Irish diplomats have raised concerns with the Scottish Government over chanting by a section of the Rangers support at last month's Old Firm match. Representations were made by Ireland's Consul General after a Celtic supporter complained about a song which refers to the Irish potato famine. Rangers FC said it has asked its fans to refrain from singing the song. The Scottish Government confirmed it had been advised by Ireland's Consul General of the Celtic fan's complaint. The controversy surrounds a song which referred to the famine which killed an estimated one million people in the 1840s and set in motion the mass migration of Irish people. The song includes the line: "The famine's over, why don't you go home". After the song was sung by some Rangers supporters at last month's Old Firm game, a Celtic fan wrote to the Irish Embassy in London to complain. The Irish consul general in Edinburgh raised the issue at her regular meeting with the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government made no comment on the discussions, but insisted that several campaigns against bigotry were beginning to work. A spokesman said: "The Scottish Government is totally committed to combating sectarianism and bigotry, which is why we have expanded on the work of the previous administration and are doing more. "We are working with the clubs themselves, as they are part of the solution to the problem." Sporting behaviour A spokesperson for Rangers said: "In the days following the recent Old Firm match, the Club were made aware that a substantial number of complaints had been made regarding the singing of the chorus of a song known as 'The Famine Song' by our supporters at this match. "Rangers Football Club approached Strathclyde Police for guidance on this matter, with a view to issuing a joint statement indicating that persons singing this song in future may face the possibility of arrest. "Strathclyde Police were not able to commit to this until they had carried out further investigation." The spokesman said the club had a long-established policy of encouraging sporting behaviour and discouraged the singing of songs which others found offensive. "Clearly 'The Famine Song' has provoked such a response in certain quarters," he added. "It is the club's view that the interest of our supporters and the club will be best served by supporters refraining from singing 'The Famine Song'."
They've been singing this for years and yet it only comes out now? I've just sent my letter to the Japanese London Embassy.
The question by McConnell at Holyrood, the interview with the Scottish Catholic Observer, the Scotland on Sunday coverage and this latest nonsense broadcast by BBC Scotland (in combination with further articles in the press, such as in The Telegraph) have clearly been orchestrated. This is plain and simply the continuation of the last campaign (over the "Billy Boys" song) in an attempt by a blatantly anti-Rangers-minded circus to attack Rangers FC and its fans and "revitalise the 'crusade against sectarianism", which, as Tom Devine confirmed only yesterday was intended all along to be completely one-sided (only "anti-Catholicism" was to be addressed ). That this news item was elevated to the lead story on Reporting Scotland - and presented by someone who referred to Rangers fans as half-human/half-animal hybrids - shows just part of what Rangers fans are up against: a ruthless and in itself bigoted group which will use every propaganda device to get its own way. However, the response from David Murray and co has also been everything that we expected: appeasement and retreat. When WILL somebody at Ibrox grow a set of baws and defend the club's fans? It's not as if the Famine song is sectarian -- people of ALL denominations suffered. The term that has been raisde before is I believe: MOPEs. Although I prefer to refer to them as professionally perpetually offended fhannies. It would appear that you can sing songs hoping that people are shot in their sleep, or actually release details of the same person's address to fellow fans. Or vandalise a player's car. But mock another country (even although it's in dubious taste) ? Christ, no.
Some of you bluenoses are really blind. I've met plenty who go on about Celtic fans chanting terrorist songs back in the 90's but completely blank anything they do wrong. Some even deny that their fans were to blame for the Manchester Riot. This is being addressed because someone complained to an official about it, and didn't moan on an internet forum. Some of the stuff Rangers sing are disgusting. Not the songs themselves, but the fact thousands of people would jump up and down singing this together. "Nacho Novo, f-ing homo". Is pretty much the same as going "Heey gayboy!" Any self respecting man (which I assume Novo is) can take it on the chin and move on. It can't be nice, but he knows it comes with the territory. "The Famine is over, why don't you go home?" "Nakamura ate my dog!" Racist. Nothing else.
