A change of tune for Celtic on Falkirk incident?
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
I think I’ve said previously on the ACSOM Blog that often, what you don’t say is as important as what you do say.
Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson seems incapable of the latter but an absolute pass master of the former.
His public vow of silence over the last few months would humble even the most reclusive of monks.
However, given his legal background, one would hope that on the very rare occasion when Nicholson does make a public statement, or asks Chat GPT to formulate one for him (allegedly), that such statements would be, at the very least, legally watertight.
Unfortunately for him, and indeed for the Board’s ongoing war with certain fan groups, it seems Celtic may well have breached legal protocol with one of their poorly worded, condescending “supporter updates”.
The Celtic Board’s Premature Assumptions Could Represent Contempt of Court
As a journalist, one of the most frustrating things about reporting on issues of crime, court cases, or any connected issues is the gap between what you know to be true and what you are legally allowed to say during an active investigation.
However, Scotland’s courts take a very grim view on breaching these rules, rules that exist to ensure even the worst elements of society can expect a fair trial. The rules exist to ensure that, in principle at least, the notion of innocent until proven guilty underscores all prosecutions.
From what we’ve seen, Celtic appear to have just cocked their collective leg and proceeded to defecate all over those rules.
I’ll direct you to Celtic’s “Supporter Update” dated November 19th, which, at the time of writing remains active and fully viewable on the club website:
The opening paragraph reads: “Supporters will be aware of the three home game ban issued to the Green Brigade this month following the assault of a steward and two police officers during an incident at the Falkirk game on October 29, which involved around 100 of the group’s members. This incident is the subject of an ongoing investigation.”
Now, do you see the contradiction here?
If indeed there was an assault, then one would assume that a perpetrator has been arrested, and charged with assault. This hasn’t happened. And as I mentioned yesterday, all the evidence we have from Celtic about this October 29th incident is shaky, blurry footage of a sudden surge of fans towards the concourse, for reasons unknown.
Now, far be it for me to besmirch the obviously impeccable character of those who represent Police Scotland, but suffice to say, if 2 of them were being assaulted, I doubt this would have motivated the Green Brigade to jump the fences and dash into the concourse to render much-needed assistance.
Anyway, that’s a side-issue.
The key here lies in the fact that this is an “ongoing investigation”. The only arrest made so far came last Thursday when one Celtic fan and his family had their door kicked in and their house trashed so that Police could make an arrest for “breach of the peace”.
Historical precedent suggests the case probably wont even make it to court, let alone lead to a conviction.
However, if the case does go to court, the judge may well have to throw it out, thanks to Celtic’s official statement on the matter from November 19th.
Not only does the statement presume the guilt of someone who has yet to face any formal criminal proceedings, but it also, arbitrarily decides to upgrade the charge from Breach of the Peace to “Assault”. And not just any assault, but an assault on 3 different individuals. So, that could be interpreted as 3 counts of assault, which naturally carries a far harsher penalty.
There is also the reputational damage this, at present unfounded, allegation could do to the individual concerned. People have lost their jobs over far less.
In what could be seen as a tacit admission of their previous breach of the rules, there’s an interesting change of tone in Celtic’s latest Supporter update, dated November 22nd.
The opening paragraph reads: “The Club has recently communicated with supporters regarding action taken following a serious incident at the match against Falkirk on October 29th.”
So, not an “assault” just a “serious incident”. Some may argue I’m being pedantic here, but this exactly the kind of legal loophole a half-decent lawyer could use to ensure his client walks free from any subsequent court hearing.
Even when they are vindictively going after their own fans, Michael Nicholson and the Celtic Board continue to show gross incompetence and an arrogant disregard for due process and fairness.
If their intention is, as some suspect, to crush fan dissent via trumped-up criminal cases, then they’ve just failed at the very first hurdle.
