Fans Against Criminalisation I know we have Hibs in the League Cup on our mind today but would like to look ahead to Saturday. The umbrella group, Fans Against Criminalisation, have organised a rally in GEORGE SQUARE before our home league game against Hibs. I asked the group who they were, what their objectives are and why we should go along on Saturday, and was very impressed with their answers: âFans Against Criminalisation is a campaign group founded by five fan organisations (Green Brigade, Celtic Trust, Celtic Supporters Association, Affiliation of Celtic Supporters, Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs). The campaign was formed on the back of the Green Brigadeâs well-received protest at the Inverness game and after many previous discussions between the organisations about the Bill. We decided to come together to campaign against the Bill. âOur objective is to âKill the Billâ, the first part which deals with âoffensive behaviour at footballâ anyway. We have no problem with the government trying to tackle societal problems like sectarianism but these are not footballâs problems alone and where sectarian crimes are committed then existing laws can be used to arrest and prosecute offenders. The new law goes far beyond sectarianism and captures anything that may offend or may cause disorder. This is only applied to football fans and it is ludicrous given that there is little or no disorder in Scottish football grounds and that routine aspects of football rivalry and tribalism will now be criminal offences. Government ministers have said fans who do anything from blessing yourself to singing a national anthem could fall foul of the proposes new law. âThe Government has shown little interest in fansâ views on the Bill. F.A.C. will be campaigning vigorously over the coming weeks and months and will be making our views heard. If the Bill passes then we will continue to protest against it, and challenge it legally and politically. The Celtic support is a very powerful potential constituency and the Scottish Government should be mindful of that. âThe rally is the starting point for the campaign. We need Celtic fans to get along and show their support for the campaign and add weight to our voice. Weâve asked people to assemble at 12.00 and the demo will start at 12.30 with speakers from the campaign. Thereâs no headline acts â Saturday is simply a time for ordinary Celtic fans to come together and unite against the Bill; a time to come together and send a message to the politicians that we will fight them all the way. Everyone should be doing their best to get along to George Square on Saturday and say no to the Bill.â If at all possible, get along on Saturday and register your support. http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/?p=6790 please log in to view this image
Rebelbear. I feel very sorry that you have went to so much trouble and no one has replied. Not even your friend Pud. Really sad.! ! !
Huge effort.....copy......paste. Of course, you'd have already known about this demonstration....what with you being a "Celtic fan" an' all. Don't worry, I'm sure they'll have something similar arranged round Govan way
please log in to view this image Bigots against Bigotry, who'dathunkit? "itsh only ufensuv if itsh aganest cafllicks so it is byraway" Thick ****s, 'youse' were well warned, the O'Fended bus is coming home to roost, next stop, Parkhead, population Rebelbhoob and the Groin Brigade.
I honestly think its a waste of time, if it was organised sensible people maybe it could be worth while but its a bunch of fannys that will do their cause more harm than good. The Celtic Trust are a embarrassment ****ing I despair everytime they speak in the media for apparently 'Celtic fans'.
Get fan groups from other clubs involved and put forward fan lead proposals to improve the situation. Disassosiate the cause with club affilication. Stop tollerating arseholes in any support. have a rally of fans demanding the behaviour of football fans improves and not against the bill and get political support for this.
I understand there are moves being made for a collective opposition as well. I have no problem with a well articulated opposition to the Bill from whatever quarter it comes from. It seems to me that this is just that.
Rebelbear, I am very sorry you did not have the good manners to thank me for replying to your opening post that had stayed on this forum unanswered for over 7 day time hours. Of course I ill be there on Saturday, but at my age I don't like to be around imbeciles and half wits, so you will have to forgive me. Very unlikely Tom/cat will attend he has set his mind on other prey.
Celtic Supporters Association, Affiliation of Celtic Supporters, Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs and the peoples front of judea... SPLITTERS!
I have my doubts rebel. I think there has been a lot of scaremongering and exaggeration about the bill and demos such as this will do little to address the real concerns.
What are the real concerns? It seems to me that the real concerns are about the application of unnecessary legislation. Those organising the demo appear to have hit exactly the right notes as far as I can see.
If this was done properly there should have been an effort to reach out to many different clubs - rather than now it seem's like a "Celtic supporters want to sing IRA songs" co-operative. This is a scarey bill in what it proposes. The whole thing came about after an Old Firm game where the most 'sectarian' thing that happened was that Ally McCoist and Neil Lennon squared up to each other before walking away. It's ridiculous that law makers can be so reactionary, if that of been Arsene Wenger and Ferguson in England there would not be any association with bigotry or sectarianism - why is it only in Scotland that a bitter sporting rivalry, on the pitch no less, is looked at having darker undertones?
