In journalism, questions should be answered.
However, answers must also be questioned.
Yesterday we were treated to a soft-focus fuzzy interview with Alfredo the victim.
Last night Mikey Stewart was in flying form when he exposed the role of Sevco’s PR Svengali in the SMSM.
It produced a spluttering, stammering reaction from Kenny McIntyre in the studio.
You can listen to it here.
Last night a Glasgow based journalist working on a major title said to me afterwards:
“Stewart just said what we all know to be true. The thing is he has the platform on the Beeb.”
Of course, the question is a serious one.
Is Alfredo Morelos the victim of racist abuse in the Scottish game?
For the avoidance of doubt, the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence.
However, in the age of the smartphone, it is highly unlikely that a player, any player, could be subjected to racist abuse without it being captured and shared on social media.
The case of Scott Sinclair is a case in point.
We should not be surprised at this behaviour from the Ibrox klanbase.
Their entire belief system is based on a nativist hostility to then Irish Catholic incomer during the Victorian era.
That is why songs like the Billy Boys and the Famine Song are so integral to the group identity of the Ibrox klanbase.
Unlike most of the local media at the time, the criminal justice system in Scotland was very clear that this new addition to the Ibrox song sheet was a manifestation of anti-Irish racism.
Of course, once racism is authorised for one group it rarely remains corralled.
Moreover, it is not just aimed at players in the Hoops.
Indeed, players of colour playing for Rangers have been targeted by the Ibrox klan.
Maurice Edu was one of them.
The Morelos car incident would not be the first time that there has been a hasty allegation of racism that afterward fell apart.
When a vehicle owned by Rangers player DaMarcus Beasley was firebombed the Ibrox klan had a ready-made group of suspects:
Fenians.
The reality was more prosaic.
Making an allegation of racism is a very grave matter.
Serious allegations require serious evidence.
Last night Mikey Stewart did the state some service.
I hope that those in the Pacific Quay officer corps back him to the hilt.
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A couple of minutes after I started typing a reply to Phil’s story Sky’s Football Centre programme went to an interview with Steve Bruce. Unfortunately Sky’s presenter left his mike on and could be clearly heard saying to his two guests “You two can stand down for a couple of minutes as I will be covering Scottish Football and you will be pleased to know I will not be asking you about the chances of Motherwell beating Celtic”.This, in a sentence, sums up Sky Sports News primary objectives since the formation of The Rangers in 2012 have been to continually praise any of their actions or achievements, no matter how trivial, to minimise and restrict reporting on Celtic successes and conversely to give maximum coverage to their defeats.The excitement of Sky’s presenters when Celtic were “Battered,Hammered,Thrashed by PSG or Barcelona” was clearly evident on their faces.
Since 2012, amazingly we’ve had Jim White and a camera crew sent to South Africa to find out that Dave King has a wine cellar with over 3000 bottles of wine,the said Jim White interviewing Charles Green in his sick bed hours before a major operation and Sky giving the owner of Legia Warsaw an hourly opportunity over a two day period to not only criticise the Celtic Board but also the morals of the club itself since its formation in1888.No sports organisation in the Uk receives even a small percentage the abuse given to Celtic by Sky Sports News.
Celtic supporters are,of course,well used to biased media reporting as Sky’s attitude towards Celtic and its supporters is mirrored by basically all of the West of Scotland media. STV agreed a contract with Rangers in 2011 to promote them and renewed this with The Rangers in 2012 and it remains in force today. The Scottish Sun,The Glasgow Herald and the Evening Times should really merge and be renamed “The Rangers News” as their football articles are merely propaganda aimed at boosting the minds of supporters of The Rangers and causing unrest amongst Celtic supporters. This is, however, a business decision taken by these organisations and I suppose their readership figures justify their approach!!.Over the past year or so,however.there have been some completely unacceptable reporting eg Celtic running a paedophile ring using two ( supporters of The Rangers) MSPs and,indeed, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives as verificationof this and reporting that 37% of children attending Catholic schools are religious bigots.These issues are blatant attempts to destroy Celtic,however,trivalising such issues is utterly disgraceful but,of course, acceptable in Scotland!
The one thing that The Rangers are clear winners is the influence that both they and their supporters group have with the SFA,the SPFL and the media. Phil has personal experience of this when the Scottish Sun cancelled the publication of extracts of his book. Celtic supporters tend to complain amongst themselves when we should have an association to harness our complaints and to have these treated seriously as they are backed by a powerful pressure group. Our Unionist friends in Northern Ireland have,of course,used this approach for many years!!!
There was also the incident of the old man on the 29th,firstly we were told it was a missile,downgraded to a bottle,then downgraded again to a coin.FABRICATION A1.All of it,
That whole story was BS,but yet again the damage was done,no apology issued,well,that I’ve seen or heard of.We can only imagine what levels they will go to next season when we’re going for THE TEN…And worse still,Scotland’s finest were involved,the boays in bloo right enough!
