Ex-referee Jeff Winter's home raided by police over 'anti-Catholic blogs'

[ian1964 10,724]

The home of former English Premiership referee Jeff Winter has been raided by police investigating anti-Catholic rants that appeared on his personal website.

 

Officers from Strathclyde Police searched the home in Middlesbrough under warrant on Tuesday morning.

 

The forceâ??s National Football Co-ordination Unit is investigating the remarks that were published on the retired match official's website following a Glasgow derby game last December.

 

Mr Winter, who describes himself as a Rangers fan on his Twitter page, posted a message on the social networking site at the end of last month claiming he was on holiday abroad until September 18.

 

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: "At around 8am on Tuesday, September 11, officers from the National Football Co-ordination Unit searched a property in Middlesbrough under warrant and seized various items of equipment.

 

"This is part of an ongoing inquiry in connection with alleged offensive comments posted on a website. A further operation on Tuesday resulted in a man being detained and subsequently released in London in connection with the incident. Enquiries are continuing."

 

The man who was detained by Strathclyde Police officers investigating the comments that appeared on Mr Winterâ??s blog is not believed to be the former referee, who now works as a football pundit for Talksport Radio and Sky Sports, as well as performing on the after-dinner speaking circuit.

 

On December 28, the blog entry, posted under the name of Jeff Winter, asked whether "altar boys" would get "abused in celebration" after Celtic won the latest Old Firm game last month.

 

One of the posts, dated December 30, 2011, described Pope Benedict XVI as "dress wearing, Nazi, kiddy fiddling protector".

 

Web hosting service 123 Reg suspended the site after the posts were highlighted. In January the site re-appeared briefly before being suspended once again by 123 Reg. Shortly afterwards it reappeared after it was moved to a German web hosting service.

 

The former Premiership referee, who retired in 2004, denied any knowledge of the posts in an interview with the Northern Echo, claiming he had been away touring New Zealand and Australia for 39 days and "had little or no opportunity to phone, email or text as I have been at sea most of the time." Mr Winter told the newspaper he would "take some legal advice" in relation to the posts.

 

Celtic Football Club complained to Strathclyde Police after the articles, which were purported to be written by Mr Winter on his travels, were highlighted.

 

The force's national Football Co-ordination Unit was established to deal with football related violence, disorder, sectarianism and other hate crimes.

 

http://local.stv.tv/glasgow/189800-ex-referee-jeff-winters-home-raided-by-police-over-anti-catholic-blogs/

[trueblue 64 57]

Fact, alter boys have been abused world wide.

Fact, the pope does wear a dress.

Fact, the pope has protected kiddy fiddlers.

Not sure about the nazi, but i've heard the rumours.

I await the chap at my door or have pacific shelf got to complain first.

Pacific Shelf = Penn State = FACT.

[craig 5,199]

I thought Celtic were "all-inclusive" ? So the next time Mad Joe or Phil Whitshisname make a "drown all proddies" statement we can expect them to also complain to Strathclyde's finest ?

 

Lying, hypocritical bastards since 1888

[Ergatrude 0]

I'm sure I seen this guy in Govan Rear at the Berwick Rangers game.

[DUDE 0]

I assume Mad Phil's house got raided after proclaiming Anti- Protestant/ Rangers blogs then. Oh right, it didn't. The world's going to hell in a handbasket if you can't even insult the pope without having your house raided. Jesus.

[26th of foot 6,084]

Fact, alter boys have been abused world wide.

Fact, the pope does wear a dress.

Fact, the pope has protected kiddy fiddlers.

Not sure about the nazi, but i've heard the rumours.

I await the chap at my door or have pacific shelf got to complain first.

Pacific Shelf = Penn State = FACT.

 

 

Reference the current pope.

 

He was a member of the Hitler Youth from age 7 to 15. At 16, in 1944 he was called up to serve in the Luftwaffe. He trained as an anti-aircrtaft gunner but in a vatican issued statement he appears to be the only gunner NEVER to have fired a shot. His unit was attached to a Waffen SS division and given they were armour heavy and the allies had complete air superiority during 44-45, I suspect he was most busy in a target rich environment.

 

He is well nicknamed, 'Ratzi the Nazi(the Panzer pope)'.

[Thinker 887]

If a comedian (Frankie Boyle, for example) had said either of the two quotes no-one would mention the word "Sectarianism".

 

Leaders of organised religions who try to tell the rest of the world how to behave, and what we should believe, deserve to have the piss taken out of them for their failings and hypocrisy. It doesn't become Sectarian just because the remarks are made by a Rangers fan.

[craig 5,199]

Given he was a member of Hitler Youth is it not beyond doubt that he was a Nazi ? Or could he lay claim to being forced into it ? I thought Hitler Youth were allowed to join at will rather than force.

 

All the other accusations allegedly from Winter are actually facts. It is well documented that the Vatican have covered up child abuse and altar boy abuse for DECADES. I thought the current Pope was one of the main proponents of the cover-ups, was he not ?

 

If the quoted remarks above are the only ones in his articles then there really is nothing in there to incriminate him. They are FACTS. Facts are not, or at least should not, be punishable.

 

And for Celtic to get involved shows just how much of a PR machine they have, looking over websites of Rangers sympathisers. And listening to their fan groups who undoubtedly would have highlighted to the club.

 

But I say it again.... Celtic scream that they are "all-inclusive" - so in the interests of "inclusivity" we will expect that something more will come of Mad Joe's "drown all proddy" rants especially as he represents the OFFICIAL Celtic Supporters Association/Trust, right ? Surely Celtic complained about such obvious inflammatory, sectarian, bigotted remarks ? Surely they removed Mad Joe from his OFFICIAL position ? No ? What the......

[DUDE 0]

Just to be fair, back in the days you were forced into Hitler Youth and to join the army and fight during the last year of war in Germany. No way around it. Claiming to be the only soldier to never have fired a shot during WWII is ridiculous beyong belief. His charity held him back, was it that?

[DUDE 0]

If a comedian (Frankie Boyle, for example) had said either of the two quotes no-one would mention the word "Sectarianism".

 

Leaders of organised religions who try to tell the rest of the world how to behave, and what we should believe, deserve to have the piss taken out of them for their failings and hypocrisy. It doesn't become Sectarian just because the remarks are made by a Rangers fan.

 

Amen (no pun intended)