The Offical Glasgow Celtic thread

[6th sam]

The Griffiths thing is ridiculous because it came about 5 mins after the game had ended.  After the constant abuse, after the missiles and after attempted pitch invasions.  To try and say that this would incite trouble is bananas given that the torch was well and truly lit long before then. 

Maybe UEFA need to have a look at themselves for inciting everything that went before by not keeping the teams separate in the draw if they feel a scarf to a post at the end of the game could have lead to serious unrest - talk about wanting it both ways.

It doesn't do Griffiths any favours to minimise his behaviour. He is a very talented footballer who continues to show a lack of maturity and responsibility. He is a highly paid professional who as a Celtic footballer needs to avoid any potentially provocative behaviour.
However, it reminds me of the targettting of Neil Lennon. Neil was painted as an individual who brought the abuse on himself , therefore explaining/excusing the behaviour of rangers and NI fans towards him. The atmosphere in Windsor last week was absolutely poisonous and unacceptable . The reaction of the normally placid Stuart Armstrong to a disgraceful tackle epitomises how players can get sucked in, in the context of such a poisonous and aggressive atmosphere.
Leigh Griffiths was intimidated every time he took a corner, including the throwing of missiles( why is this being minimised) . Despite apologist David Healy ridiculously implying such incidents occur in Manchester derbies, these events are now rare and extremely dangerous. In the midst of Griffith's regrettable response, the seriousness of the missile throwing and poisonous atmosphere has been completely minimised. Sadly this is typical of this place, we have been normalising and excusing sectarianism for years.

[PAULD123]

The abuse all of the Celtic players took at the shithole that is Windsor Park,and in particular Brown,Griffiths and Sinclair,was unbelievable.I can well understand Griffiths wanting to rub it in.

Ah but that's the problem. Even you recognise it as rubbing it in. It wasn't a simple tribute to his oown fans it was an insult to the opposition fans. The rules (rightly or wrongly) don't allow for this.

Look UEFA are leaping on a chance to punish Griffiths to cover up the embarrasment that one of their officials chose to book a player for desiring to avoid being struck by a missile. So jump on Griffiths and sweep the ref decision under the carpet. Focus on his wrong to avoid dealing with the wrong that was done to him.

It's a pity he gave them an excuse.

[6th sam]

The abuse all of the Celtic players took at the shithole that is Windsor Park,and in particular Brown,Griffiths and Sinclair,was unbelievable.I can well understand Griffiths wanting to rub it in.

Ah but that's the problem. Even you recognise it as rubbing it in. It wasn't a simple tribute to his oown fans it was an insult to the opposition fans. The rules (rightly or wrongly) don't allow for this.

Look UEFA are leaping on a chance to punish Griffiths to cover up the embarrasment that one of their officials chose to book a player for desiring to avoid being struck by a missile. So jump on Griffiths and sweep the ref decision under the carpet. Focus on his wrong to avoid dealing with the wrong that was done to him.

It's a pity he gave them an excuse.

Perfect summary.
Griffiths behaviour around the scarf tying and 5:1 gesture , is not acceptable as it could have thrown petrol
On the flames. However the fact is that the referee's response to the missile  throwing was bizarre and dangerous.

[Hectic]

Would you say then that the club, manager, his backroom staff etc then have to take some responsibility for Griffiths actions given he did it at a fair few away grounds last season. If it is unacceptable should it have been nipped in the bud the first time he did it rather than letting it become a ritual?

[Applesisapples]

I don't know why anyone would believe that Windsor could be anything other than poisonous, it always will be no matter what the IFA say, its in the blood.

[T Fearon]

I agree.It was almost like Celtic appearing at the shit hole was what some of these soap dodgers have been waiting all their lives for,a dream come true,for all the wrong reasons.It was my intention to park in the city centre and actually walk down the Donegal Road to the cesspit,I abandoned that plan while driving up the Donegal Road and observing hordes of red white and blue zombies gathered on street corners boozing away,pre match,nearly three hours before kick off (should this be allowed prior to an explosive fixture like this?).

In any event I have submitted a report to kickitout.org and included a good few seat nos of the worst offenders.

[ned]

Ffs tying a scarf to a post is nothing in the grand scheme of things. If a Linfield player did same a CP it would be seen for what it was. I think the only people needing to look at tempering their behaviour are the neanderthals in the stands who shout and spit abuse but then get upset at a scarf. Griffiths did f**k all wrong.

[stew]

I agree.It was almost like Celtic appearing at the shit hole was what some of these soap dodgers have been waiting all their lives for,a dream come true,for all the wrong reasons.It was my intention to park in the city centre and actually walk down the Donegal Road to the cesspit,I abandoned that plan while driving up the Donegal Road and observing hordes of red white and blue zombies gathered on street corners boozing away,pre match,nearly three hours before kick off (should this be allowed prior to an explosive fixture like this?).

In any event I have submitted a report to kickitout.org and included a good few seat nos of the worst offenders.

Fair play to you Tony but you should not have been near the place, if owc boys had seen you, you could have well been in trouble.

[T Fearon]

I was not going to miss out on the opportunity to see Celtic play a mere 20 miles from my home.I honestly thought things had changed but it's as bad as ever.

[The Subbie]

Tony was in a very cunning disguise for his behind enemy lines jaunt to the sectarian cesspit.

[Hectic]

I was not going to miss out on the opportunity to see Celtic play a mere 20 miles from my home.I honestly thought things had changed but it's as bad as ever.

Yeah what has changed is a massive effort to play down the sectarianism that is alive and well in NI soccer.  It is along the same lines as 'Orange Fest', turn a blind eye and report all that is rosy with a good dose of deflection. I was listening to Radio Ulster this morning and they reported that Griffiths had been charged in their 7am headlines with no mention of Linfield's charge.

[Hectic]

I was not going to miss out on the opportunity to see Celtic play a mere 20 miles from my home.I honestly thought things had changed but it's as bad as ever.

Yeah what has changed is a massive effort to play down the sectarianism that is alive and well in NI soccer.  It is along the same lines as 'Orange Fest', turn a blind eye and report all that is rosy with a good dose of deflection. I was listening to Radio Ulster this morning and they reported that Griffiths had been charged in their 7am headlines with no mention of Linfield's charge.

And just like that I catch this nonsense:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/celtic/official-had-reason-to-book-celtics-leigh-griffiths-insists-northern-ireland-ref-chief-malcolm-35940578.html

[Main Street]

LG's being charged with provoking the frothing mob.
Did anything of note happen after he tied the scarf around the post?

[Hectic]

Yeah if you watch it in rewind after he tied the scarf to the post there was an attempted pitch invasion, there were missiles being thrown from the crowd and their was naked hatred/sectarianism/racism from the stands.

[tonto1888]

I was not going to miss out on the opportunity to see Celtic play a mere 20 miles from my home.I honestly thought things had changed but it's as bad as ever.

Yeah what has changed is a massive effort to play down the sectarianism that is alive and well in NI soccer.  It is along the same lines as 'Orange Fest', turn a blind eye and report all that is rosy with a good dose of deflection. I was listening to Radio Ulster this morning and they reported that Griffiths had been charged in their 7am headlines with no mention of Linfield's charge.

And just like that I catch this nonsense:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/celtic/official-had-reason-to-book-celtics-leigh-griffiths-insists-northern-ireland-ref-chief-malcolm-35940578.html

there as a spectator? Supporter maybe? Does he ref Irish League games?