As the old saying goes;We’ve seen nothing yet.
Does anyone remember an incident concerning a former Rangers (IL ) player called Shoto Averladze..?
They were playing Linfield in their Annual Bigot Fest when Averladze came on as a substitute.
As he entered the field of play he blessed himself …and was immediately subjected to a torrent of booing and insults.
What the bigots didn’t know, however, was that the guy was Russian Orthodox…and his blessing wasn’t quite the same as a Catholic one.
But despite the passing of the years..they haven’t changed much.
I’ve just read an interview given by Mr. Gerrard…regarding Moreorless’s off the field behaviour.
He is quoted as saying that he doesn’t feel its in his remit to monitor the player’s ” private activities”…and what he does off the field has nothing to do with him. Now if that’s a true reflection of what he said…then I find that quite staggering.
Obviously I don’t expect him to hire a PI ( :0) ) to watch his movements …but surely he must take an interest in what’s going on…and act accordingly.
On a lighter note…but on the same theme…contrast that to Jock Stein who had certain players ” followed ” on a Friday night.
On one occasion, that we know of, he phoned a Glasgow watering hole and said…
” I know my Number 7 is drinking in your Pub…tell him to get his arse home now…and I mean NOW.”
Those were the days my friend.
Well done Michael Stewart, measured, factual, and showing EBT McIntyre and twister Traynor for what they are.
Transparent bias in full view of everyone.
Thanks Phil for exposing it.
So if Michael now falls out of favour with the BBC it will just reconfirm to me why I stopped listening to this shite a long time ago, albeit it may lead me to resume suffering the whole platform bigotry of the thing just to see how bad it can get .
Sorry fellow Scots I made a bad decision 35 years ago to keep my Scottish/UK nationality, but you live in the worst sectarian midden on the planet. As I have said repeatedly I feel constantly like chucking up every time it crosses (sic) my mind.
My UK passport runs out shortly so I need to decide whether to go forward as Swiss only or add Irish which does not seem to me unfortunately to give any extra benefit.
I need to get to the other article about the false translation.
Je suis Michael Stewart
The message to all Celtic fans after the Fredo interview with SKY TV is DUMP IT. Their interpretation of what was said came right out of the mouth of Jabba. Michael Stewart is correct when he says Traynor is getting away with spinning stories and using them to deflect from the truth. Whatever is going on at Ibrox must be big if he’s working overtime to sully the good name we have or is he just trying to soothe the klan having just lost their first league title? HH
Last time Sevco lost 2-1, we had Boyd on SKY attacking Leigh Griffiths using the players medical absence statistic. Deplorable.
It’s all premeditated to affect the Celtic defence of their title. To assist SEVCO.
It’s all coming out of SKY.
The Celtic shareholding billionaires need to take this evil on.
Maybe they’ve had an advance look at Craig Whytes book ?!? (Out next week)
Griffiths cleared of retrospective action. Free for tomorrow’s game.
Good call out there by Michael Stewart. About ten years too late though. Jabba makes it up is the honest answer.
Part of Jabba’s perceived power and bullying scare comes from his comment that he can make or destroy anyone in the Ibrox owners hot seat. Implying anyone below that level too. Individuals fear his perceived power, which isn’t really there.
Think wizard of Oz.
Michael Stewart has just pulled back the curtain on the all powerful wizard of Oz. Hopefully more come out and do the same.
Further to my earlier post, It now appears Gerrard is worried Alfie gets ” hounded ” out of Scotland. Traynor has the script already written, Alfie goes for sweeties due to being racially abused. Sevco want him to stay but wonder striker insists on leaving due to Fenian abuse.
Just like the alleged racist abuse at Tynecastle, the media was all over it, even reportedly showing the guy, who allegedly shouted the abuse. Police and Tynecastle agents investigated and no abuse was found, the guy was not charged, but was there a retraction by the media? Was there ever a repeat story saying they got it wrong? Did the guy or Hearts ever receive an apology?
If the media wants to make such headlines,they MUST have evidence to back it up.
Racial abuse has no place in a modern world, but before someone is tarred or worse, attacked, there MUST be proof.
Making false allegations could have serious repercussions, people could lose their jobs, their freedom, or even their lives.
We all know Sevco’s PR machine makes up stuff and they should be called out for it every time.
Michael Stewart will be the one found to be in the wrong here, mark my words. Some spin will come out, he’ll be lambasted by Secco and Jabba, scorned and vilified by the Klan.
He’ll be ousted soon enough.
I don’t know so much…… MS clearly gets the nod from above to take on the issues he does.
I’d wager he is protected by powerful good folks at the BBC.
