Latest:

10:02 Beale injury adds to Rebels woe
09:52 Ex-intelligence chief 'holds key'
09:52 Sagna confident Van Persie will stay
09:20 'Portas pilots' town centres named
09:02 Keane happy to shoulder burden
09:00 McIlroy down after Wentworth collapse
09:00 McIlroy falls apart at Wentworth
08:30 Split hosts for giant telescope

Healy in row over ‘flute playing’ at Celtic game

Monday, 21 July 2008

Healy mimics playing a flute

enlarge

The agent of footballer David Healy last night defended the player pretending to play the flute during a game against Celtic at the weekend.

The Northern Ireland international made the gesture during Fulham’s friendly against the Glasgow side in London on Saturday.

Healy (28) mimicked an Orange marcher after coming on in the second half of the game.

Fulham went on to beat the Scottish side 3-1.

But last night, Healy’s agent, Stephen Hughes, claimed the striker was merely responding in kind after being targeted by the visiting Celtic supporters at Craven Cottage.

Hughes told the Daily Mail newspaper: “David has told me he was wearing boots with a Northern Ireland flag on the back.

“They had been made for him to celebrate being the leading scorer in the Euro 2008 qualification matches.

“The Celtic fans saw that and know he’s a Rangers fan. They were chanting, ‘Where were you on the 12th?’, which is the day of the Orange marching bands in Belfast (the July 12 celebrations).

He simply pretended to play the flute — there was no attempt to inflame the fans

“So he simply pretended to play the flute — there was no attempt to inflame the fans.

“Afterwards, some of the fans who had been giving him stick sent over programmes for him to sign which he did quite willingly.”

Footballer Paul Gascoigne sparked controversy back in 1998 after making a similar gesture during an Old Firm match

His actions were viewed as provocative because Celtic fans are traditionally sympathetic to the Irish nationalist cause.

Gascoigne was fined £40,000 by Rangers following the incident.

Print
Text Size
- Normal
- Large
- Extra Large

Comments

First |
Previous
1
2
3
4
5
Next
| Last

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