Bigotry!! Football problem or social problem

[A Horse called Juan Face]

again i will point out that the human race is not as intelligent as it would like to appear.
! Adamski = thumbs.

Trouble is, a lot of this nonsense is perpetrated by otherwise reasonably intelligent individuals who are carried along and encouraged by the mass hysteria of a group identity.

if they do this pish then there not intelligent, theres only two or three rangers fans ( off the top of my head ) that i can talk to about football objectively. One is on the forum - rabmcd. one is his best pal - hector. And another is my old boss - Mr brian. Other than these most rangers fans are blinded by the sectarianism. I hate rangers for a multitude of reasons, none of them are because of religion, as i am a protestant myself. I dont care about celtic either as my dad is a catholic and so are four of my best friends ( i even included mcwhirter, oh dear).
Its pish and i cant go this im only a 90 minute bigot shite either. If youre a bigot for one minute then ur a bigot, you cant be a 90 minute rapist. I dont discriminate, i hate everyone, except lee miller.

[A Horse called Juan Face]

sorry forgot about daftdog, hes actually all right as well. There are more, but i canna think on them ay noo

[daftdog]

sorry forgot about daftdog, hes actually all right as well. There are more, but i canna think on them ay noo

I love you to Juan.. pizza, dvd and an early night tonight??

[A Horse called Juan Face]

as long as no anchovys

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Its pish and i cant go this im only a 90 minute bigot shite either. If youre a bigot for one minute then ur a bigot, you cant be a 90 minute rapist. I dont discriminate, i hate everyone, except lee miller.

Horse, did I ever tell you I really like you!

[Sheik Yir Erse]

Here's something just for starters, Ionns:

http://european-football.suite101.com/article.cfm/uefa_investigate_celtic_chants

Govangirl - if you're going to post a link like this, you should at least have the decency to post the outcome .....

The outcome was that no disciplinary case was even opened by UEFA, nevermind investigated, nevermind dropped. Just a point of information.

[Govangirl]

Hey, take a chill pill Sheik! It doesn't really matter WHAT the outcome was anyway - the point is still relevant and that is that both 'sides' sing sectarian songs.

I find sniffing lavendar helps when I get all het up!

[EMDEE]

Sheik

Like many things of this nature, just because no action was taken does not negate the fact that something happened. I think the fact that such a thing is reported is enough for most of us to appreciate that there is a problem.

Horse

Intelligence and ignorance are two different things that can go hand in hand where unacceptable group behaviour is concerned. Intelligence is a scientifically measurable attribute, whereas ignorance is a variable that is created by a combination of environmental factors, upbringing, and peer group pressure. I still believe that sectarian bigotry is practiced by many people who are not of low intelligence, but may appear to be because of the stereotypical image that we have of the bigoted football hooligan.

[Sheik Yir Erse]

Like many things of this nature, just because no action was taken does not negate the fact that something happened. I think the fact that such a thing is reported is enough for most of us to appreciate that there is a problem.

EMDEE - I wasn't saying it didn't happen, I was merely highlighting that Govangirls example was not a particularly good one to choose. It is indeed a curiosity in itself, the reasons being as follows. This allegation was made about 3 weeks AFTER the events had taken place. It was brought to the attention of UEFA by a journalist from the Daily Record, Alan Carson (allegedly). This was done just a few days prior to an important Celtic v Rangers game. The allegations were dismissed by UEFA as there was no case to answer.

I should perhaps have made my point slightly better; I was not saying there is no problem, I was not saying there is no sectarian singing, I was merely highlighting this was a particularly poor case to use, as many Celtic fans believe it continues to show a bias against them, this is bourne out by the fact that you will find many articles pointing to the allegation, but precious few to the outcome!

Govangirl would have been better just stating that both sides sing sectarian songs and leaving it at that But then I suppose Ionns would still disagree with that statement

[Govangirl]

Thank you, Emdee. I can always rely on you to say it far more succintly.
I do know where you are coming from Juan but honestly, I know a few people who are very intelligent but when it comes to this kind of bigotry, all sense of reason goes out the window - and that's Celtic and Rangers fans alike, I'm not differentiating here.
Perhaps I just get too emotional on this subject as it is one that affects me. I have heard over the last year about all kinds of approaches and resolutions by the Scottish Executive, the police, the clubs themselves and 'powers that be' but in the end the only people who can end this bigotry are the fans themselves. They all need to take responsibility for their words and action, no matter what team they support. I wouldn't advocate ending traditional football chants but not those that are twisted into mindless sectarian anthems. I still don't know if this message is taken into schools but it ought to be. The work that both the Rangers and Celtic clubs do is commendable but in the end, it will be how much the fans themselves take notice.
And am I hopeful? Well, even on this board there have been examples of parochial, tit-for-tat, 'it's not us' nonsense so no, I'm not. Sadly

[Govangirl]

The allegations were dismissed by UEFA as there was no case to answer.

Actually, Sheik, the allegations were dismissed by UEFA as there was not enough evidence.

[Sheik Yir Erse]

Actually, Sheik, the allegations were dismissed by UEFA as there was not enough evidence.

Not enough evidence = no case to answer

[Govangirl]

Okay, Sheik, I'll go with that. I wasn't being biased towards Celtic, just trying to drive the message home that it is on both sides. Friends?

[Sheik Yir Erse]

Friends

[Sheik Yir Erse]

I don't believe in any of the "it's not us" nonsense. Both sides are as bad as each other. I tend to believe I have a reasonably unique view of both sides, being a Protestant who supports Celtic I get pelters from both camps

I've been nearly beaten up in Milan by Celtic fans for having the audacity of telling them that if Lubo Moravcik was such a genius he wouldn't have been playing at Celtic I was asked to leave company of others after admitting I attended Ian Durrant's testimonial match I've been called both a Dirty O**** B and Dirty F****** B depending on teh company I've been in. I attended 4 games at Ibrox last year, none of them involving Celtic, and was subsequently 100% ignored in the Rangers pub when I met a friend who asked "What are you doing at this game?". Generally I love to expose both sets of bigots for what they are.

At Parkhead I refuse to sing the Soldiers Song (it has no relevance to me), the Irish adaptation of Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land" (it has no relevance to me), the Fields of Athenrye (it has no relevance to me). I do however partake in the Willie Maley Song, The Celtic Song and You'll Never Walk Alone (this is a worldwide football anthem)

Someone mentioned it earlier, it's not necessarily about religious sectarianism, purely the tribalism that exists in almost every society on earth. Therefore it's human nature, we just need to try and reduce it's impact on our society as best we can, but we'll never eradicate it.