It appears that the BBC are sending individuals who complained about the half time comments during the Cup Final a rambling reply about Lennon, bomb threats, sectarian headlines, etc to admit in a round about way that the employees in question were in the wrong. Seeing as these incorrect comments were made so publicly surely the BBC should also go public with their reply...
Thanks for contacting BBC Complaints. Please accept our apologies for the delay in replying; we know our viewers appreciate a quick response and we’re sorry that you’ve had to wait on this occasion. We have received a number of comments concerning the half-time discussion at this year's Scottish Cup Final, to which BBC Scotland has offered a response on the points raised, as below. At the half time interval of our live television broadcast of this year's Scottish Cup Final the presenter and one of the guests briefly mentioned that sectarian singing had been heard coming from a minority of Celtic fans. Given the incidents of recent weeks, and taking into account the statement by Neil Lennon posted on the club's official website just days before the Final, it was editorially appropriate to include this short discussion. Sectarianism and associated behaviours have been the topic of much comment this season and five editions of Sportscene in April and May took time to debate the issue in relation to the general problem and to specific incidents such as the sending of parcel bombs and the fining of Rangers FC by UEFA. There is a continuing debate around the definition of "sectarian" and we accept that it would have been more accurate for our presenter to refer to "songs that some people believe to be an expression of sectarianism but which many people nonetheless find both offensive and provocative". There is no doubt that the issue of sectarianism in Scotland has moved into a new phase since the events of April and May, with the First Minister asserting that tackling it in all its forms will be a priority for the new government. BBC Scotland will continue to report on this and all other areas of public interest and debate in a fair and balanced manner over time. We can also assure you that your concerns have been registered on our audience log; this is a daily report of audience feedback that’s made available to many BBC staff, including members of the BBC Executive Board, channel controllers and other senior managers. Thank you for contacting BBC Scotland on this matter. Details of the BBC's complaints processes are available online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/ Yours sincerely, BBC Audience Services www.bbc.co.uk/complaints NB This is sent from an outgoing account only which is not monitored. You cannot reply to this email address but if necessary please contact us via our webform quoting any case number we provided Kind Regards BBC Audience Services
Utter cop-out. So basically there was no hard evidence that Celtic fans were singing sectarian songs so they've covered themselves with a vague "well they might be offensive to some." If they had no evidence of sectarian signing they should not have mentioned it. I cannot ever recall a time when presenters on a BBC live TV football event have felt compelled to accuse people of sectarian singing and you have to question the reason why it was done on this occasion.
The absolute necessity to portray us and the Huns as two cheeks of the same arse. This took place in the immediate aftermath of the Huns getting fined again for their supporters racism an sectarianism.
We've been getting accused of it for years with little or no evidence. The Billy Boys stitch up in 2006 opened up a massive can of worms. If you dont like your own medicine then cut out the pathetic MOPE behaviour, every time we beat your shower of green and grey tramps we get pulled up for offensive singing. You are a bunch of greeting faced wee lassies who just cant take defeat. Oh and just to be clear, you were singing IRA songs and have been for as long as I can remember. It doesnt bother me, each to their own and all that but you target our songs and we'll target yours. Ya fanny.
Frank the **** - I was at the game and heard nothing offensive. You on the other hand are offensive and a ****er
Frank strikes again. **** sake boys he'd be as well to post a picture of himself with a rod, waders and a t-shirt saying "Full-Time WUM"
"Go home ya huns." "Go on home British soldiers...." "Cheer up Walter Smith..... dirty orange bastard." "Paddy McCourt's fenian army." "Ooh aah up the 'Ra" "I-I-IRA" Pathetic "bloostained" protest Monkey chants to El Hadji Diouf. Boys of the old Brigade There are many, many more. I couldnt care less if you all turned up in balaclavas, chanting "Die Brits Die" throughout your games while chucking breadsticks about in dedication to Bobby Sands, but you want to play the sectarian card you need to clean your own house out first. Hunners and hunners of bheggars, all launching boulders inside a massive greenhouse.
Hi Graham, hows things? I thought you posted everything on twitter these days since the Times is behind a paywall? Have you sorted your BO problem yet?
Although I don't like any of those songs, chants etc. the only one that breaks the law was the monkey chants towards Diouf. The others are just unpleasant. I don't think you have a very good grasp on the difference between what is considered simply offensive and what is considered breaking the law. ps I have to say the only person throwing their toys out of the pram about the issue is YOU.
Eddie, Eddie, Eddie, you're just not getting it, are you son? These songs are on a par with Rangers fans singing "We're up to our knees in fenian blood", as they glorify the bombing and terror of British cities. The "go home" ones are exactly the same as The Famine Song. Its actually quite funny watching the green & grey masses getting all offended by our songs then shouting about killing Brits seconds later. Strange, abnormal people. With regards to our club, I'm quite happy for us to move with the times and concentrate on songs that bring a positive rousing atmosphere such as Penny Arcade and promote our Scottish / British heritage - its something we should be proud of. If anything, at least our club is proactive in bringing ourselves into the 21st century, celtc however are in denial as usual about their infested problems.
Nope. supporters of your football club sing racist and sectarian songs. The Celtic support do not. you are so desperate to say that we are as "bad as you" that you will confound logic to do it. I suggest you concentrate on eliminating racist and sectarian behaviour that gets your club fined by UEFA with alarming regularity.
Rangers fans used to sing "offensive" songs. This has stopped now Celtic fans still sing "offensive" songs. IRA songs are offensive to 99% of the people in Britain. Calling Wattie a DOB is a sectarian slur. Making monkey noises at Joof is racist. A Celtic fan was jailed for doing the monkey act just last month Celtic fans were rioting at Tynescastle!!!
Go on, give us an example of racist behaviour. Not, aye but Yoofa... eh Manchester an'at, some clear exact instances of racist behaviour. This should be good. Its nice to see your club and support bury your heads with your problems, it'll bite you right in the arse ostrich bhoy.
when did Rangers supporters stop singing "offensive songs"? IRA songs might be offensive but they are absolutely not racist or sectarian What sect are the pseudo-political/pseudo religious and overtly sectarian Orange Order? Monkey noises at Diouf? the individual was rightly punished for his racism. This was absolutely not en masse and absolutely not indicative of the Celtic support. was the 'riot' at tynecastle a racist riot or a sectarian riot? I understand that you would want to lie and broaden the argument to try and link things that happen amongst the Celtic support with the racist and sectarian actions of the Rangers support, but it just doesn't stack up.
The "famine" song is racist. Your supporters invented and sing this song en masse. I am quite happy to have the discussion about Republican songs being offensive and indeed how appropriate it is to sing them at Celtic games b ut they are not, were not and never will be construed as being racist or sectarian.