I believe the bbc has a duty to improve and educate wherever it operates and reports in the world. Scotland is no exception.
I’d wager this is time up for Jabba. More will call him out. He IS damaging SCOTLAND.
I’ve got a bridge for sale of your interested Brian. 😉
How big is this bridge,and do you deliver?
There are no “powerful good folks” at the BBC. If there were, they wouldn`t have apologised immediately to Traynor.
They are all rotten to the core, all tarred with the same stinking brush.
It`s many years ago since Jock Stein asked Archie McPherson, who only recently blamed Catholic schools for sectarianism in Scotland, how many Catholics worked with him at the BBC. Probably as many as at that other horrible paper, The Sunday Post.
Stewart will be hounded out sooner rather than later; that is if he is still there.
He seems to be the only one amongst them with any sort of courage.
I love the way Michael Stewart could see the bigger picture, alluding to the damage to Scottish Football and Scottish society in general by “a dangerous individual “. Absolutely priceless and remember the two “chancers” work for the BBC, that great bastion of political correctness. “Only in Scotland”, that should be our new motto.
There would be hope for this country if journalists of his calibre weren’t so rare.
The BBC in England would never countenance a Jabba and his fiction taking front and centre on sports news bulletins.
It’s mind numbingly dull that this creature is actually allowed to exist and get away with his damaging antics in Scotland.
He seeds it all into the gutter press And it easily makes its way onto tv. Newspaper owners must take responsibility for this ”Jabba source code” model and order Editors to stop taking stories from Jabba.
If nobody publishes his pish he will skulk away and wither.
We will look back in disbelief that this Jabba centric model was ever allowed.
This club has been sanctioned twice this season by UEFA for sectarian/racist singing. There is the usual vitriol from the Sevco fans at every home and away game and Morelos has been sent of 7 times but somehow the SMSM portray him and his club as victims. Well said Michael Stewart and see Graeme Spiers tweeting similar this morning.
Galling to witness Ibrox PR machine orchestrating all these convenient distractions. There are some dark figures inside that institution. Despite the on-field swagger, Morelos seems like a pretty vulnerable character. Easily led and advised what to tell salivating journalists. Still not a shred of evidence that he’s been racially abused. This stuff emanating from Govan is ALMOST funny. It’s a bit like the BNP accusing the Green Party of hate speech.
Michael Stewart should give up punditry and start a new career in football administration,he’s proven he will stand up for what is right,rather than toeing the party line.We All,every fitba fan in Unfair Footballing in Caledonia,(UFC)would be very grateful for the remainder of my puff.And I’m sure I would not be alone,there’s millions of deceased and dying Celtic fans that would ETERNALLY GRATEFUL if he managed to even the process started.
Michael Stewart was always a good pundit,speaking his mind and standing by what he’s said.Alongside Chris Sutton,he is one of the best in the Scottish game.
SLY(no typo)Sports are a disgrace and their bias is there for All to see,I’ll never have anything to do with them ever again.For now,BT seem to be impartial,I’ve warned them(BT)and they know I’ll cut my package in a heartbeat if they even slightly show a similar fondness for any ibrox klub.
Thanks Phil,this needed saying and you have,Sly sports are pathetic and more are realising that fact everyday.🇮🇪
Fantastic to hear someone in the Scottish media saying it ‘how it is’…
Broadfoot & McIntyre (sounds like a comedy duo) couldn’t get the bbc fire extinguishers out quick enough and when they did … the fire was already out of control.
I thought poor Kenny was going to self-combust.
Thank goodness for the ‘permanence’ of internet broadcasting. It seems that the BBC have forgotten to upload last nights show to their podcast list.
Never mind!
Having seen an article on the Daily Retard website, it looks as though there is the possibility of them (DR) demanding a retraction of Mike’s statement, hence it has not been uploaded to the BBC website.
Michael Stewart’s BBC Sportsound rant exposed
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/michael-stewarts-bbc-sportsound-rant-21426802#ICID=Android_DailyRecordNewsApp_AppShare
Mind you – MS has never been shy of calling things as they are. I strongly suspect that if he was handed an Ibrox press release, he’ll be putting a proctologist out of a job.
Is there somewhere to listen to the full radio broadcast? It seems to have been removed from the BBC website.
Come on… a daily rankers link? … And,worse still… .on this site? WTF‼️
Beggars belief…😂
Slainte Phil🍺
The press corps may but the Celtic Board will still stay silent when their fans are attacked, again.
Well done to Michael Stewart for calling it as it is. Kenny McIntyre’s sputtering and very predictable response was priceless!
There have also been some interesting comments on social media regarding the subtitles translation versus what was actually said in the Sky Sports interview.
Almost as though they put up a narrative of points they wanted to get across, as opposed to what he actually said.
Wonder what PR machine was behind that??