Policy change on anti-Irish racism by “Show Racism the Red Card!”

Exclusive

By Phil Mac Giolla Bhain

Ged Grebby the national director of “Show racism The Red card” today hit out at the fact that a CD containing the racist “Famine song” was on sale on Ebay.

In an exclusive interview Grebby stated that:

“Show Racism the Red Card condemns the famine song as racist and we call on Ebay to stop the distribution of this song of hate.”

Grebby also revealed that anti-Irish racism in Scottish soccer would be receiving a greater level of attention from the organisation in the future. Grebby also revealed that SRTRC would be embarking on a consultation process with experts and stakeholders to best ascertain the most productive way forward in tackling Anti-Irish racism in Scottish soccer.

This statement comes on the heels of criticism levelled at SRTRC for their apparent lack of activity on this issue by ex-ROI U21 international and former SRTRC employee Kieron Brady.

Brady, who played for Sunderland in the 1990s is Glasgow born but had declared for the Republic, called on James McCarthy and Aidan McGeady to have nothing to do with SRTRC.

Brady stated that, in his opinion, SRTRC had, effectively, done nothing on the issue of anti-Irish racism in Scottish soccer.

I contacted Brady in the wake of this new development. Brady was unequivocal in his welcoming of SRTRC’s new approach to Anti-Irish racism in Scottish Soccer.

“It is most welcome if SRTRC are intimating a desire to highlight the racist abuse of both players and by extension the Irish community in Scotland. James and Aiden have every legal and moral right to self-identify and it is encouraging if the body remitted to confront such issues are showing a preparedness to support and sympathise with the players and what they have been compelled to endure. Both players are ‘home’ they are not ‘in the wrong fucking country’; they like so many others have the right to see themselves as Irish, irrespective of where they were born.

People throughout the globe have a national identity or duality that is a fusion of factors and if steps can be taken to oppose the profound opposition of many in Scotland regarding the Irish community then it can only be beneficial in assisting to eradicate those who are enveloped with such hostility. I would hope that throughout the close season SRTRC can liase with clubs, supporters groups and the footballing authorities to endeavour to impress upon them that James and Aiden are replicating what hundreds of footballers globally have done, by opting to play for a country that is outwith their nation of birth and that these players can operate within their working environment free from anti-Irish racism. Hopefully such dialogue can lead to there being more of a general acceptance of people and communities being permitted to be overtly and openly proud about any aspect of their identity.”