Scottish football knows a thing or two about religious strife. Clubs tend to be either Catholic (e.g. Celtic) or Protestant (e.g. Rangers) and much trouble has been seen due to this division. It seems very silly to me because from my own English perspective I think it should be about the game and not re-fighting the Battle of the Boyne ad-infinitum.
I get the impression that sectarian tensions in Scottish football have eased somewhat in the last few years due to things like the Northern Ireland peace-process, an influx of players from beyond these islands who neither know nor care about the history and also hopefully the realisation that it is all exceedingly silly tribalism which has no place in the modern developed world.
So you can imagine how dismayed I was to read this about Celtic’s game against Harpoel Tel Aviv tonight:
The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has asked supporters to “show solidarity with suffering Palestinians” at the Europa League game in Glasgow.
They apparently want Celtic fans to wave “Palestinian” flags… To give Celtic their due they are not happy about this at all:
In a statement, Celtic said it was “extremely concerned” at the request.
The club said a crowded match was not the place for a public demonstration which could compromise safety.
Well, no it isn’t. It really is dangerous and utterly irresponsible for STUC to make that call. In any case shouldn’t STUC be (especially in a recession) working for the good of it’s members and not - quite literally here - grandstanding on something else. I guess I’m being naive. A very large chunk of the trade-union movement long ago gave-up even pretending to representing their member’s interests.
Last week, STUC deputy general secretary Dave Moxham said a demonstration at the game was justified.
He said: “This December marks the one year anniversary of the Israeli invasion of Gaza in which 1,400 men, women and children were killed in an act described by the United Nations as ‘indicating serious violations of international human rights’ and ‘amounting to war crimes, and possibly crimes against humanity’.
And what pray tell Mr Moxham does any of that have to do with a football match? I watched a documentary once about a genuinely politically charged football match. It was called Escape to Victory.
Mr Moxham said millions around the world would be watching when Hapoel Tel Aviv visited Celtic Park.
Ah, I see! A brilliant opportunity for STUC to be seen globally as part of the Internationale. Nothing to do with 22 blokes kicking a ball around or the fate of Scottish workers which might I remind you again is the job Moxham is undoubtedly very handsomely remunerated for.
He added: “I am writing to Celtic FC and Hapoel Tel Aviv FC outlining the reasons and purpose of this call and making clear that we attach no blame either to Hapoel Tel Aviv players, nor their fans, for the outrageous actions of their government.
That is a slightly dusted-down version of the old saw, “I’m not anti-Jewish, just anti-Israel” schtick. You know the one that is always delivered with a smug - I’ve won the argument - smirk. Does Moxham not realize quite how offensive such an act is to the Israeli players and fans (who are afterall guests in Moxham’s country)? Probably, though maybe not. Being a dumb sonofabitch is not against the law for trade union leaders because if it was half to two thirds of them would be in jail*. Moxham continues:
“We hope that Celtic fans will join with us in a demonstration of support for a just and lasting peace in Israel/Palestine based on a safe and secure Palestinian homeland living side-by-side with Israel.”
Well, that’s balls and not footballs either. That can only happen if and when Hamas and Fatah and Hezbollah and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and all the bloody rest stop firing rockets and blowing things up and perhaps concentrate on actually doing some good for their own people rather than engaging in a staggeringly nihilistic campaign of violence.
Anyway, a demonstration favouring one side is not and never can be a call for a “just and lasting peace”. It is an exercise in intimidation but then that I suspect is a technique that Moxham imbibed with his mother’s milk. My vague impression is that Glaswegian politics could give Chicago a run for its money on that sort of score.
The call, however, is understood to have angered Celtic, who do not want to see the game become politicised.
Good on Celtic! Let’s hope we have a good game tonight without agro before, during or after. Let us also hope that Moxham and his cohorts are forced back under whatever rock from which they slunk never to be spoken of again because there should be no place in the stands for such reckless hate.
*Apologies to Harry Truman for that. He said it about generals.
I’m sure a few celtic fans will want to jump on the issue, a bit of posturing isn’t uncommon. And it’s just another issue they can try to get one over on rangers on, which at the end of the day is usually a priority. I’m sure the unions know there’s plenty in the crowd who will agree with them unfortunatley.
Celtic club I think have to distance themselves, not that they’ll expect it to actually made any difference. Rangers have been making statements discouraging or distancing themselves from a few issues for years, while not actaully meaning anything.
And most clubs in Scotland haven’t been associated with religon for a long time, just Rangers and Celtic fans who keep it going on any serious level I’d say.
“It seems very silly to me because from my own English perspective I think it should be about the game and not re-fighting the Battle of the Boyne ad-infinitum.”
It seems very silly to a lot of us. I live near Partick Thistle’s ground, and a lot of their fans support the club mainly as a sort of protest against Old Firm nuttiness. I suspect the same is true of Queen’s Park on the South Side, although it’s much smaller.
“I get the impression that sectarian tensions in Scottish football have eased somewhat in the last few years”
Not really. You’d think Rangers signing Roman Catholics would make their supporters stop and think a bit, but no. (Celtic always played protestants; my grandfather, an Elder of the Kirk, was a Celtic fan because of that.)
