Last night Celtic got the job done in Paisley.
It wasn’t a stellar performance from the league leaders.
Indeed the scrappy nature of the first goal probably summed up the night.
The home side rested a few players as they prepare for their relation six-pointer at the weekend.
The champions are now two victories away from retaining their title.
Ryan Christie came off the bench, after a long spell out with an injury, and sealed the deal.
However, it was the reputation of the Celtic travelling support that was injured by one person.
I will use that neutral term you can replace it with your own description dear reader.
I last attended to this subject of the unauthorised use of pyrotechnics at Celtic matches back in 2013.
Here is the view of Joe Clark, a lifelong Hoops supporter and a member of the Disabled Celtic Supports Club.
I remember at the time that this interview was published that Joe got some push back on social media.
Apparently, he wasn’t a real Celtic supporter according to some of the pro-pyro brigade.
After the piece was published I had the pleasure of meeting the man himself at Parkhead before a match.
What he goes through to get to a Celtic game is like a pre-season to an able-bodied person.
I also sought out the opinion of a recognised expert in stadium safety matters Professor Steve Frosdick.
Almost certainly, the “no pyro no party” faction will ultimately achieve their aim of legislation that enforces strict liability on the game in Scotland.
There are folk in the Holyrood parliament who are still sore about the repeal of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012.
That law was, for the avoidance of doubt, unjust and unworkable and should never have been put on the statute book.
It was a political own goal by the SNP administration.
However, politicians of any stripe are averse to admitting that they got it wrong.
Consequently, there are some in the ruling party at Holyrood who wants a replay.
Unfortunately, the Pyro Party are the best friends of the Strict Liability Party.
As the interview with Professor Frosdick shows there are excellent reasons why the unauthorised use of pyrotechnics inside a stadium is illegal.
Hopefully, the perpetrator in Paisley is identified and brought before the courts.
That is what should happen to criminals.
Dear reader, anyone who finds themselves disagreeing with that proposition is, in a sense, part of the problem.
Zero tolerance.
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Perhaps the Celtic “fan”, I use the term loosely, was trying to bring back the thunder we imagined we were going to get from the return of NFL. HH
There is no excuse whatsoever to bring fireworks to a football match, I don’t even attend firework displays in November because it celebrates the hanging and quartering of Guido Fawkes a person who rebelled against king James.more importantly they are downright dangerous. I used to support disabled supporters to home and away matches and inevitably they are placed at the front where a stray pyrotechnic could very very easily strike them. Just remember if you think you are a Celtic supporter I urge you to look in the mirror and seriously reconsider your behaviour, stop fuelling their flame.
I can’t imagine what type of person would think it acceptable to carry smoke bombs or flash bangs and bring them to a football stadium.
They’re going to potentially have the club fined, possibly injure someone and give the rest of the support a bad reputation.
If they’re looking for thrills they ought to take a lead from Mario Balotelli and set some fireworks off in the bathroom at home before they head off to the game.
It’s hard to believe that even now there are still some selfish people tarnishing the good name of all Celtic supporters by throwing pyrotechnics onto the pitch.
The fact we got a drama queen act from the Saint Mirren goalkeeper does not mitigate this senseless occurrence.
Did they not hear the Saint Mirren fans calling out and chanting ‘scum’ and ‘Scotland’s shame’.
I mean, ‘SCOTLAND’S SHAME!!!!
How ironic that we reserve that moniker for Scotland’s newest team.
What’s the solution then if these people will not comply with common sense and decency?
The only thing I can think is to announce before Saturday’s game that every single person entering the ground will be thoroughly searched and anyone found in possession of pyrotechnics will be prevented from entering the ground, will be arrested and have their season ticket (if applicable) removed for life.
Let’s stop messing around with these people and get our own house in order before we sling mud at any other club’s supporters regardless of how much they deserve it.
Please note that I have not referred to these people as Celtic fans simply because they can’t be even though they claim to be.
Anyone who knowingly and deliberately hurts the reputation of Celtic fans and Celtic Football Club have no right to call themselves Celtic supporters.
Enough is enough. Time to get tough!
Bang on. No pun intended. I would also urge any GENUINE fan to point these brain-dead, fuckwits out to the relevant authorities. This would help to clear up the claims being made by some that these people are infiltrators. They should face criminal charges, be given life time bans from ALL football grounds anywhere, and have their photographs made public so the world can know them for the selfish, thoughtless, thugs, they are. They are giving the media another stick to beat us with. Despite the fact that it was ONE banger, thrown by ONE arsehole, it has been portrayed all over the place today as, “fireworks being thrown by the Celtic fans”.