Any fan who comes on here and claims that their own club's followers are blameless is either deluded or a liar. However, to say that "someone complained to an official about it" is an interesting point. Because EVERY time that "someone" complains on behalf of Celtic, something gets done about it, and the mheedja slaver and drool in pursuit of a Murray-borne white flag. Other "someones" have complained about Celtic fans, and NOT ONE similar campaign has arisen. Anti-Rangers campaigns in recent years have seen an absolute slew of scattergun attacks: pepperami, pitches cut into sash-shapes, eggs benedict, red tops on socks, "Behind Enemy Lines", etc. Every so often, just because of the absolute NUMBER of these attacks, success is achieved. As with the campaign against "The Billy Boys", which referred to a Glasgow gang. Unfortunately, the same never occurred with the Irish gang, the IRA. And btw the Novo song is the one about: "I hope you die in your sleep Nacho Novo Die in your sleep I pray I hope you die in you sleep Nacho Novo With a bullet from the IRA" But mind, that can't be as offensive as a ditty about the events of 160 years ago. Especially when sung by some people actually with genuine connections to the IRA. And as for "Racist" --- some lyrics sung may be anti-Irish (or even anti-Japanese as your Naka quote indicates), but "racist" ???? It's not as if we're throwing bananas onto a pitch at them. As a poster on another forum indicated, the Famine is Over Song is aimed at "plastics", and not REAL Irishmen. (The irony of the official Celtic site having "Let the People Sing" embedded on their site should be pointed out). As for the continuation of the BBC's namecalling, they do little more than point to their own deficiency of balance. Strange that they never do anything similar to Celtic or their fans.
Celtic fans were singing "dirty orange b@stards" at the same game. The Nakamura song is class, I don't get offended at being called a sheep shagger at every game we play so you calling Rangers fans racist for that song is laughable.
I haven't said Celtic were blameless. As I said in another part of this forum, both sides of the OF are as bad as each other, they just refuse to admit it. And being called a sheep shagger is different, it's a bit of banter, because we all know it's not true. IRA, the famine, religion and all that other stuff which really shouldn't have a place here, is not a bit of banter.
I agree with you both sides are as bad as each other, and there is no place for it in football. The point I was making is at the exact same game the Celtic fans were also singing sectarian songs, yet I have not heard this being mentioned in regards to the complaint about the famine song. I was also not comparing the sectarian songs to being called a sheep shagger, I meant the Nakamura song which I find to be stereotypical banter.
Bitter bitter man, What has that got to do with anything? It is a song of a Scottish band The Malley's who are playing before Wednesday's game? The song get's played before almost every home match. This time the band are singing live. It's not bigoted or sectarian. I don't see the problem with that. The song is aimed at plastics? What a load of pish. Everyone knows that a large % of Celtics support are Irish. And that the charity of Celtic Football Club was created by the Irish for the Irish. That is who it is sung at, and any attempt to say otherwise is simply lies. I'm not saying we are blameless either, I was extremely frustrated and annoyed on Saturday to hear certain chants from our crowd. And I know we have problems of our own. But that song is sung for one reason only. To offend.
How can I be bitter man ? My team demolished yours in their last meeting, and we're ahead in the league (so far ...!!). The "irony" point I was making was that there was actually a song called "Let the People Sing" on the website of the club, whose fans claim to have been offended by ... a song. The song is aimed at people who are not in Ireland, but claim to be "Irish". I have Irish descendants myself --- but I don't call myself Irish. It's not aimed at genuine Irish people -- because they actually already live in Ireland, or have irish passports. It IS aimed at the "plastics". The Famine is Over song has been sung "against" Celtic fans for over a year now, including last season. It's intriguing that UEFA are in town yet again during such an attack of outrage. Much delayed outrage. btw, the longer version (with four verses, etc) has never been sung by Rangers fans --- only the shorter few lines. This "long" version appears to have been created by somebody with too much time on their hands, and not enough rhythm in their feet.
