| Fans Against Criminalisation Launch Statement |
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| Written by FAC |
| Thursday, 06 October 2011 20:29 |
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A new campaign group, Fans Against Criminalisation, has been formed by Celtic fans to campaign against the first part of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Bill. Following the so-called ‘Shame Game’ last March, the police and the Scottish Government called Celtic and Rangers to a summit to discuss a range of societal problems they claimed football was responsible for. Since then, the ills of society have been laid at football’s door and football fans have been blamed for everything from sectarianism to drink-fuelled domestic abuse. The government and a hitherto compliant Scottish media have portrayed the Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill as ‘anti-sectarian’ legislation. The reality is, however, very different from the political rhetoric. There is very little criminality at football matches – indeed, there has been no serious disorder in a Scottish stadium for over thirty years. The very small number of offences committed inside Scottish football grounds is a symptom of the nation’s wider problems with alcohol and bigotry, rather than a cause. The Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill does not tackle any of the nation’s problems. As a range of bodies from the Law Society to Nil By Mouth argue, there are existing laws that ably tackle sectarianism and other hate crimes. Instead, the proposed new legislation criminalises football fans for being football fans. The new law applies only to us and leaves football fans all over the country liable for arrest and imprisonment. Justice Minister Roseanna Cunningham suggests fans may be arrested for anything from making the sign of the cross to singing a national anthem. A whole range of acts routinely carried out by fans at football matches could be considered ‘offensive’. Any fan arrested under this new legislation will likely be subject to the nightmare of a football banning order and numerous court appearances before their case is even heard. Those convicted can be sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. As Celtic fans, we have even more reason to be fearful about the Bill, given Justice Committee Chair Christine Graham’s view that the law should be seen as an ‘evening-up’ process, allowing the criminal law to capture Celtic fans as well as those of our city rivals. Rather than any serious policy debate, the Scottish Government has instead engaged in political grandstanding. Football fans have barely been considered or their views consulted as Alex Salmond tries to accelerate the Bill onto the statute books. But fans will no longer remain silent on the issue and our voices must be heard. The Green Brigade’s recent protest at the Inverness match was given huge backing by the Celtic support and has been followed by similarly well-received protests at other grounds. It now also seems that other commentators and members of civil society are starting to see through the Scottish government’s rhetoric and realise that the Bill is a poorly crafted piece of legislation that is both unnecessary and undesirable. Fans Against Criminalisation will not allow the ills of Scottish society to be laid at the door of football fans, or football fans to be treated as second-class citizens, subject to a ludicrous law that applies only to us. We will not stand idly by as fan culture and football fans are criminalised. Over the coming weeks and months we will be mounting a campaign against the Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill. You can help support the campaign and keep up to date with news and events by following us on twitter (@FACKilltheBill) and on facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fans-...59607327462384). Fans Against Criminalisation fansagainstcriminalisation@gmail.com |
| Last Updated on Thursday, 06 October 2011 21:10 |
Comments
We don't need to sing them and I don't believe they inspire the players, which is what our songs are supposed to do.
It seems folk are more interested in the non-story of this proposed bill rather than Celtic Football Club itself.
Behave yourselves at the match and you have feck all to worry about except seeing the likes of Majstorovic, Samaras and Glenda strutting their stuff in the hoops.
Rebelling against those crimes against the footballing public is far more important than this guff about laws which won't change a thing.
Support your team
Sing some Celtic songs
Go home(beer or 2 if you fancy after the game)
Problem?
None
The support is a broad church! the Irony of these cretins marginalising the Green Brigade would be lost on them....
NO CRIMINALISATION OF THE CELTIC SUPPORT.
I don't see anything wrong with that.
Salmond has specifically said there is no reasonable excuse for singing 'oh ah up the Ra' and happen to agree with him. I understand very well the tradition behind many of the songs that reference the IRA but think we can't use historical use as a justification when most people in Scottish society would describe those chants as offensive. It also I think flies in the face of the clubs decision to open the club and bring in a wider support; I think the club are right in this also, the broader message of Celtic being a bridge, an inclusive institution, with a social justice message is something I'm sure all of us would be behind.
I'm not certain we can hide behind the context of being at certain antagonistic grounds as excuse for chanting offensive songs either. Behaviour at football matches is either acceptable or it isn't. If it isn't then the government has the authority to act on behalf of the society to curb or legislate against it.
I think in this instance, following the bullets and bombs last year, the government has the right to censor as part of a greater effort to rid the society of the abuse, attacks & discrimination most in Scotland want no part of. The ideal would be like Stuart above suggest where we censor nothing but all things are open to criticism. I don't think we are in the position to do so, I think if you give the average fan an inch they'll take a mile and, damn the consequences, they're just 'having a laugh singing a song'.
I'd be quite happy to go to a cricket match but football, for better or worse is my game, and Celtic is my team. Like most on here I was born into it and grateful for it win, lose or draw. What I don't accept though is that I should go to a match (more often the Armchair Emerald CSC due to being unemployed) and hear famine, religious bigotry & racism as 'tit for tat banter', or choirs praising the indiscriminate murder by terrorist paramilitaries, and accept that as reasonable. It's not West end etiquette. It's inhuman, degrading and offensive to those who have actually been caught up in the civil war in the north of Ireland. There is a lot of talk of resistance & rising off their knees but I think what Scottish society wants is to get off it's knuckles and start using it's brain.
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