in the future.”
Genghis McCann
hi bhoys, I hope midnight tomorrow night, that guy from sportsound, does not come on and say well that’s Celtic’s business done for the night, and br or peter follow up with, well we tried to get so and so and such and such but we just could not get the deal done in time, lets wait and see.hh.
nice one mags.hh,
Hi sol kitts, appreciate the article and the time it must have taken you to research. It does not surprise me one iota what is taking place with that lot. it was ever thus and will continue to be. Nothing will change In the best wee bigoted country in the world. Just keep that in mind and you’ll not go far wrong. That’s my take on it anyway.
As regards tonight’s game. I hope we can get the three points and a right back would be nice too. Oh and a centre back. Oh forget it, I’ll settle for three points. Expctationmanagementcsc.
Hi Mahe, Majoc and everyone else.
I cannot post to this site any longer, in fact I cannot read the site any longer.
The majority of the posters are anti-Celtic and offer no legitimate evidence-based opinion.
The only uniting factor is a hate of Peter Lawwell and the board of the club
There is no understanding of the difficulties that we have to deal with when trying to sign players.
How many times must people hear from Brendan and former players that Peter Lawwell does not scout and sign players.
Most on here want Celtic to fail in order that they can day “I told you so”
There are enough individuals and organisations willing to denergrate us without those who purport to to fans doing it.
I am at Celtic Park as often as my season ticket allows – those who I sit beside and socialise with before and after a match are the complete opposite of the majority of those on here.
We love Celtic and support the club personally and financially – we are of an age to remember the barren years. We know things are not perfect but we are proud to be the ‘top dog’s’ in Scotland – not only the ‘top dog’s’ but the HONEST ‘top dog’s’. God bless Celtic and their REAL supporters Hail Hail the Celts are not here!!!
Sol Kitts
Yip, the suits wouldn’t have it any other way, the Old Firm sells big time, all they have to do to keep the cash rolling in is stoke the flames every so slightly every now and again and as if by magic, caching, caching caching, that in itself is what I find so feckin sad.
Gold,,sorry to read that. The doors always open. Many thanks for your contribution and I genuinely wish you well. Hail Hail
Smarty Mc Pants 😉
Gold.
I will miss your contributions to the site.
All sites need balance and you helped contribute to that on this site
Enjoy being a Celtic fan and enjoy life.
Hail Hail
JIMMYNOTPAUL, I agree we need every shade of opinion on here, I don’t agree with some of gold’s posts, but he should be allowed to post them.hh..
If you have a look at any Celtic blog outwith this one, the slagging of the players and the team is far far worse than this blog by a country mile, some are even worse when it comes to slagging the board, yet Gold has decided that we are all big bad anti Celtic posters, get a grip ffs.
Sol Kitts,,
Many many thanks for todays article. Fascinating stuff.
My opinion is its not up to us as fans to ask / demand fair policing ,, it should be a given in a normal society .
What should happen in a normal country after seeing scenes such as the pitch invasion for 2nd place 😉 is the SLO , delegation of fans , the minister for policing , the CSA , league representatives and lawyers would attend a summit.
Where I at that summit I would force everyone to watch a dvd of the same situation involving many clubs but yet some get looked upon as “ only natural enthusiasm “ and some are standard protocol yellow cards etc.
If no proper answers forthcoming then something like the following statement would do,,,
“ Following the last few days summit at which we presented clear evidence of existing rules and regulations being breached repeatedly without the stated punishments being meted out for some clubs while others feel the full force of the rule book we are compelled to speak out and make the following announcement .
Due to what can only be called institutional bias at best and racism at worst we call on every right minded Glasgow Celtic fan to attend HOME only matches for the foreseeable future .
We made it very clear to those sitting around us that fans will unite for what is right , now and whenever necessary , and being treated differently in any way whatsoever because of an affinity with ours and any Club must and shall end .
Our sons and daughters will be getting passed on a normal sporting rules based game that is transparent and embraces any and all cultures and faiths , or they will not be getting the game passed on at all .
To my fellow brothers and sisters in the Celtic family I personally say this to you all,,,
Generations dont pick battles they fall unto them , and if this is our generations battle then so be it . Just like the songs of freedom we sing and all know , WE WILL stand together for what is right . We as a people have come way too far to be treated poorly in this day and age ,, and so I ask you all ,,, no I DEMAND of you all ,, stand together and stand strong . For together , they will never defeat us .
For Wee Oscar , for Tommy and Brother Walfrid himself ,,, lets slay this f**king beast eh ?
( raises sword and yells ! )
Signed , Democratically elected president of Sentinel Celts ,
Gerry Fae The Brig 😉
A hard fought three points tonight, a couple of very well taken goals, thot that Broonie was superb, my MoM, no failures really, St J a step up from the teams since we got back from the break, but we were in so much control, two flattered them big time.
Six points clear and looking good, great stuff Celtic.
yes good result, 6 points clear, whats not to like.hh.
For all the whinging by some folks, we are only 3 points worse off than we were this time last year and by all accounts we are pish this year and need to spend millions so we do, I also thot that “legs have gone Lustig” had a very decent game tonight, a couple of wayward passes that’s all.
Our keeper never had one save in the whole game. We stood tall and didn’t panic. Two well-taken goals. When Big Ajer plays like that he is some player, could be our CB for the next 10 years, tho if he continues to play that way a megabuck move is more than likely, thought Simunovic had a good game also. SB was superb and Swanson eventually just gave up trying to shut him down. Edouard looked really good the short time he was on the park and didn’t look as if he suffered any from the lay off. Burke has real speed over those first 5yds. All in all a good 3 points and at this time in the season it’s them that matters. Now then, do we rest SB on Sunday and do we bring Rogic and Edouard back and go with the Team that beat them 6-0 the last time in Perth? por cierto.
hold my hands up, I was one who thought lustig was finished, egg on my face tonight, he was immense.hh.
Aye, he sure was. More like the Lustig we all love por cierto.
agree who do we leave out.hh.
He also got two assists tonight, no bad for a waste of space 😉
https://streamable.com/gxm2p
Brendan after the game tonight
BP, 6 points clear now. The table is beginning to look a bit more comfortable. Onwards and upwards!