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I've just heard on the tv that neil lennon was forced to withdraw from the Northern Ireland squad cos he got a death threat.

daft

[John T]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2208543.stm

[liverbird]

This goes back to the sickness in NI we all discussed in a previous thread. The sick part is that Neil could have chosen to play for the Republic but went with his home county. To be booed and have your life threatened after such a choice simply because you wear the hoops is beyond the pale (to use an Irish metaphor). What possible political motive could there be for this from the thuggish rabble of the LVF?

[Parkhead_Faithful]

Its disgusting, it was expected though, its just a shame as he was supposed to be captaining his country tonight.
The last time this happened the scottish media turned it back onto celtic too, that was equally disgusting.

[liverbird]

Well NI couldn't put one past Cyprus at home! Serves those LVF shites well.

[-cman-]

Good for Lennon. I wouldn't put up with that crap. This isn't the first time either. A pity that very few will see this as Neil saying "A pox on both your houses," but will probably continue to feed the flames of the "Papist-lover, traitor" talk of the morons.

Not that they could possibly be satisfied with anything short of both the Vatican and the Republic spontaneously disappearing into great holes in the ground.

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rangers and celtic seem to be closer than ever, I can see them getting together on this and standing against it together.

I think the two clubs have to grow up and realise that there players dont have to be from one side and they don't have to be called billy or john paul mcbride. anyone who pretends that a lot of the rangers and celtic fans aren't sectarian lives in a fantasy land.

[BrianCappellieri]

I was afraid something like this would happen. What a disgrace...

The Guardian

Lennon withdrew from the team after receiving a death threat in the hours leading up to the match

The Telegraph

The shock withdrawal of their captain Neil Lennon yesterday afternoon cast a cloud over Northern Ireland before, during and after their final warm-up match for their difficult European Championship qualifying programme.

McIlroy said beforehand that he and the squad was "devastated" by the death threat issued to Lennon which prevented the Celtic midfielder from captaining his country for the first time on home soil and that devastation filtered through the ranks to bring about a depressing performance.

Does anyone know the details of the threat? Was it phoned in and to who?

[Parkhead_Faithful]

Originally posted by ads_uk
anyone who pretends that a lot of the rangers and celtic fans aren't sectarian lives in a fantasy land.

Bollocks, its a minority,on a match day youll get more 90 minute bigots but in general everyday life you will find huns and tims working together,drinking together and generally being normal.
how much would you say a lot is??

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everyone I know has a favourite, rangers or celtic, but I don't know one person, at my age, who could honestly say they were a prodestant or a catholic. my mum goes round to church every week but shes says she would still go whether it was catholic or prodestant. btw my mum is annoying like that if i say "hate" she tries to stop me and she says you dont hate it you "dislike" it. she doesnt see the difference between anyone so she ignores the people that do. in other words she hasnt listened to a old firm fan in her life