EXCLUSIVE.
By Phil Mac Giolla Bhain.
Members of Show Racism the Red Card were taken to task by a tetchy Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell at New Douglas Park after the match between Hamilton Accies and Celtic on Sunday 25th October.
Show Racism The Red Card workers Tommy Breslin and Elio Ajmone were introduced to the Celtic CEO by local MSP Michael McMahon.
The conversation was initially friendly focussing on Celtic’s Somalian starlet Islam Feruz and the new video from SRTRC’s combating “Islamophobia”.
The Peter Lawwell then asked the SRTRC men what their organisation was going to do about the singing of the Famine song by Rangers fans and the taunting of Celtic’s Irish players.
Lawwell’s tone became tetchy to say the least as he explained the pain and offence caused by the Famine Song and the abuse of Celtic’s Irish players by the fans of other clubs in Scotland.
Sources who were in the room at New Douglas Park said that the charity workers were taken aback by the vehemence of the Celtic CEO.
Michael McMahon MSP who was there confirmed the details of conversation that had taken place at New Douglas Park, as did SRTRC worker Elio Ajomne.
Earlier in the afternoon the Bellshill MSP and leading member of the Irish community in Scotland ,who was at New Douglas Park as a guest of SRTRC, asked the charity workers if they had attended the match at Ibrox the following day between Rangers and Hibs? They said that they had.
When asked by McMahon had they heard the Famine song being sung by Rangers supporters after Irishman Anthony Stokes had scored for Hibernian they said they didn’t hear the controversial song.
Michael McMahon expressed surprise at this as he had been contacted by constituents complaining as they heard the racist song while watching the game on TV.
Elio Ajmone is originally from Turin in Italy and has a background in the UK of working with asylum seekers.
He has been recently appointed to work for SRTRC after the charity received extra funding from the Scottish government.
He told me “this is only my eighth week in post. My job is to create a new strand in Show Racism The Red Card’s work is combating sectarian prejudice.”
When asked to characterise the taunting of Irish player Aidan McGeady Elio stated:
“This is a racist issue.” When put to him that the taunting and abuse aimed at Aiden McGeady for playing for the Republic of Ireland was viewed by the Irish community as a manifestation of anti-Irish racism Elio replied:
No, that is a fair comment.”
SRTRC national director Ged Grebby defended his organisation’s work in Scotland by first pointing out that the charity receives no money from Scottish football.
On the racist abuse of Aidan McGeady he said:
“We have spoken out on the racist abuse that Aidan McGeady receives from football fans. Tommy Breslin, for example, gave a statement to the Paisley Daily Express on March 3rd 2008 after Aidan was racially abused by St. Mirren fans.”
Grebby also said:
“We are aware that Anti-Irish racism is being used by Rangers supporters in a sectarian manner. We are planning a campaign called ‘Show Bigotry The Red Card!’ We have written to Aidan McGeady to take part we hope that he will.”
Michael McMahon said later:
“The problem I have always had with the anti-sectarianism campaign of successive Scottish administrations has been the lack of clarity about the difference between sectarianism and racism. It is an easy get out for the Government, the football authorities and anti-racist organisations like Show Racism the Red Card to label the Famine Song as sectarian abuse and treat it as just another manifestation of religious division rather than deal with it for what it is.
The chant has already been identified in the Scottish Courts as racist but it would seem that to deal with it as such presents too much of a challenge for the authorities who find it much easier to see issues between Celtic and Rangers are two sides of the same coin. They are not. Each club has its own problems with its fans but this particular problem is one or anti-Irish racism and has to be dealt with for what it is.”
Neither Peter Lawwell nor Celtic Fc were prepared to make any comment on the matter.
peter mccabe
Srtrc are not capable of dealing with sectarianism or racism – anyone who thinks they could possibly be are deluding themselves.
Why would an organization whose very existence (player interviews, action at matches, programme entries etc) relies on the approval of the SFA, SPL and its clubs ever be so bold as to criticise the mighty Rangers FC and its “fans” for any chant?
Srtrc are an English-based charity who use videos to try to educate kids – great as far as it goes but I hope nobody is kidding themselves. Only consistent reports to bodies outside of Scotland will stop the cover-up and end the songs of hate.
December 11, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Anna
Brendan read the history The Fields Of Athenry is not racist it’s a folk song about the Irish having to leave their land due to the famine . Do you think Flower of Scotland is racist when it tells the English to ‘go homewards to think again’?
October 28, 2009 at 9:20 pm
JOKE
I personally am disgusted at SRTRC the S.F.A. and Rangers football club,the double standards of all 3 are unbelievable it is absolutely amazing that ONE fan can be heard making a racist comment to Maurice Edu yet tens of thousands can chant TFS every week regardless of who they play without any consequence whatsoever,all racist comments should be eradicated from football.
October 28, 2009 at 3:13 am
Ken
This sounds promising from SRTRC. Sure, v, v slow on the uptake, for this FS has been around for far too long now. And good show by Lawwell; this issue just can no continue to be ignored by SRTC, football administrators of all clubs, politicians, supporters, et al. RFC have to return to making clear and unambigious statements to their supporters, “this ditty can no be sung”!
October 27, 2009 at 5:12 pm
FIGHTRACISM
Brendan, The Jewish community sing songs themed around the Holocaust, does that mean perjorative songs around that episode should be permitted, wither in stadia or society. I think we both know the answer to that. Regarding the article and the contributions, it is refreshing to see Michael McMahon cast doubts on the motives of Show Racism the Red Card, who have been shamed throughout this episode. Their unwillingness to address this comprehensively has illustrated a two-tier attitude to racism. The comments of Ged Grebby defy belief and I can only hope that Aiden McGeady lets them know in no uncertain terms wht to do with their last minute offer. SRTRC have been told about anti-Irish racism for years and have showed a lack of appetite to deal with it. They have been exposed as a sham organisation on the issue of racism, as any body would who decides to cherry pick the issues they will willingly confront. Ironically the same could be said of Lawwell and Celtic FC whose intervention comes late in the day. The Famine Song, and indeed other manifestations of anti-Irish racism will continue in stadia until the SPL have the moral fibre to act.
October 27, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Brendan
the celtic fans sing about the famine as well. its known as the field of anthenry
October 27, 2009 at 7:13 am