David Healy ‘can’t apologise enough’ after his gesture to Celtic fans
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
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David Healy last night said he could ‘not apologise enough’ for a weekend incident in which he mimicked playing a flute in front of Celtic fans.
The Northern Ireland star added that he was well aware of his responsibilies as a role model for young fans and said he would never make a similar gesture again.
Fulham player Healy had been warming up to come on in the pre-season against the Bhoys at Craven Cottage on Saturday when he encountered what he called ‘a bit of banter’ from the visiting Celtic fans.
It was a chant of “What were you doing on The Twelfth?” that prompted the 28-year old Killyleagh man — and boyhood Rangers fan — to play an imaginary flute.
Celtic supporters will remember a similar contentious gesture from Paul Gascoigne, then a Rangers player, during an Old Firm game 10 years ago.
But Healy insisted last night that he only meant it as a light-hearted gesture with no sectarian connotations.
“Someone said something to me and I made a silly gesture which ultimately I regret now,” said Northern Ireland’s all-time leading scorer.
“At the time there was quite a bit of banter going on between me and the Celtic fans; at the time I didn’t think too much about it.
“I can’t apologise enough for it now, and I’m deeply disappointed by my actions. Anyone who knows me, knows I’m not like that.”
He added: “I know my responsibilities as a role model and how hard the Irish FA has worked to improve the image of the game. I certainly won’t do anything like it again.”
Healy’s Fulham and Northern Ireland team-mate Chris Baird said the whole thing was meant to be a bit of fun.
“Knowing Dave, it wasn’t anything against Celtic fans,” he said.
“The Celtic fans were having a bit of craic with Dave and vice versa. He’s not the kind of person to do something to incite people intentionally, or in a bad way.”
Baird added that said that Healy’s gesture — watched by a crowd of more than 16,000 at the Cottage, including 11,000 Hoops fans — had been blown out of proportion.
“It’s really stupid,” he said. “Football could do without this. It was all a bit of fun and hopefully this will be cleared up soon.”
Healy — who has netted a record 34 goals for his country and will be the Olympic Games ambassador for Northern Ireland — said he joked with Celtic fans after the flute incident.
The married father-of-two is one of Northern Ireland’s most popular sporting stars of all time and will collect an MBE from The Queen later this year.
“I actually signed autographs for Celtic fans who were directing the banter towards me and it was all very friendly. We had a laugh about it,” he said.
“I have a lot of respect for Celtic and have written in the past in my Belfast Telegraph column of my admiration for the club and its supporters.”
A Fulham spokesman last night said the club was investigating the incident.
“The team is in South Korea for pre-season currently. The club is looking into the alleged incident and there is no further comment at this time,” he said.
No-one at Celtic was available for comment last night, but a member of the Belfast Shamrock Celtic Supporters Club, who asked not to be named, said the gesture was taken in good spirit.
“It was only a bit of banter, nothing more,” he said.
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101 Comments
I guess I have seen a very useful blog tester
Sorry, I don’t remember the name- just use the search.
Posted by sssr | 10.11.08, 21:24 GMT
Oh god some people cant take a banter !
Go On David :)
Posted by Katey rfc | 14.08.08, 05:33 GMT
Hardly a big deal. Somebody did the same thing about ten years ago. Healy's not even that good of a player. He only looks like a good player in the context of Northern Ireland.
He mimicked the playing of a flute?'Shock horror. You would think he'd have matured a bit, and understood his actions being a public sporting figure. Hes just cost himself a lot of young Catholic fans.
Posted by Dave | 29.07.08, 11:34 GMT
WHAT A LEGEND!!!!
WHAT A HERO!!!!
WHAT A GREAT ROLE MODEL!!!!
DAVID HEALY A TRUE SPORTSMAN & A TRUE GENTLEMAN!!!!!
While Celtic Fans are chanting at him, David make a simple gesture with a smile on his face, no abusive words spoken, no abusive gestures given.
And then to prove along with his amazing football talents he holds the personality and sportmanship skills, he willingly signs programmes off ALL fans, regardless off their previous actions or regardless off which team they support!
AND THATS WHY OUR DAVID HEALY WILL RECIEVED A MBE!!!!
