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DUP sports minister refuses Celtic invitation

Friday, 19 September 2008

DUP sports minister has refused an invitation to visit Celtic Football Club in Glasgow, accusing the club of not doing enough to stop sectarian singing.

Gregory Campbell said Glasgow Rangers had taken steps to stop their fans singing sectarian songs but Celtic had not done enough.

Mr Campbell said "The recent songs about the IRA would suggest an awful lot more work needs to be done. It would call into question my attendance at the ground."

Mr Campbell, acting in his role as an MP only and not as sports minister, had earlier written to Celtic to complain about being abused by fans during a ferry crossing to Scotland to attend a Rangers game.

The letter was addressed to the former Northern Ireland Secretary, and chairman of Celtic, John Reid.

Mr Campbell has declined an invitation to Parkhead saying it would send out the wrong message, but denied he was setting preconditions.

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Firstly, distasteful as they are to some, most songs about the struggles in Irish history are not sectarian. While 'The Boys of the Old Brigade' is clearly not appropriate for a soccer stadium, it is not in any way 'sectarian' in a narrow denominational sense. By Mr Campbell's measure, the Irish National Anthem would be sectarian. I acknowledge the great hurt done to the unionist community by physical force Republicans over the years and can see the annoyance caused when 'camp followers' of the troubles main protagonists sing their ditties from the safety of Scotland. But to label Nationalist ballads as 'Sectarian' leaves Mr Campbell open to charges of hypocracy if he doesn't condemn some of the more extreme and truly racist/sectarian chants emminating from the fans of Glasgow's other big club. The latest 'Famine is over' song would cause an outcry if it targeted Jews or Muslims.

Posted by Mr P Marrinan, Glasgow | 19.10.08, 12:50 GMT

stuart nice to see someone who can see both sides of the arguement! both sets of fans are as bad as each other but football brings out the worst in us what do you expect! ive been ibrox before and go to park head regularily and both are brillant stadiums with descent fans!! its a shame scottish football is discredited because of a small percentage of fans on both sides who let their team and fellow fans down!

Posted by jim m | 03.10.08, 20:47 GMT

He should still go, so that the bigots at Parkhead show themselves up for what they are. It would be a PR disaster for the club and one which would highlight what we all know, that celtic fans are far from whiter than white....

Posted by Mickey | 20.09.08, 22:41 GMT

This article does not reflect Mr. Campbell's comments fairly. He mentioned (and praised) both of the Old Firm for their efforts in eradicating sectarianism in the game. He was merely stating that a continued effort was needed. I think that many of the comments here are written mostly because of Gregory's choice of team as opposed to his actual comments. It's not hard to guess who the celtic fans are.

Posted by John | 20.09.08, 16:50 GMT

I am a Celtic season ticket holder and I can honestly say that I can't remember the last time I heard the IRA mentioned at Celtic Park. Yes, there are many Irish songs sung such as 'let the people sing' and 'the fields of anthenrye' but these are clearly not sectarian.

Posted by Greg Devlin | 20.09.08, 12:25 GMT

So to be consistent then, Campbell will boycott his beloved Rangers until they do something about sectarian and racist chanting like the recent appaling "Famine Song" episode?

Posted by Mea Culpa Campbell | 20.09.08, 11:13 GMT

Campbell claims that Rangers have "taken steps to stop their fans singing sectarian songs". Really? Then the sectarian and racist bile which spewed from the Rangers support at the recent Old Firm game at Celtic Park must have been a figment of our imagination. Because of Rangers dominance in the game the Celtic fans were unusually quiet and one could clearly hear what the Rangers fans were singing. Gregory was, of course, in the news recently when he attempted to raise support in Parliament for a motion criticising the Celtic goalkeeper for wearing a teeshirt at an Old Firm game with a representation of the late Pope John Paul, on the basis that it could have annoyed Rangers supporters and therefore caused disorder. One might ask what other supporters in the world would be annoyed by a representation of the Pope? Gregory therefore, by his action, clearly demonstrated the deep bigotry which exists among himself and his fellow Rangers fans.

Posted by Terry | 20.09.08, 11:11 GMT

This wouldn't be a pathetic tit for tat exercise after the furore about the famine song? Wise up Gregory, we are all worried about the current economic malise HERE, not what idiots are singing about in ANOTHER country.

Posted by Seamas | 20.09.08, 09:12 GMT

Come on Gregory, until recently secterian songs were prolific at Northen Ireland football matches, never mind what is still sung at Ibrox. I have attended both and enjoyed myslef. You can't have thick skin some of the time and really thin skin when it suits you. You are paid by all the taxpayers in NI. Not just us protestants.

Posted by Stuart - Rangers fan | 20.09.08, 05:32 GMT

I would like Mr. Campbell to validate the statement that Celtic had not done enough re the singing of sectarian songs and Rangers had taken steps to stop sectarian songs.
It would be appreciated if he could quantify his answer with significant examples of the steps taken by both clubs to eradicate the sectarian abuse and give an evaluation of their efforts.

Posted by cmcgeown | 20.09.08, 03:19 GMT

Yeah, because we all know that the Bhoys are whiter than white when it comes to the Old Firm. It's all Rangers fault? Right? WRONG.

Gregory says so and predictably the easily offended are offended again. *Sigh*

Posted by Craig | 19.09.08, 22:40 GMT

I salute you Mr Campbell, Celtic have been getting away with the prize with regards to the sectarian singing and chants, Rangers have been getting all the stick from the media in Scotland, when any sensible person knows that one side is just as bad as the other.
To have visited celtic park would have been a major own goal.

Posted by John Knox | 19.09.08, 21:34 GMT

As the Sport Minister for Northern Ireland he'd be better off spending his time at Irish League games and supporting a team instead of being a visitor of the overpriced, overhyped mainland teams.

Posted by Mark | 19.09.08, 20:10 GMT

On target again Mr.Campbell , should there not be an "E" added to the DUP , as Mr.C . is trying kid us on about this matter .
I think that he thinks all publicity is good for the party and himself in particular , my advice to Mr.C. , is to start at home , and try to live in harmony with all the people of the Island ..

Posted by SAIGEADOIR COLLAC ABU | 19.09.08, 18:10 GMT