Selective hearing only fuels sectarian hatred

[craig 5,199]

3 minutes ago, Bill said:

You're right ... but I think also wrong. We DO need to get our own house in order but the only ones we'll be doing it for are ourselves. The notion that it would have the slightest effect of the Leckies of this world seems very dubious. They might not condemn us for singing songs but they will certainly continue to disparage us over some other issue. They haven't hounded Morelos over sectarianism but they still do their damnedest to have him suspended and his reputation tarnished. It wasn't singing TBB that appointed Compliance Officers who have demonstrably favoured our main rival. And it wasn't calling opposition managers sad ****** bastards that led to a BBC boycott of reporting from Ibrox.

I think you are right.. and wrong too - lol.

 

I think we all know that the Leckie's of the world hate Rangers and will constantly look for ways to demonize us.  However, we know for sure that if we have our own house in order they will need to find spurious ways to do so, which can be highlighted by us AND the club - in the meantime we can keep these same issues in the media ourselves and at least try to shine a light on others.  If we don't clean up the songbook (whether we disagree with having to or not) then we have absolutely NO CHANCE of shining the light elsewhere.

 

Surely having some chance is better than none ?

[cooponthewing 1,139]

44 minutes ago, craig said:

See, whilst I agree with you - the bigger issue, for us, is getting our own house in order.  Do that and then go after the likes of Leckie and ask if they still want that.

 

In fact, clear up our own house and we could willingly request strict liability - and when Celtic complain about strict liability we can ask why not ?  If they don't have a songbook problem then surely they don't have an issue with strict liability either.....

I think SL is a dangerous way to go. Boyd was right when he said idiots could get in and throw/chant/invade playing area. These idiots being opposing fans intent of having points docked. This would definitely happen in nuthouse Scotland.

[stewarty 2,025]

Strict liability is similar to the OBFA in my view.  It will be pushed by those who assume it will not affect them.  Then when it does affect them, they will go mental and claim it was someone else's fault.

 

As we can see with UEFA's strict liability scheme, it appears to be merely a joke with paltry fines year after year for poor behaviour.

At the end of the day, society needs to stop blaming football for its problems just because football stadia are a visible medium for elements of its ills.  Far more people suffer from racism, homophobia or other forms of discrimination which the stats prove year on year.   But that narrative doesn't suit the agenda of those who's careers depend upon the outrage they themselves fuel.

 

 

[craig 5,199]

32 minutes ago, cooponthewing said:

I think SL is a dangerous way to go. Boyd was right when he said idiots could get in and throw/chant/invade playing area. These idiots being opposing fans intent of having points docked. This would definitely happen in nuthouse Scotland.

I'm not advocating it - I am merely saying we would be in a position to ask why Celtic wouldn't want it if they hadn't an issue with their songbook - perhaps I wasn't clear enough though.

 

Strict liability has the potential to be an absolute disaster.

[Bill 13,717]

1 hour ago, craig said:

I think you are right.. and wrong too - lol.

 

I think we all know that the Leckie's of the world hate Rangers and will constantly look for ways to demonize us.  However, we know for sure that if we have our own house in order they will need to find spurious ways to do so, which can be highlighted by us AND the club - in the meantime we can keep these same issues in the media ourselves and at least try to shine a light on others.  If we don't clean up the songbook (whether we disagree with having to or not) then we have absolutely NO CHANCE of shining the light elsewhere.

 

Surely having some chance is better than none ?

 I’m all for the strategy. My issue is really with the expectations. We could and should ditch these songs ... just don’t espect any gain from it. 

[craig 5,199]

1 minute ago, Bill said:

 I’m all for the strategy. My issue is really with the expectations. We could and should ditch these songs ... just don’t espect any gain from it. 

Agreed wholeheartedly.  Ditch the songs though and there is a chance, no matter how slim.  Don't ditch them, and we have no chance.

[Bill 13,717]

5 minutes ago, craig said:

Agreed wholeheartedly.  Ditch the songs though and there is a chance, no matter how slim.  Don't ditch them, and we have no chance.

I still don’t really agree. I think we should ditch these songs, not because they are genuinely offensive but because they are binding us to a past that should have been relinquished long ago and limiting our collective progress into a new future. Any impact it would have on the activities of our detractors is as superfluous as it’s doubtful. 

Edited February 25, 2019 by Bill

[BEARGER 1,830]

Neil McCann has lifted the lid on the sectarian abuse he was subjected to on the day Dundee and Celticpaid tribute to his late father.

His dad Eddie passed away at the end of 2017 and both teams held a minute's applause for Eddie McCann before the Hoops' 2-0 win in the Boxing Day fixture.

But McCann has revealed he was STILL subjected to vile taunts from away supporters during the contest and has suffered since the day he joined Rangers.

Sectarian abuse is a hot topic in Scottish football with Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke and striker Kris Boyd victims of disgusting chants over the past eight days

Clarke and Boyd put on a united front at a press conference last week and Rangers boss Steven Gerrard and Dave King strongly spoke out against the perpetrators and believe there is no place in Scottish football for such behaviour.

The former Scotland international, who is a Catholic, believes he has always been a target for abuse because of his religion and the team he played for


McCann, who won nine trophies during his time at Ibrox, admits now is the time for things to change once and for all.

The former Dens Park boss told BBC Sportsound: "Being Catholic and signing for Rangers was a big story.

"It wasn't just myself but my family were subjected to lots of abuse. It is unacceptable, it's totally unacepptable.

"I grew to ignore it and to be honest it's water off a duck's back, it doesn't bother me

"But now we are in a situation in life where people are not ignoring it anymore. That goes for sexual orientation, gender and race.

"People are now saying 'enough is enough'.

'Now I've been subjected to all sorts and some of the shouts which have come off the back of it are pretty despicable and shouldn't happen - they have no place in the game of football and no place in the general public.

"There's not much you can do about it, it's difficult to turn when you're out with family - that's when it becomes beyond personal.

"That's when it hurts when you're with a member of your family, especially your children.

"Even when we held a minute's applause when my father passed away, we were playing Celtic on BT Sport.

"I was subjected to the exact same song that Steve Clarke got when Celtic scored their first goal.

"That happened then and nothing was said about it. It's not just one club here, it's not just two clubs - it happens at other clubs as well."

McCann admits despicable chants and taunts have followed him throughout his career but says the abuse hasn't been limited to just Celtic supporters.

He added: "It's not just one club here, it's not just two clubs - it happens at other clubs as well.

I've been called 'the hun' and an 'orange b******' and all the rest of it and I'm Catholic.

"When I played football I had no interest whatsoever in the religious set-up or anybody's ideas or gripes.

"I went to play football and chose to play for Glasgow Rangers and it was a huge honour to play for such a prestigious club.

"I have everything - I remember saying at the time I wasn't a Rangers fan when I signed but from that onwards I would become one because when someone is paying you to play for them then you give everything for that team.

"I would like to think the abuse that I take is purely for that fact that I have gone to Rangers, and I'm talking about Celtic fans directly, because I'm a Catholic and played for Rangers and I have some right that I shouldn't sign for that club and further my career."