Posted by Rachel-Ann | 27.07.08, 09:02 GMT
HEALY HEALY HEALY THE MANS A GOD. WATS ALL THE FUSS WAT ABOUT BORUC CROSSIN HIMSELF OR THE POPE T-SHIRT
Posted by RICKY | 26.07.08, 20:56 GMT
i am living in New Zealand i think the the celtic fans would also have though it was funny for what i read in the papers over here david healy has done a lot for northern ireland so it is up to them who know that it was all in fun as i am irish and loves the flute hand actings
Posted by old school irish | 26.07.08, 09:22 GMT
How much have the media made of such a non-event? Nothing wrong with a bit of craic and banter at a match.
Posted by Gerard | 25.07.08, 12:19 GMT
He apologised, lets move on what else can we ask for.
I am a Celtic fan and it did not bother me at all. He made a mistake.
Posted by John | 24.07.08, 04:18 GMT
Banter is very acceptable at any sporting event, if you can't handle it there's no need for you to turn up at a sporting fixture, banter between Healy and the Celtic fans is not surprising, his responce is what would be expected if a Celtic fan asked him what he was up to on the twelth, a perfectly natural responce to a perfect sporty wind up question....
What chaps my butt about this whole episode is this, and it seems to be a common thread among the great oppressed of our planet, from whatever walk of life they may come - - look at them in the wrong way and your a bigot.....simple answer, if you can sling the muck, make sure you can catch the muck...
Posted by Giggs Johnston, Aberdeen | 23.07.08, 14:14 GMT
As i celtic fan i fink the media made a big deal outa nothing. bita craic!
Posted by peter | 23.07.08, 09:46 GMT
You're missing the point here Jacabus, I don't think David, or anyone else for that matter, wants to wear a sash at a football match, after all it is a FOOTBALL match, not a political/ religious/ cultural event.
Posted by Tut! | 23.07.08, 09:34 GMT
SINCE WHEN DID EVERYONES SKIN BECOME SOOOOOOOO THIN
Posted by Annabella | 23.07.08, 06:11 GMT
IT'S TIME THAT PEOPLE SHUT UP ABOUT THIS MATTER. MOST CELTIC FANS DON'T SEEM TO BE ANNOYED BY DAVID'S GESTURE, BUT THE NEWSPAPERS SEEM TO WANT TO CAUSE TROUBLE. I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO PROVIDE DAVID WITH A PROPER SASH TO WEAR AT MATCHES. IF I WAS DAVID I WOULD NOT SAY SORRY ABOUT THE MATTER, BUT I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO TELL MY CRITICS WHERE TO GO.
Posted by JACABUS | 23.07.08, 00:36 GMT
I totally agree with Gavin. a bit of light-hearted banter is just that, and nothing more should be read into it than was intended. David Healey apologised to those who didnt see the joke and it should now be laid to rest - everyone just stop being so touchy.
Posted by Robert | 22.07.08, 20:34 GMT
i feel sad and get my hanky out and wipe the tears away as i can't stop laughing. if you were wondering what i was doing on the 12th of july i was having a walk down the queens highway see you behind the goals
Posted by a.c. | 22.07.08, 19:50 GMT
As a celtic and republic fan I have no problem with what david has done. The crowd were teasing him and he joked back. It's just a pity that we in northern ireland are so touchy that we take offence to someone miming a musical instrument!
To claim Healy is a bigot is ridiculous. I just wish he'd have declared for the republic (regardless of what he does on bank holidays.
Posted by gavin | 22.07.08, 18:18 GMT
Fair play to celtic fans for recognising this for what it was, banter. Exaggerated by the media.
Posted by NB | 22.07.08, 16:21 GMT
Some of the criticism of Healy is OTT given a reaction of Celtic Fans who were at the game, ongoing BANTER ETC.......LONG live the KING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by DAVE SMITH | 22.07.08, 15:42 GMT
So Northern Ireland's leading goalscorer is an accomplished flute player as well. Is there no end to the great man's talents? LEGEND ! hahahahahaha
Posted by LarneMan | 22.07.08, 15:41 GMT
Obviously Healy thought he was getting away without being seen doing this. Now of course it is all over the media and the remorse is flowing. Likely story! There should be a very heavy fine and even a suspension for this unquestionable act of fan provocation. Can you imagine if this had been Artur Boruc? He blesses himself, as do hundreeds of players every single game, and what happens to him? He gets booked, slammed in the media and warned by the police in Scotland. Yes, Healy should be hammered. Apology or not.
Posted by Joe | 22.07.08, 15:26 GMT
101 Comments