IF CELEBRITY CELTIC FANS CAN SAY WHAT THEY LIKE, THEN THE SAME SHOULD APPLY TO ALL
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- Jul 1
- 3 min read
Father Ted famously once said: “it’s funny how you get more right-wing as you get older”.
Unfortunately, Rod Stewart seems to be playing out this stereotype in real-time.
The ageing musician has courted controversy in recent years with his support for Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party.
Their brand of politics isn’t just opposed to what most Celtic fans I know believe in, it is, to many of us, utterly repulsive.
Now, I don’t profess to speak for all Celtic fans, I’m sure there are some out there who, for whatever reason support the Conservatives and their agenda.
I can’t understand that, indeed I can’t understand why anyone from a working-class background would support such a group, but that’s their choice. It’s up to them, and ultimately, it’s none of my business.
Free Speech Must Apply to All Celtic Fans, Not Just the Famous Ones
That being said, with his latest outpouring of ignorance, I think Rod Stewart has crossed a red line, for me, and for many other Celtic supporters.
Being an out of touch rich guy is something of an occupational hazard for ageing rockstars.
However, Stewart this weekend pledged his public support for Nigel Farage, and encouraged everyone to “give him a chance”.
I’m sorry Rod, but that’s not going to happen. Europe in the 1930s and America right now shows what happens when you give fascists “a chance”.
Because let’s not sugar-coat this, that’s what Farage is, and that is what his Reform Party represents: fascism.
I do not believe in giving any ground, or any platform to people like him, because we know from experience that they would give us no such courtesy if they were in charge.
I know that this post will probably attract the usual: “stick to the football” and “keep politics out of sports” comments.
Fine, I’ll do that, if the likes of Rod Stewart do the same. But we know they won’t. And, in all honesty, they shouldn’t have to. As repugnant as Rod Stewart’s views are to me, he is entitled to have them and to express them.
The Celtic Board, who opted years ago to give Rod a “seat for life” at Celtic Park whilst more than 10,000 fans willing to pay actual money for such a seat have to languish on a waiting list, have remained silent on this issue.
So, fair’s fair, I then expect them to similarly keep their mouths shut next time the Green Brigade or any fan group for that matter decides to make a political statement at a game.
You can’t have it both ways. Either you embrace freedom of speech in its entirety or you clamp down on all inflammatory political statements equally.
Personally, I think absolute freedom of speech is a myth. Every word we say and every action we take has consequences. If Rod Stewart wants to support a fascist that’s up to him, but then he doesn’t get to turn around and start complaining when Celtic fans or others criticize him or shun him for it.
Freedom of speech is not, as so many in today’s toxic political discourse seem to think, the freedom from consequences.
I think the philosopher Karl Popper probably said it best: “Tolerance does not extend to the intolerant.”
I speak only for myself here, but I personally found Rod Stewart’s latest comments far more offensive and inflammatory than anything the Green Brigade or other fan group has ever said.
And yet, guess who gets more negative headlines.
Meanwhile Celtic fans will, this week, bid a final farewell to John Clark, a legend who gave the club over 50 years of service, and yet never was offered a “seat for life” in the directors’ box.
Then again, he never wore a Celtic top at Glastonbury or did the Scottish Cup draw whilst p*ssed out of his mind, so I guess that doesn’t count in the eyes of the Celtic board.
