Footie stars to get anti-bigot lessons

[ian1964 10,720]

SPL football stars are to be given anti-bigotry classes set up by the Catholic church.

 

Victims of sectarian abuse - including priests - will visit clubs to educate players and staff.

 

The church intends to write to all top-flight sides this week offering the new lessons.

 

It follows the departure of SFA referees' chief Hugh Dallas after he was accused of sending an offensive email on the day of the Pope's visit to Scotland in September.

 

Yesterday Catholic church spokesman Peter Kearney hailed the new unit, saying: "The time has come for a more specific approach. The one-size-fits-all model hasn't worked.

 

"If you want to tackle anti-Semitism you need to speak to Jewish people, if you want to tackle anti-Catholic attitudes you need to speak to Catholics."

 

He added: "Some of the existing education on anti-sectarianism is facile.

 

"One initiative I went to involved holding up a football shirt which was half-Celtic and half-Rangers.

 

"That is superficial and amounts to telling people to abandon their identity."

 

Celtic and Rangers are already involved in anti-sectarian schemes.

 

And Aberdeen have agreed to the classes after players Michael Paton and Zander Diamond sparked a row earlier this year by reportedly posting comments on Facebook insulting Protestants.

 

Last night Labour MSP Michael McMahon said: "The sectarian problem in Scotland is more insidious now than it's ever been.":hm:

 

 

 

Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/3261978/SPL-football-stars-to-get-anti-bigot-lessons.html#ixzz17JZ73NC5

[Frankie 8,531]

Aye, football is definitely the main issue here...

[ian1964 10,720]

I would hope all the SPL clubs tell the Catholic church where to go,RELIGION HAS NOT PLACE IN FOOTBALL!!!, so keep yer noses oot:smile:

[ian1964 10,720]

SCOTTISH MP Jim Sheridan last night called for an independent inquiry to investigate recent allegations of bigotry and bias within the SFA.

 

The Labour MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North will write to Hampden bosses this morning in a bid to kick-start a process of transparency amongst the power-brokers of our game.

 

Sheridan, who sits on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee in Westminster, wants to examine the best way forward for Scottish football and end the conspiracy theories he insists are killing the sport.

 

A host of controversial referee flashpoints, the dismissal of Hugh Dallas and the Dougie McDonald Whistlegate affair have dominated headlines - sparking a backlash from Grade One officials who went on strike last weekend.

 

Now Sheridan wants to shine a light on the SFA to see if they have any case to answer. He said: "This letter to the SFA will inform them that the committee will be looking into football governance throughout the United Kingdom in the next couple of months.

 

"I would like the SFA to express their views on transparency, the structure of the SFA, the conspiracy culture and the way we deal with referees.

 

"People I speak to within the game are fed up with every week bringing a new conspiracy theory and another referee being at fault. It has to be brought to an end.

 

"I want a fresh pair of eyes to have a close look at the whole structure and see how it operates and advise how it should be operating.

 

"If there is bias or bigotry within the organisation then let's get rid of it for the good of the game.

 

"Things really have to be clarified as it just cannot continue the way we are at the moment by accusing a referee of bias every time a team loses."

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2010/12/06/mp-demands-independent-inquiry-into-claims-of-bigotry-inside-sfa-86908-22765382/

[Stimpy 0]

The only club that peddles bigotry is septic. How they manage to deflect their own shite and have the world tar all of Scotland with their problems is amazing.

 

Fuck right off

[Norris Cole 0]

Sorry, anti-bigot lessons from who?

[calscot 0]

Maybe the Orange Order should be following suit? To be fair they get more abuse than anyone with no protection whatsoever. And the RSPCC should be sending abuse victims and representatives to give lessons to Catholic churches and schools?

[Super_Ally 0]

Well this is a fucking shambles.

 

It is essentially promoting the idea that sectarianism is only commited against catholics with this quote:

 

"If you want to tackle anti-Semitism you need to speak to Jewish people, if you want to tackle anti-Catholic attitudes you need to speak to Catholics."

 

 

Whilst we all know it works both ways. They are pretending that is not the case. How will catholic preists help prevent sectarianism and educate when it is people on "their" side demonstrating sectarian behaviours towards protestants/non-catholics in the case of Diamond and Paton?

 

I also agree with this from Ian's quote:

 

"People I speak to within the game are fed up with every week bringing a new conspiracy theory and another referee being at fault. It has to be brought to an end".

 

But the SFA are the wrong targets. It is Celtic who need to be spoken to if the conspiracy theories are to end.

 

The Church has much place lecturing on sectarianism in football as it does on not abusing chidlren.

[Zappa 0]

It's not April fools day for another 4 months! WTF???