Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Safety fears for Rapid Vienna players at Celtic Park

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2009/09/23/

Sep 23 2009 By Gordon Parks

RAPID VIENNA will rip open old wounds next week when they face Celtic wearing red.

The Austrians last turned out in the strip when they beat the Hoops in the infamous European Cup-Winners' Cup grudge game of 1984.

They insist the decision to switch from their usual green and white to scarlet was meant as a joke.

But Parkhead fans - who have still not forgiven Rapid for cheating their way to a replay after Celtic beat them 15 years ago - will fail to see the funny side. Rapid's switch of strip, which has been approved by UEFA, immediately sparked safety fears ahead of next Thursday's Europa League clash at Parkhead .*

The Austrians admit the decision to wear red was taken to commemorate the notorious clash of '84 when Celtic were ordered to replay the second leg after winning on aggregate.

A bottle was thrown from the Parkhead terracing and play-acting defender Rudolf Weinhofer - who was yards from where it landed - threw himself to the ground, claiming he had been struck by it.

UEFA believed him and ordered Celtic to replay the game at a neutral ground. They chose Old Trafford and lost 1-0. The goal was scored byPeter Pacult, now boss of Rapid, who was later attacked by a fan .**

Last night Rapid spokesman Sharif Shoukry said:"We wanted to keep this secret, but yes, we are definitely going to play in red.

"Our away strip for the Austrian league already shows red and blue but for the Europa League and the special game in Glasgow one of the reasonswechose red was to remember 1984.

"It has helped us once and so why shouldn't it help us again? We have a sense of humour and certainly don't want this to be viewed badly in Scotland.

"We had other options knocked back by UEFA so we thought it would be good to wear the all-red strip for the first time since the game in Manchester - but it's not aimed at upsetting Celtic."

Celtic declined to comment but former Hoops hero Frank McGarvey insists Rapid's strip will unearth bad memories.

Hesaid: "I can't believe it - it is completely disrespectul to Celtic fans. Rapid have badly misjudged the feeling of hatred towards them in Glasgow .

"I can assure you this will not go down well among Celtic fans. Rapid have opened up a hornets' nest.

"Something has to be done and someone must step in because there is now a real safety fear for Rapid when they come to Glasgow .***

"If they believe this is a funny thing to do, they'll soon find out they are badly mistaken."****
Roland Knigshofer, of kit manufacturers adidas Austria, said: "Ahead of the game with Celtic, Rapid asked me to keep everything red because they wanted to play like Rapid in 1984."


*Interesting to note the language used here, nothing like getting the excuses in early.

** Celtc have recent previous for this, nothing from UEFA about how they are going to handle the possibility of yet another invasion onto the pitch from the scum?

***Looks like an open threat to me, any comment from the journalist to try and turn the comments away from this threatening behaviour?

****Apparently not, next line is further deranged ramblings from a demented former yahoo player.

Celtc - The most misunderstood club in the world - never defeated, always cheated since 1BBB

Friday, September 18, 2009

No place in our society for bigots

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/

Published: 18/09/2009

Football may well be the beautiful game, but it still has a dark and somewhat disturbing side to it. Bigoted behaviour, sadly, remains a regular part of game, despite ongoing efforts by the government, police and football authorities to clamp down on it.

The three year UK-wide match ban and £500 fine imposed on Celtic supporter Aaron Laing, 22, of Peterhead, at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday was a deserved punishment. So too is Celtic’s decision to ban the electrician from Celtic Park at Parkhead. No longer will he be able to visit Paradise to view his favourite team – and rightly so.

His waving of an Irish tricolour at an Old Firm game at Ibrox was already provoking growing hostility from Rangers’ fans by the time police spotted it.

Laing was not traced on the day. His identity was instead revealed after photographs appeared of him in various newspapers.

That he was named and shamed in several phone calls to the police, after he appeared in print, shows the public is unwilling to tolerate such behaviour.

Bigots, like Laing who blamed excess drinking for his actions, have no place in society. The sooner they recognise that the better.

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A list of the major atrocities by the IRA can be viewed at
http://victims.org.uk/s08zhk/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=183

Celtic hero guilty of match-fixing


http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/
By MICHAL DZIDA

FORMER Celtic hero Dariusz Wdowczyk has narrowly dodged jail - after he was convicted of MATCH-FIXING charges.

The 47-year-old was instead hit with a £21,000 fine for bribing referees and footballers in his native Poland.

Wdowczyk only avoided prison after co-operating with the investigation into the huge soccer scandal - which has already seen 200 people sentenced.

A court heard Wdowczyk and his assistant Andrzej Wozniak had set up an elaborate system of bribery while in charge of third division Korona Kielce.

They had even managed to influence officials in the Polish Football Federation. And it is believed the pair set up more than 20 matches during the 2003/2004 season.

