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Gaeilge

Sectarian Abuse at Lansdowne

Don't you just love the Scottish meeja? The yahoos (and many journos themselves) would claim, without a hint of irony, that there is a strong pro-Rangers bias in the papers. What evidence are we offered for this? Well none - we are just supposed to accept it. Not for the first time, I find myself writing in praise of the Irish Republic's media for their reporting of all things Old Firm while the Scottish press hums and haws and generally sticks its head in the sand.

When Scotland played Ireland at Lansdowne Road a couple of years back, Barry Ferguson, Billy Dodds and Neil McCann suffered torrents of abuse from the home fans with McCann being singled in particular (we all know why). While there was a wall of silence from the sweaty press, TV3, the Irish TV channel that were showing the game, felt compelled to apologise to any Scots watching. Why is it that the Irish media are able to not only recognise abuse but also to condemn it while the jock hacks play deaf, dumb and blind?

Wednesday 27th March saw Ireland host a friendly against Denmark. Early in the second half the announcer declared that Peter Lovenkrands was coming on for Denmark (the announcer also felt it necessary to mention that Lovenkrands played for Rangers!) to which the Irish fans subjected the player to a torrent of abuse. This continued every time he touched the ball. As it happens, the announcer was mistaken. It was another Danish player and not Peter who came on. When Lovenkrands eventually did appeared a few minutes later, it afforded the Irish crowd another chance to chant their hate. However, whereas after the Scotland game the Irish were impervious to accusations of sectarian leanings (not that any were forthcoming), now, they are far more sensitive having had a proverbial slap in the kipper from Trimble.

Less than two weeks prior to the (Republic of) Ireland v Denmark match, oor David delivered his speech declaring the Free State sectarian and mono-ethnic. This didn't go down well south of the border and the state's politicians spent the next few days laughing it off and dismissing it as nonsense. Then, almost as if scripted by Trimble himself, the Irish footie fans obliged and let their 'mono-ethnic' feelings be known.

On Friday 29 March, the Irish Sun ran with a front-page spread with the headline, 'SOCCER HATE YOBS BLASTED - Sectarian abuse for Rangers Star', reporting the aftermath of the match against Denmark. It was also mentioned in other sections of the Irish media, although in a far less melodramatic fashion. And how did the Scottish hacks cover the story?

You would imagine an Old Firm player getting abuse while on international duty would be newsworthy copy for the home-based papers, wouldn't you? Well, apparently not (unless of course that player is plies his trade at the piggery).

April 17th saw the USA visit Lansdowne with Reyna in the side. Before the match the IFA handed a cheque to representatives of the New York Fire Department. Sadly, this spirit of friendship was soon cast aside as the game got underway and Reyna was also subjected to the same abuse levelled at other Rangers and ex-Rangers players.

The following two letters appeared in the Irish Time reference the booing:

Sir, - XXXX (April 20th) raises the question of bigotry in support of a football team.

In the first instance, it is unsporting behaviour to "boo" an opponent simply because he is playing for the opposition. Likewise it is unacceptable to "boo" a player because of the club he previously played for.

In the recent match against Denmark, the booing of the Danish player was rightly condemned on the night by the TV commentary team, and throughout the media. Contrast this with the situation in the North where Neil Lennon was jeered by his own team's supporters because he plays for Celtic, and his own manager could not find it in him to condemn this show of bigotry. Previously, Anton Rogan had endured the same abuse for the same reason. Yes, the most bigoted fans in the world are in Ireland but they support the team North of the border.

I can only assume that Mr XXX is one of those naïve folk who think that supporting Rangers is a way of having a bit of crack with all the Celtic fans in Ireland. Perhaps if he examined the history of naked sectarianism and bigotry attached to this club, together with the sectarian bile which is portrayed as "support" and the linkage of some of its supporters with fascist organisations, he might well ask if there is a place in civilised society for such a club. - Yours, etc.,

SEÁN CASSIDY,

Chartwell Park,

Belfast. =================================

Sir

Like Seán Cassidy (April 25th), I too condemn the booing of an international player because of the domestic team he currently or previously has played for. However, Mr Cassidy appears to try to distinguish the abuse aimed at Rangers players visiting Lansdowne Road from the jeers dished out to Celtic player Neil Lennon while playing in front of his own fans at Windsor Park. I do not believe that the booing of an 'away' player is any less repugnant than the booing of a 'home' player. The fact a player can receive abuse because of his club side shouldn't be measured on a sliding scale based on whose fans are doing the booing. Perhaps Mr Cassidy's ability to differentiate between the these incidents is more to do with Rangers and Celtic than home and away. I wonder what reaction Robbie Keane might receive from the Lansdowne crowd should he sign for Rangers?

Seán further states that the Northern Ireland manager, Sammy McIlroy, did not condemn the abuse Lennon received from Northern Ireland fans. On the contrary, McIlroy said he was sickened by the animosity some people were showing towards Lennon and appealed for all fans to get behind him during the match, telling the press at the time, "We do not want anything to do with it. Whatever club Neil Lennon plays for is up to him but when he comes to me he always gives 100%."

Neil Lennon himself confirmed this when he said "I've received support from Sammy [McIIroy], the rest of the squad and many fans."

McIlroy's view was further echoed by John MacMillan, the general secretary of the Rangers Supporters' Association, who said, "The guy is playing for his country and should have the support of all of his fellow countrymen."

This was widely reported in the Scottish and Northern media at the time although Mr Cassidy seems to have completely missed the coverage.

I must also take issue with Mr Cassidy who dismisses Dubliners who supports Rangers as "naïve" because they apparently do not fully appreciate Rangers' "naked sectarianism and bigotry". It is true that BOTH sides of the Old Firm have been blighted by religious hatred but to single out Rangers is unfair and possibly belies Seán's own beliefs.

Rangers fans realise, and I am speaking as one, that when Maurice Johnston signed for the Ibrox side in 1989, the club was consigning a period of its history to the bin, where it belonged. Johnston was both a Catholic and an ex-Celtic player, two facts which individually were shocking enough for some Rangers fans, but compounded caused near apoplexy. Now, the religion of a Rangers player does not merit discussion, just as it should be.

Mr Cassidy also called Rangers fans "fascist". This is a popular tactic by Celtic fans in an attempt to demonise Rangers supporters and to claim some form of moral high-ground. It has as much merit as the rest of Seán's letter.

Yours

etc