CELTIC ARE NOT ANTI-SEMITIC NO MATTER WHAT THE DAILY EXPRESS SAYS
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
I spend a lot of time on here pointing out inaccuracies, half-truths and inconsistencies in the various stories put forth by the Scottish media concerning Celtic.
This morning though, I read something that goes well beyond that.
The Scottish Daily Express are lying about Celtic and our fans.
If they think that’s defamatory, I invite them to present their evidence in public and let’s see who is being truthful.
Celtic Should Call Out the Lies and Demand a Retraction
The report opens with the headline: “Green Brigade yobs batter fellow Celtic fan for wearing a pro-Israel badge”.
Let’s see, do you have your bingo cards at the ready?
Slander against the Green Brigade: check
Dehumanizing language (yobs): check
Implied antisemitism without any evidence: check.
Thank you for playing right-wing crackpot bingo.
Antisemitism is a charge often leveled at Celtic fans.
When you have the gall to ask these idiotic accusers for any evidence, their response usually goes like this: “Well, look at all the Palestinian flags”.
Once more for the hard of thinking: support for one group of people does not equate to hatred of another. This is right-wing dog-whistle politics at its very worst.
I challenge anyone to show me any direct evidence of Celtic fans actively engaging in genuinely antisemitic behavior.
Now, let’s look at the Daily Express’ story and try to establish what actually happened.
The Express claims that a “grandfather” (interesting descriptive word choice for a 54-year-old man with no physical impairments), was brutally beaten by members of the Green Brigade for wearing a pro-Israel badge.
First of all, Police Scotland (not usually a source I would trust but bear with me) state that an “incident” (not an assault, an incident) took place in the South West Stand of Celtic Park around 3.25pm on Saturday March 29th. This was during Celtic’s 3-0 win over Hearts.
Now remind me again, where do the Green Brigade congregate in Celtic Park?
Oh, that’s right the North East Corner AKA The North Curve. The complete opposite end of the stadium from where this alleged incident took place.
So, unless the Green Brigade have somehow mastered the art of teleportation, or uncovered a wormhole through time and space that exists purely within the confines of Celtic Park, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this “incident”, to use the police’s own words, had nothing whatsoever to do with the Green Brigade.
Again, if the Express has any evidence to the contrary, then please, let’s see it.
Now, let’s talk about the alleged victim of the piece.
He is a member of the group The Friends of Israel, an extremist organization who engage in daily apologist rhetoric for the current slaughter in Palestine.
Actually, that sounds just about right for the Express’ targeted readership.
This group have been known to make several inflammatory statements about Celtic, about Palestinians and basically about anyone who doesn’t agree 100% with their uncompromising, entirely pro-Israeli government stance on the current invasion of Gaza.
They are not, by any stretch of the imagination an impartial or balanced news source.
Yet, the Express has no problem with basing their entire story around the group’s own narrative of events.
Here’s what actually happened, according to sources I have spoken with who were actually there.
The individual in question, was caught trying to places a series of Friends of Israel stickers across an area in Celtic Park’s south west concourse.
Naturally, many Celtic fans in the area took exception to this, demanding the individual stop. When he refused, a physical confrontation ensued.
Sounds more like a fight than an assault to me, and one that the alleged victim started.
I believe the expression my American friends use to describe this kind of scenario is: “f*ck around and find out”.
Just to ensure complete balance and impartiality, the Express then turned to an ex-Celtic player for comment.
Naturally, that ex-Celtic player was Eyal Berkovic. An embittered puppet for pro-government propaganda in Israel with a long-standing hatred for his former club that goes right back to the day Martin O’Neill sold him and then gave John Hartson his old squad number.
A far better person to ask would have been Liel Abada, you know, someone from Israel who actually played for Celtic within the last 2 decades. However, his opinion would not fit with the Express’ intended narrative here.
Unlike Berkovic, Abada has been honest, and appreciative of the support he received while he was at Celtic.
He has not taken any of what I am sure must have been dozens of offers from media in Scotland, Israel and elsewhere to throw Celtic under the proverbial bus. For that, he has my respect and my gratitude.
Celtic fans disliked Berkovic because he was arrogant, lazy and clearly only at Celtic for the money. His nationality had nothing to do with it. He was a failure as a Celtic player. Deep down, he knows that, and it only fuels his bitterness even further.
Liel Abada to this day retains the respect of the Celtic support, because he conducted himself with dignity and honor throughout what must have been a very difficult time for him personally.
Abada is twice the man Berkovic will ever be. He is a credit to himself and his country.
As for the Daily Express, well, I don’t think I need to remind you where it belongs. In the bin, next to Eyal Berkovic’s sense of self-worth.