You made no mention of "footballing matters" in your previous two posts. And all you do, every single time something is said against your team, club, fellow "fans" is start scrambling about for ways to equal out the situation. "A but they done this..." "There was no mention of this ..." "I wonder if this will be brought up ..." The complaint wasn't made by Celtic Football Club or the Official Website and from what I've read/seen/heard haven't been involved in this. So there is no Irony. I still think it goes deeper, I've had the song sung to me, many times, I'm 100% Scottish as far as I know, lived in Glasgow all my life and have never supported, been a fan of or even been to Ireland. So why are people singing it at me? Because I support a club founded by Irish priests for Irish immigrants in the late 19th Century? When by the way the famine was over.
My mate who is Scottish, calls my a tattie-muncher sometimes to wind me up, personally i think it is hilarious. If you call an "irish" celtic fan it, its racist. Scotland has gone completely PC mad if anybody is offended by these sort of phrases and songs.
What a joke this is take it the celtic supporter who found that song offensive doesnt mind the go on home british soldiers and songs bout IRA fine?? Its just somes them up Get them to **** go home our taxes would go down anyways we wouldnt have to pay their dole money!
Sorry -- you've got me totally confused as to "footballing matters" -- if you want to talk football, then no problem. I mentioned our recent drubbing of you because you characterised me as "bitter", and I wondered how I could be so described in the present context. Unfortunately this thread is about a peripheral matter. However, as I mentioned, the short song HAS been sung for over a year now, including last season, during football matches between Rangers and Celtic. And sure, maybe Rangers fans DO try to even up the situation when they are accused of wrongdoings -- but then again, somebody has to. To suggest that this year-long-delayed complaint has originated from a source that is NOT a Celtic-supporting one ... well, that's naive to say the least and maybe just a tad misleading. Of course it did. In fact, an Ulster politician has claimed that the Irish Government had been 'led up the garden path' by an internet campaign sympathetic to terrorist organisations such as the IRA. (It is important to remember that Ulster suffered the Great Famine too --- being part of the overall "Ireland", and yet ... no complaints from NI as to any "slurs" ...). The Telegraph indicates that "Celtic fans were left incensed by the chant ..." and "Scores contacted the Irish Government, who raised the issue during formal talks with SNP ministers and encouraged fans to contact the clubs, the police and Fergus Ewing, the Scottish minister responsible for tackling sectarianism." And the irony part ... can't you see SOMETHING askew there ? It doesn't have to be funny, but it IS ironic. OF clubs ... Irish song .... "Let the People Sing" ... fans reported for singing about Ireland .... Surely I can't be the only person to see some vague humour in that ??!! Re-addressing your major point here: this is a Rangers-Celtic argument, with no other club being mentioned in it at all. Rangers fans have found that clear and concise indication of the correct evidence does NOT bring us the balanced reportage it deserves. So ... every time Rangers FC and their fans are attacked in a similar manner from now on the FULL panoply of what Celtic fans have done and are still doing will be brought out. If the media did a PROPER job in investigating and objectively reporting on such issues, then fair enough, there would be incidents and performances that could be addressed and removed from the public. Until then, the only way that Rangers fans can defend themselves in such a PATENTLY blameless situation is to show that the fingers being pointed at them are not that clean themselves.
... You're an idiot. Make sense next time you comment. Intelligent debate shouldn't be above you. Not only have you contradicted skorn by showing you are telling the irish immigrants to go home when you sing it, not the "plastics" but you sound like you know nothing about anything. Why don't you go back to England?
Believe it or not, the song is aimed at the silly bhoys who indulge in IRA songs, sing songs against Britain and generally hate being British despite them coming from Coatbridge etc. (Plastic paddies) Also if you were to believe Celtic fans, we were singing Big Jock Knew to the tune of the Billy Boys when infact we were singing Edu, we had a banner making fun of the death of Tommy Burns because there was a picture of an ambulance with TBO as the registration with the words Ambulance Chasers under it despite TBO meaning 'The Blue Order'. All this in the same game where we had Celtic fans chanting about Novo being shot by a bullet from the IRA in his sleep. By the way, the Let the People sing song is about the oppressed Irish and the famine. You tell me what that's got to do with football. You sing songs about the famine but get offended when we sing one back.
