In 2012 ‘The Offensive Behaviour at
Football and Threatening Communications Act’ was passed. Since then Strathclyde
Police and now Police Scotland have been using their new power to build cases
against football fans. Under the new legislation any action within a football
stadium that may cause offence to someone may be treated as a criminal act.
Although this sounds absurd, bordering on laughable, this is a very serious
issue illustrated by the house raids, arrests and prosecution of Celtic fans who
now face the possibility of jail time if found guilty. This should concern any
citizens in Scotland who value their right to freedom of speech and right to
protest. These rights are
something that the working classes have had to struggle for, over hundreds of
years, and we should vigorously resist this attempt to erode them.
The Celtic fans facing trial are
accused of singing of a song called ‘The
Roll of Honour’ which was written by the band The Irish brigade in 1982. The
band have opposed any attempts to slander the song as racist or offensive
stating;
‘the
roll of honour was written at a time of great social and political upheaval in
the North of Ireland. It was to commemorate the sacrifice of ten young men who
died in the Hunger Strike of 1981. The song was a reflection of the thoughts,
feelings and beliefs, held by many in Ireland and throughout the world who felt
that these deaths could have been avoided if the British Government at that
time had not taken such a harsh and unbending attitude towards the prison
crisis. The line ‘England, you’re a Monster’ is figurative language and is a
reference to this belief. The word ‘Monster’ is defined as someone ‘unnaturally
cruel’ – the Government at that time. It is not or was not, at any time, to be
construed as referring to the English Nation or the people of England, it is
not a racist remark’.
In response to the
legislation and prosecutions a group
called Fans Against Criminalisation has been formed by Celtic supporters to
campaign against the criminalisation of football fans. FAC recently held a well
organised leafleting session in the area surrounding Celtic park before the
match on Saturday 8 February in
order to publicise the re-release of ‘The Roll of Honour’ song on iTunes in
protest against the prosecutions. On 16 February the single reached number 33
in the official UK top forty singles chart showing that there is widespread
opposition to this attempt to criminalise the content of the song and to prosecute
Celtic supporters for singing it.
‘The Roll of Honour’ song is neither
racist nor is it sectarian and in fact carries many similarities to the National
anthem of Scotland (Flower of Scotland) in its opposition to national
oppression and foreign occupation. Up to this point no one has been charged for
singing ‘The Flower of Scotland’ nor do we expect them to be. This once again highlights
that anti-Irish racism is alive and well in Scottish society; on the street and
in the establishment. If you sing a song about Scottish nationalism it’s okay
you’re only being patriotic but dare mention Ireland’s politics or nationalism
and you’re a criminal. ‘The Roll of Honour is an Irish political song. Under
this legislation a potential sentence of up to 5 years imprisonment faces those
who sing it in football stadiums.
The Glasgow Defence Campaign calls on
everyone to stand shoulder to shoulder against this injustice and we call for
organisation and mobilisation against this sectarian legislation. We send our
support both to those facing prosecution and to those who are organising in
defence of them.
Unity is our key to victory!
All power to the people!
Danny McGarrell