Wdowczyk - who played for the Hoops from 1989 to 1994 - was detained in 2008 following the major probe into corruption in Polish football.

The judge in Kielce said: "Sport's fair-play rules have become such an important social issue that they have to be protected by the law."

Wdowczyk - also director of football at Livingston in 2007 - was sentenced to three years, suspended for five years for good behaviour.

He was also banned from football for three years.

It is understood he has the right to appeal - but is not planning to do so.

CELTIC/IRA fan hit with 3-year football ban

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/
By VICTORIA WELDON


A CELTIC fan who waved an IRA flag at Ibrox was yesterday fined £500 and banned from football for three years.
Yob Aaron Laing, 21, committed the offence while he was dating a niece of then Hoops manager Gordon Strachan.

And the electrician's lawyer admitted his actions had caused "significant embarrassment" to the family of his girlfriend Ellis Paterson, 17.


Oh Gord ... we reveal link
The Sun

Laing, of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, was arrested days after the Old Firm clash after a photo of him waving an Irish tricolour with "IRA" daubed on it was published in The Scottish Sun.

He admitted breaching the peace at the match on May 9.

Prosecutor Anthony Quigley told Glasgow Sheriff Court that Rangers fans had reacted angrily to Laing waving the flag.

He added: "Police were very concerned about the growing hostility in the ground and the possibility of serious public disorder.

Behaviour

"There was also a real risk of the crowd surging and people being trampled under foot."

Mr Quigley said Celtic have since banned the season ticket holder from Parkhead.

Defence lawyer Neil McCulloch said Laing had started drinking at 5am that day. He added: "He accepts that his behaviour was entirely unacceptable.

"He tells me he found the flag behind his seat. He was fully aware of what was written on it.

"His girlfriend at the time has a relative who at that time had a significant connection to the club.

"His actions caused significant embarrassment to her and her family." Yet later, Laing said he was considering an APPEAL against the sentence handed down by Sheriff Alexander Johnston.

He posted on a footy chat site: "I am appalled at the banning order because I have no previous apart from driving offences."

----------------------------------

A list of the major atrocities by the IRA can be viewed at
http://victims.org.uk/s08zhk/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=183

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Celtic fan banned after waving IRA flag

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8261054.stm


A Celtic fan who waived an Irish flag with IRA written on it at an Old Firm match has been fined £500 and banned from attending games for three years.

Aaron Laing was captured on CCTV with the tricolour during the match at Ibrox in May.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, the 21-year-old, from Peterhead, admitted breaching the peace.

The court also heard that since the offence, Celtic had imposed a lifetime ban on the former season ticket holder.

The court heard that Laing had been dating the niece of then Celtic manager Gordon Strachan when he committed the offence.

Prosecutor Anthony Quigley told the court that officers became aware of the flag half way through the game.

The procurator fiscal depute said police acted quickly after "the Rangers fans were becoming very angry".

He said: "When they got to the area where Mr Laing was sitting, most supporters became co-operative, apart from one or two, and they managed to retrieve the flag.

"Other than that, the match passed without incident."

When officers received phone calls identifying Laing, they were able to track him down as a Celtic season ticket holder and find his home address.

Defence lawyer Neil McCulloch told the court that his client had been drinking heavily that day and maintains that he found the flag in the ground.
'Significant embarrassment'

"He's extremely ashamed of his behaviour and has also embarrassed his family and the club and supporters," he said.

"His girlfriend at the time has a relative who at that time had a significant connection to the club and his actions also caused significant embarrassment to her and her family.

"He has been branded a thug, a yob and a bigot but he could far more accurately be described as drunken and foolish."

Sheriff Alexander Johnston issued Laing with a football banning order stopping him from attending registered matches in the UK for three years.

----------------------------------

A list of the major atrocities by the IRA can be viewed at
http://victims.org.uk/s08zhk/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=183

Fine and Banning order for sectarian Celtic fan

Celtic fan Aaron Laing appeared in Court yesterday for displaying a flag of terrorist group the IRA. He logged onto Celtic fan forum the huddle board under the avatar of henrik7cfc to tell everyone of the days proceedings.

"I recieved a £500 fine and a 3 year football banning order for all matches in the UK. I am appalled at the banning order because I have basically no previous apart from driving offences. Sums up this country in one though.

I havent spoken to my lawyer properly about an appeal but i will be looking into it. They are basically saying im a danger to a football match as i could cause a riot or a disturbance but they know by looking at me and my lack of criminal record to know thats not what i am like. The media has basically forced the court to act harshly in my opinion, the video evidence was poor and i couldnt have been properly identified either but i was told by my lawyer that the police would obviously just say it was me they saw so i had no choice other than plead guilty at todays trial. I am sick because the thought of it blowing over and getting to see celtic again was exciting but this has knocked it back a while.
16th september 2012, the clock is ticking."