It is generally only the Old Firm, though. Historically, Dundee United is the Roman Catholic team up there (literally across the road from Dundee FC; look it up on Google Maps), and Hibs in Edinburgh, but the tension and agression is nothing like what it is in Glasgow. It probably has something to do with the size of the population, and the fact that Glasgow’s the only Scottish city with anything approaching a Roman Catholic majority; they were, I’d guess, never seen by the protestants of Dundee and Edinburgh as so much of a threat.
There was a big Muslim rally (or possibly BNP; a punch-up waiting to happen, in any case) in the city a couple of weeks ago, and the place was crawling with police. I hadn’t heard about it, and my first thought on seeing the riot gear was, “Old Firm game”. I’d still hesitate to walk through some parts of town wearing green or blue.
And the irony of this STUC thing is that it’s at the forefront of the “Kick Sectarianism out of Football” campaign (or whatever it’s called).
One thought: expect to see the odd Israeli flag at the next Rangers game, especially if Harpoel wins. Rangers fans are deeply unfashionable at the moment, come to think of it: Unionist, protestant, and soon, Zionist.
“My vague impression is that Glaswegian politics could give Chicago a run for its money on that sort of score.”
There’s a fairly well-known letter in the Glasgow archives from a 19th-Century Mayor of Chicago in which he thanks the Corporation (as was) for its hospitality and expresses the hope that Chicagoans can build a new Glasgow on the Great Lakes. I think he was talking about industry and commerce, but it’s hard to say.
Sam Duncan - the protest of which you speak was the SDL against Radical Islam and those in favour of Sharia Law in the UK.
As for Celtic stating that Parkhead was no place for a political protest, they must be taking the proverbial. Every other week we see the flying of tri-colours, the singing of republican songs etc - but according to John Reid and ‘Liewell’ these are political, not sectarian - hmmmm - slighty selective me thinks.
Celtic has a reputation of ‘please love us’ with regards to various ideologies….PIRA, IRA, ETA, PLO…..
As an after thought, just so you what side of the fence a certain Mr Moxham sits on : why did the STUC not ask Rangers fans to hold the same protest when we played Tel Aviv 3 years ago?
I have a feeling that this could run and run……
Tiny correction: it is Ha-Poel Tel Aviv. Translates as, literally, “The-Worker Tel Aviv”.
It’s the Israeli Labour party team originally. Which makes it even more ironic that the Scottish trade unions make a political issue.
The other team in Tel Aviv is Maccabi - literally, the Maccabee - the Jewish revolutionary liberation fighter of old. Supported by the Irgun crew and other nationalists.
No street violence between them, that I am aware of. And Maccabi is a rather nice Israeli lager as well.
Nick, I reckon you missed a trick by not titling the post:
STFU STUC
Very enlightening, but you footie fans are weird!
You dont get this sort of nonsense at the Rugby, fans from both sides usually have a beer with each other afterwards.
Good points, Craig, and thanks for the info about the protest the other week.
I may have come across as giving Celtic and its fans a bit of a free pass there; that wasn’t my intention. I think you’re spot-on, especially about the irony of the club saying its stadium is no place for politics.
I’m not a football man at all (dead right about the Rugby, RAB) and as I say, I find the whole thing, if not as baffling as our friends Down South, certainly as tiresome and pointless. Since you seem to be closer to the game, maybe I’ll leave any further comment to you.
And the irony of this STUC thing is that it’s at the forefront of the “Kick Sectarianism out of Football” campaign (or whatever it’s called).
I think - down here anyway - it’s “Kick Racism out of Football” - Patron Lee Bowyer - I jest I hope.
I just mentioned the English perspective because my team NUFC (and there will be no tittering at the back!) were originally a Catholic club but that is now lost under the sands of time. Frequently the case with English clubs.
RAB, I watched an England v RSA game in the Springbok bar off Covent Garden once. A huge South African guy got chatting to me. He asked who I was supporting and I told him. I though, “this is it!” but he was very nice. Totally different sporting culture. One which regards it as a game and not war by other means and sometimes just war.
ED, irony is lost on these people. They think it’s a sort of metal like tinny or bronzey.
Kevin, you sod! - that was the headline that should have been!
Ah yes, the old “I’m not anti-Jewish, I’m just anti-Israel” bullshit.
And yet you saw the same kind of people waving “We are all Hezbollah now” placards a few years back, completely ignoring the fact that Hezbollah aren’t just anti-Israel but erm…anti-Jewish, too. Isn’t Nasrallah on record as saying that Zionism is a good thing, because if all the Jews gather in one place, it’ll be easier to go after them?
And of course you’re spot on; a football match is no place for this kind of political posturing, anyway.
Yup, Nasrallah did say that. Hezbollah are more than just anti-Israel. They are premier merchans of “Death to the West” and all that jazz. The daft sods who hoisted those banners in London etc probably (bless them!) went on a Gay Pride march the next week…
Israel is the frontline between civilization and barbarity.
[...] Hapoel v. Scottish Trade Union Congress in Celtic Park December 5, 2009 — Mira Vogel The Scottish Trade Union Congress attempted to use the Hapoel Tel Aviv Europa League match in Glasgow’s Celtic Park to – literally – grandstand against Israel. Counting Cats: [...]