Celtic seek end to 'IRA chants'
The club appealed to fans to stop singing rebel songs
Celtic Football Club has made an unprecedented appeal to a "vocal minority" of its supporters to stop chanting IRA slogans during games. Ian McLeod, the club's chief executive, has written to more than 50,000 season ticket holders, asking for an end to the singing of the rebel songs.
The call comes after chanting by some Celtic fans during a minute's silence for the victims of the 11 September terrorist attacks.
In his letter, Mr McLeod urges fans not to support or condone such actions.
The anti-sectarian group, Nil by Mouth, has welcomed the move but spokesman Peter McLean said the Old Firm could go further and ban the bigots.
"I think it's a step in the right direction and is to be commended," he said.
"However, Nil By Mouth would like to see Celtic and Rangers both go a step further and remove 10 supporters each time sectarian singing is heard en masse.
"Ban them from the grounds and publicise their actions as a deterrent to others."
Political beliefs
Mr McLeod said the problem was most obvious among a section of the Parkhead club's away support and made specific reference to the televised game with Motherwell last week.
He criticised the perception among some that a celebration of the club's Irish roots was in itself a sectarian act.
"We are a football club first and foremost and clearly it is not our position to dictate to anyone what their political beliefs or actions should or should not be," he writes.
"However, it is equally our responsibility to ensure that the club, as a non-political organisation, retains its political independence by appealling to those who participate in such activities in the name of Celtic Football Club, to stop doing so."
The club and its fans should be proud of the Irish immigrants who helped create the club in the east end of Glasgow in 1888.
However, Mr McLeod also writes that the IRA chanting cannot be allowed to continue.
"This action by a minority will undoubtedly lead to criticism of Celtic Football Club and indeed has led to calls at Celtic Park (not for the first time) from Celtic supporters who do not share these political belifs but find themselves linked to them by association."
Campaign group
Mr McLeod said he had received many letters from concerned fans "that the club is used as a vehicle to promote political messages by this vocal minority".
Former Celtic director Michael Kelly said: "I think it's a landmark statement. The club has now been quite specific on where it stands on these political and sectarian matters.
"The club has never gone as far as this before."
In 2000 Cara Henderson, whose boyfriend was killed in a sectarian attack, teamed up with Celtic and Rangers football clubs in an attempt to end religious bigotry.
She was 16 when Celtic fan Mark Scott was stabbed to death by a complete stranger as he walked home past a Rangers pub in Glasgow.
Nil By Mouth was launched in the summer of 2000 and has since received praise from Scotland's politicians and the Old Firm clubs.
Anti-sectarian campaigner Donald Gorrie, Liberal Democrat Central Scotland MSP, said: "It is entirely appropriate that the Celtic Football Club is calling for supporters to ensure they do not support or condone the chanting of sectarian songs and slogans at matches."
Scottish National Party justice spokeswoman Roseanna Cunningham also backed Celtic's move, describing sectarianism as a "blight on Scottish society".
She called on Rangers to make a similar move and urge its supporters not to sing sectarian songs.
The call comes after chanting by some Celtic fans during a minute's silence for the victims of the 11 September terrorist attacks.
In his letter, Mr McLeod urges fans not to support or condone such actions.
 This action by a minority will undoubtedly lead to criticism of Celtic Football Club  |
Ian McLeod Celtic chief executive |
The anti-sectarian group, Nil by Mouth, has welcomed the move but spokesman Peter McLean said the Old Firm could go further and ban the bigots.
"I think it's a step in the right direction and is to be commended," he said.
"However, Nil By Mouth would like to see Celtic and Rangers both go a step further and remove 10 supporters each time sectarian singing is heard en masse.
"Ban them from the grounds and publicise their actions as a deterrent to others."
Political beliefs
Mr McLeod said the problem was most obvious among a section of the Parkhead club's away support and made specific reference to the televised game with Motherwell last week.
He criticised the perception among some that a celebration of the club's Irish roots was in itself a sectarian act.
"We are a football club first and foremost and clearly it is not our position to dictate to anyone what their political beliefs or actions should or should not be," he writes.
 The club is proud of its Irish roots |
"However, it is equally our responsibility to ensure that the club, as a non-political organisation, retains its political independence by appealling to those who participate in such activities in the name of Celtic Football Club, to stop doing so."
The club and its fans should be proud of the Irish immigrants who helped create the club in the east end of Glasgow in 1888.
However, Mr McLeod also writes that the IRA chanting cannot be allowed to continue.
"This action by a minority will undoubtedly lead to criticism of Celtic Football Club and indeed has led to calls at Celtic Park (not for the first time) from Celtic supporters who do not share these political belifs but find themselves linked to them by association."
Campaign group
Mr McLeod said he had received many letters from concerned fans "that the club is used as a vehicle to promote political messages by this vocal minority".
Former Celtic director Michael Kelly said: "I think it's a landmark statement. The club has now been quite specific on where it stands on these political and sectarian matters.
"The club has never gone as far as this before."
In 2000 Cara Henderson, whose boyfriend was killed in a sectarian attack, teamed up with Celtic and Rangers football clubs in an attempt to end religious bigotry.
 Peter McLean: "Ban the culprits" |
She was 16 when Celtic fan Mark Scott was stabbed to death by a complete stranger as he walked home past a Rangers pub in Glasgow.
Nil By Mouth was launched in the summer of 2000 and has since received praise from Scotland's politicians and the Old Firm clubs.
Anti-sectarian campaigner Donald Gorrie, Liberal Democrat Central Scotland MSP, said: "It is entirely appropriate that the Celtic Football Club is calling for supporters to ensure they do not support or condone the chanting of sectarian songs and slogans at matches."
Scottish National Party justice spokeswoman Roseanna Cunningham also backed Celtic's move, describing sectarianism as a "blight on Scottish society".
She called on Rangers to make a similar move and urge its supporters not to sing sectarian songs.
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