Original story can be read on The Sun's website
Celtic fan "Anzie" outed as a 'Liar and a Bigot'

Thursday, September 10, 2009

'The Celtic Granny' Sells Drugs To Fans Before Games

http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/scottish-news

Aug 30 2009 Steve Smith

A DEALER nicknamed the 'Celtic Granny' is flogging cocaine to Hoops fans after dodging jail on a drugs rap.
Margaret McGroarty, 52, peddles the Class A drug in pubs packed with fans before games.

Bleach-blonde McGroarty - who lives just yards from Old Firm rivals Rangers' Ibrox stadium - rakes in a fortune selling £100 bags of cocaine on match days.

And she rarely misses a game as she tours Celtic bars in Glasgow's East End where pub bosses are unaware of her dealing.

Sunday Mail investigators paid McGroarty £130 for a bag of cocaine before a home game.

And we can reveal she appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court in June 2007 after being caught with the drug.

She dodged jail but was put on probation until last September.

And sources in the east end said she was back dealing within months of her probation ending.

One said: "She's called the Celtic Granny because she's never far from Hoops fans.

"She knows there's good business to be done before a match.

"She laughs at the fact that she can see Ibrox from her house but travels all the way over to make money from Celtic fans.

"She can't wait for Saturdays or big European nights because that's when she hits the jackpot.

"Even when Celtic are away from home, she's still floating around, dealing to punters watching the game on TV.

"She doesn't do small deals either - it's all at least £100, £150 bags."

Undercover reporters watched the greedy granny as she ducked in and out of pubs during Celtic's away Champions League qualifying clash with Arsenal last week.

We spotted her nipping into the Wee Mans pub in the Gallowgate for two minutes before going across the road to famous Celtic pub The Drover.

And we heard her tell one drinker: "I always play fair with my punters. I don't mess about with cheap rubbish. I only deal in the proper stuff.

"Just give me a call and I'll meet you wherever. I can get stuff right away."

While fans left disappointed after the Parkhead side's 3-1 defeat, the Celtic Granny went home happy after another night of illegal dealing.
In December it emerged that the number of people treated in hospital for abusing cocaine has increased tenfold in the past decade.

reporters@sundaymail.co.uk

American receives death threats from Celtic fans

http://www.tribalfootball.com/rangers-midfielder-edu-receives-death-threats-305701

09.09.09 | Andrew Slevison

Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu has revealed he received death threats from soccer hooligans.

The US international has told of how he was the subject of intense abuse from rival fans and even had a cell phone thrown at him whilst on the pitch.

The 23-year old said the abuse had come from Celtic fans and he said he is still startled by the amount of heckling that goes on at Old Firm (Rangers v Celtic) matches.

"It gets pretty crazy because the rivalry runs so deep. It goes deeper than football and into religion - Catholics and Protestants,” he said.

"My first game with the team was at Celtic Park.

"I remember just warming up on the sidelines and you could hear the fans heckling you and throwing things. One of them even threw a cell phone at us.

"I thought 'This is just kind of crazy'. But it's where I want to be and I want to experience things like this on a more regular and consistent basis.

"As much as I didn't want to be heckled and take that abuse from the fans, you have more appreciation for that type of atmosphere. I enjoyed it."

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

ANOTHER PITCH INVASION BY CELTIC FAN


A Celtic fan had to be wrestled from the playing field by security last night at Republic Of Ireland's international friendly disrupting the Irish players celebrations.

Real Irish fans have long been fighting a battle to rid the stand of the sight of Celtic shirts who continue to shame their good name.

Support them at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/roishirtsonly/

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Celtic fan fined for vandalism

http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/1379394?UserKey=

By Catherine Shanks
Published: 03/09/2009

A TEENAGER has been fined for breaking a seat at Aberdeen’s Pittodrie football stadium.

Parkhead season ticket holder Ross Hampson stamped on a plastic seat at the Aberdeen Football Club ground shortly after Celtic scored at a match against Aberdeen FC on May 2 this year.

Fiscal depute Ian Warburton told Aberdeen Sheriff Court 18-year-old Hampson had offered to pay for the damage when he was spoken to by Grampian Police officers.

Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard the goal had been scored and Hampson had been pushed forward in the crowd at Pittodrie stadium.

Hampson, whose address was given as 28 Carron Court, Cambuslang, admitted damaging the seat at Pittodrie’s South Stand.

Defence agent Iain Woodward-Nutt said first offender Hampson had been in a very crowded part of Pittodrie but accepted he acted recklessly.

Sheriff Graham Buchanan ordered Hampson to pay £28 in compensation to Aberdeen Football Club and fined him £170.
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