PLASTIC CUPS OR KNIVES? THE S*N SLATES CELTIC FANS AND PLAYS DOWN FAR MORE DANGEROUS CRIMES
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- Jul 25
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 4
I’ve already written earlier today about the importance of responsible reporting, objectivity and honesty when covering Scottish football. The Daily Record failed on all three counts in their ramblings about “fan violence” at last night’s Ajax Celtic clash.
Celtic Fans Throw a Few Empty Cups, A Rangers Fan Brings a Knife to a Game. Which Story do You Think Warrants More Coverage?
The S*n just couldn’t wait to join the Daily Record on the bandwagon of preachy moralizing about “football violence” and the “imminent disaster” if fans are allowed the basic comfort of a beer or two at the game this season.
Once more for the hard of thinking: I will never accept any kind of moral judgements or lectures about acceptable conduct from sewer-dwelling, gutter trawling peddlers of lies, hate and ignorance like The S*n newspaper.
Nor should any of you.
Much like the Daily Record did earlier today, The S*n also opted for the grainy, less accurate images of last night’s incident, rather than the close-ups readily available online which shows the reality, that less than a dozen people were involved.
Compare these two headlines, and tell me if you can spot the difference in tone.
“UGLY SCENES
Shock moment Celtic and Ajax fans clash at Como Cup as trouble flares during friendly tournament in Italy”
And then there’s this:
IN THE DOCK
Rangers fan sentenced after being caught with a knife at Ibrox Stadium
One is clearly designed to instill fear, anger, online arguments, etc. The other is a simple statement of fact.
I think the agenda is clear here. Play down the far more dangerous actions of Rangers fans, whilst exaggerating the unacceptable but ultimately far less dangerous actions of about 10 or so drunk Celtic fans with a Palestinian flag and a distain for fascism.
It’s calculated, it’s malicious, and I’d even go so far as to say it’s dangerous.
Both of Scotland’s major newspapers utterly failed in their basic mission to tell the truth in a balanced and fair way. The worst part is, 8 days out from the start of the new season, I’m already expecting them to do the same again tomorrow, and the next day, and beyond.
I’m not asking for the papers to only write positive stuff about Celtic. That’s not how journalism works. But I want balance, I want honesty and I want fairness.
That is the bare minimum we should all expect from our press. Don’t buy the S*n, and while you’re at it, don’t buy The Daily Record either.
