Seemingly I was mistaken with regards to its application but correct with regards to the interpretation of the new legislation. I think we can all agree (from a legal perspective) that the debate is over. http://www.scotsman.com/news/politic...rown_1_2019687 Published on Thursday 22 December 2011 00:00 CELTIC fans have been warned by police that singing âOoh ah up the âRAâ at games will lead to arrests and prosecutions, following advice from the Crown Office. However, Assistant Chief Constable Campbell Corrigan said âno other chant or song, sung en masse by the Celtic fansâ would currently be subject to criminal proceedings. The advice, revealed at a supportersâ meeting, goes further than the Scottish Government, which has refused to list which songs will be banned when the new legislation â the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill â comes into force. The Lord Advocate has issued guidance saying it could be any song, chant or behaviour âthat is likely to lead to public disorderâ, but this has been criticised for being too âvagueâ. The Scottish Premier League has also banned pro-terrorist chants at matches, and warned clubs they could lose points or be made to play games behind closed doors if they fail to tackle such behaviour. Celtic and Rangers fans have reacted angrily to what they see as the criminalising of football, and have held protests at matches and in the centre of Glasgow. When the new legislation was passed in the Scottish Parliament last week, fans were banned from the public gallery for wearing T-shirts with the slogans âFootball fans â not criminalsâ and âShame on you SNPâ. However, ministers are determined to crack down on sectarianism in the Scottish game. Last season saw ugly clashes at Old Firm matches, bullets and explosives sent to high-profile figures including Celtic manager Neil Lennon, and a breach of the peace offence by Hearts fan John Wilson after he approached Lennon at pitchside at Tynecastle stadium in Edinburgh. Earlier this month, Celtic were cleared of breaching SPL rules after fans were reported for singing pro-IRA songs, with the league deciding that the club had taken all reasonable steps to minimise the risk of such âunacceptable conductâ. Speaking at the Celtic supportersâ meeting last month after a fan had been arrested for singing the song at a match earlier in the season, ACC Corrigan warned supporters that such chants will be dealt with by the police and the Crown Office. âThe ACC said that his understanding â coming from the procurator-fiscal in Glasgow â is that if you sing âOoh ah up the âRAâ you will be prosecuted for breach of the peace,â minutes from the meeting revealed. âWhen questioned, he said that no other chant or song, sung en masse by the Celtic fans is currently seen as being something for which you would be charged at a football ground. However, he said that could change under certain circumstances.â Celtic FC and the Celtic Trust declined to comment. Strathclyde Police said Rangers also had songs that, if sung, would lead to arrest and prosecution. They said they would name songs liable to lead to criminal action. A Crown Office spokesman said: âThe singing of offensive songs, of any kind, will not be tolerated and the perpetrators of any incidents of this nature will be dealt with robustly by the prosecution service. âWhere the song is religiously prejudiced, the relevant aggravation will be libelled. âWe will continue to work with police, law enforcement, football clubs, the authorities and supporters to ensure that Scottish sporting venues are free from all kinds of offensive behaviour.â
I assume he means "currently sung en masse by the Celtic fans". Theoretically, if that's an absolute statement, there's nothing to stop us singing a song about dipping our balls in the mouths of the Dalai Lama and the Queen (for example). Does this mean there'll be no charges for singing BOTOB?
Never thought of that! I don't actually use Dr in real life - just at work. It sometimes gets dropped in when dealing with condescending ****s - GPs, bank managers and the like.
It's in Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics. That's nothing to with maintaining herds of cows and growing tatties Webs.
Irrelevant? You commented I needed a better education. Where do I go to get a better education? Try and get a degree in 'Hard Knocks' from the University of Life?
So you're broadly educated then Webs? How did you manage that then? I'm always keen to better myself.
Yes, I do have a broad education, as well as a particular expertise in this area. Partly through a wonderful Jesuit education in my formative years. Partly through the subjects I studied during my further education and partly through my professional experiences. If there were ever a discussion about two towns in Greece, I would bow to your knowledge of Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics. In fact, I probably wouldn't comment on it. I'd be offended if you actually believed I thought they are two towns in Greece
I actually believe that you thought Pharmacology was to do with growing potatoes in an environmentally sound way. So what is your expertise?