We have dropped a long way in the eyes of many since 2003 when Celtic fans were given the UEFA, or was it FIFA, fair play award for that year for the wonderful behaviour of the 80,000+ real fans who travelled to Seville. It is embarrassing to genuine fans, being in any way associated with these people.
Excellent piece Phil. It might just be my age; but for the life of me I cannot understand the mentality if these people.
What possible kick do they get out of throwing anything onto a sportsfield, let alone an explosive. I hope this putrid little turd and his mates, if he has any, are identified, charged and convicted.
My other concern is how these morons are able to bring any of this stuff into a football ground in the first place. Surely with strict liability, which I am not overly keen on, comes more stringent checking of patrons. Something by way of prevention before the act is also needed.
No pyrotechnics – no party…
Take yourself to any airport with any sort of pyrotechnic device, and you could well find yourself in court, on the very serious charge of attempting to endanger the safety of an aircraft and it’s passengers!
As someone that has previously held an IATA/ICAO Dangerous Goods By Air awareness certificate, I am well aware that there is a valid reason why Class 1 is VERBOTEN… at 35,000 ft, there is only one place an aircraft is going to go when things go horribly wrong. Sir Isaac Newton’s Law of Gravity being the main factor.
It does not matter whether it’s a penny squib, or a stick of gelignite – it is an explosive.
The rapid shift in air pressure (whether in an enclosed space, such as an aircraft, or in open space, such as last night’s game) can do percussive damage to anyone in close proximity to such devices. I would not be in the least surprised if the St Mirren goalie had to attend an audiology specialist this morning to get his hearing thoroughly checked. It’s lucky that there were no signs of bleeding from his ears, as that may have been a sign of perforated eardrums, for which he would need hearing aids fitted to compensate for his hearing loss.
Just like any party, there’s always one arsehole that spoils it for the rest!
Aye! And Ryan Christie and a couple of other Celtic players were closer than him.
And your point is ?
It’s very very angering and takes away from what was a hard earned win…
It yet again takes away from the actual football and gives more fuel to the media who need no excuses to point fingers at Celtic.
Note – the liberal use of the ‘Ol£ £irm’ term since Sunday as it’s a great means of lumping Celtic in with any negative Sevco behaviour without saying either clubs name.
Any Celtic fans who still use this term should have a think about what they are doing.
As for last night in Paisley… this WAS a Celtic incident.. or at least came from someone purporting to be a Celtic supporter.
What would have been enlightening to see would have been the finger of every Celtic supporter around the offender pointing at him until the police were able to remove him.
But no… it’s hoody top up and a quick seat shift while those around look on.
Several people must at least have watched the idiot ignite the thing!
The trouble being caused by supposed Celtic fans at away matches needs seriously addressed by the club.
Yet another thing that there is too much silence on as usual.
A complete refusal of away tickets for the rest of the season / split (as they’re not on sale yet) would be a start.
Clubs like St Mirren who sell their own tickets to away fans rather than allocate to the visiting club can choose what to do if requested not to sell to Celtic fans.
If they choose to sell then I would expect any liability to sit with them.
Whatever the solution…. it needs dealt with now and by the club before it’s dealt with elsewhere.
Simple solution – search each and every visiting individual and their bags prior to entry at all away grounds. If this causes delay to them, then too bad – the KO time remains. Anyone caught carrying this stuff is arrested on the spot. Hit these animals with a severe punishment, such as a lifetime ban at CP. – sorted ! I still cannot understand how those in the standing area at Celtic Park (Green Brigade) can get access when carrying flares, offensive banners etc. There must be an improved security/ search regime implemented by the Club to catch these pricks – again lifetime bans applied to those caught.
Phil , I fear that you are displaying a touching naivety if you expect the perpetrator of this ( latest ) pyro crime to be ‘fingered’ by those who clearly know his/her identity .
Following the incident yesterday , the area from which it was thrown was shown on camera fully enjoying the moment and generally exhibiting all the usual characteristics of people who don’t give a f*ck for anyone else .
The throwing of flares and now flashbangs has been escalating among the Celtic ranks for some time and has clearly reached a point where serious injury is now possible . But I don’t expect the morons who commit these acts to be identified by those around as they themselves have demonstrated that they are as culpable by taking no action to prevent these incidents . How many have been identified by their immediate neighbours in the past for setting off flares , throwing coins , chanting sectarian insults ….
I fully share your concerns , particularly for the disabled , but to empathise one needs more than the limited intelligence that these morons display regularly by putting others in danger with their thoughtless actions .