In a week in which Sir Alex Ferguson has called for the end to the offensive chants at football games regarding the Hillsborough and Munich disasters, it seems the SFA have finally decided to act against the most offensive and sectarian section of the Celtic support. I suppose better late than never.
The SFA have charged Celtic over their extremist supporters group the Green Brigade with a Notice of Complaint regarding their grossly offensive banner. For those who don’t know, the banner depicts the fans of the Ibrox club as reverse evolving into an ape wearing a Rangers scarf and being shot by a gunman who looks decidedly like a PIRA sniper.
These Green Brigade members have clearly read ‘the Incubator’ by Phil Mac Giolla Bhain, the Celtic supports favourite author, a tale in which Rangers fans are conceived with corrupt DNA and are carried by a 1000lb guerrilla. The author the Scottish Sun labelled as tarred by the sectarian brush.
As welcome as it is, it is hard to believe that the SFA are genuine. This smacks of an attempt to even up the score and say look we charge Celtic too. If the SFA were really serious about going after the extremist supporters group the Green Brigade, then why no action on the more offensive banners that have been displayed. The racist Poppy Day banner for instance, outraged the nation yet saw no action from the football authorities, police, government or Celtic Football Club.
The question is why now? I wrote about this banner in July 2012. If there is no time limit, then the SFA should revisit the Poppy Day insult and show that it means what it says. Sadly this is a stunt to give the impression of even handedness within the Scottish game. This also come days after Celtic chief Peter Lawwell gave an interview to the Scottish press saying that he does not have too much influence over the Scottish game. Timing, as they say, is everything.
It is time the Green Brigade was banned from Scottish football. They have a history of offensive behaviour, promoting prescribed organisations with their pro PIRA banners and songs, and use of the sectarian term Hun. The Green Brigade is a throwback to the dark days of religious division in football in Glasgow, when the followers of Rangers and Celtic identified with one side or the other during the Irish troubles. Scotland has moved on from these tribal/ political affiliations.
Rangers are evolving, and not as the Green Brigade think – going backwards. The fans and the club have never been closer and there is now a community/ family atmosphere at Ibrox. As for the Green Brigade, well it seems they are stuck in the past and we can only hope we will soon see the end of these dinosaur bigots – but at least in the meantime, the rest of us can get on with doing what we enjoy best, watching football.
http://rangersthefallandrise.wordpress.com/ Follow me on Twitter @Cyberted72
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I cant even comprehend what club you support, maybe a Blue Glasgow team who stated that Division Three was “Paedo Free”?probably. Its a fact that it wasnt a PIRA Sniper, thats just bigotted Rangers fans Digging for anything to tar Celtic with. Just like the mock gun in Celtic Park at the Old Firm Game. Mock Gun or Banner? Non-Rangers fans say the Latter. Petty attempt really. If we are being punished over the ‘offensive’ banner why is the SFA/SFL silent in the Paedo Free banner? Or the fact your fans have been chanting “F*ck the SFA” and “Vincent Lunny is a W*nker”? If that was me i would certainly be more offended at What seems to be a crowd of bigots shouting that you are a w*nker, and not a banner in a friendly game by a group which is the best thing about Scottish Football bar Celtics Champions League progress. While you are in Division Three, you seem to REALLY hate the SFA. What will you do when your back in a few years time, if your even back as soon as that. Your terrible away form suggests otherwise. Will you refuse to play? Or will you be like a child getting a toy back? Secretly happy but you want to look angry.
Banish the Green Brigade? The group The Rangers wanna-be ultras steal every song and display off of? I would be intrigued to find out how you came to the conclusion that the banner was ‘grossly offensive’. Was it really that, or are you trying to be grossly offended? And looks like a PIRA sniperman? Again, thats you trying to find something that’s not there. Also Phil Mac Giolla Bhain is certainly not going to be a newco fan favourite is he? After all, he was the one who warned you all years ago that your club would eventually go bust and everyone laughed at him. He’s the one laughing now.
‘This smacks of an attempt to even up the score and say look we charge Celtic too.’ That’s exactly what it is because similarly to the Juninho EBT scenario, Celtic don’t have a case to answer. The SFA are simply trying to appease The Rangers’ support in an attempt to kill any suggestions that they are corrupt, something which Celtic fans have said for years and again been mocked, with fans of your former club claiming it was a ‘conspiracy’? Again, who’s laughing now?
And speaking of ‘grossly offensive’ banners, what about The Rangers’ display of Peado free in Division 3? I see you conveniently failed to mention your FANTASTIC support and how well they have conducted themselves at the foot of Scottish football. Arrests for sectarian singing in every single away game you have played this season. I think it’s thugs like that who should be banned instead of the Green Brigade who have rejuvenated the atmosphere in Scottish football.
I suggest you concentrate on your new clubs’ own reckless support, especially given the fact the boos from your defeat on Wednesday night are still lingering in my ears.
And anyway, like Phil, you should congratulate the Green Brigade in prediciting the future. Like they said, Your Day Is Coming.
Oh how they were right.