I was at the Denmark game (upper West) when Lovenkrants (spelling?) got booed and the national media went into a frenzy about it. I have to say that I thought it was an over reaction, to what, on that occasion, seemed like a bit of fun. There was initially a small element booing, fair enough, but it only really started when the fans realised that the stadium announcer had called the wrong player and then a number of players, on both sides, got booed AND cheered. It was generally, genuinely, done in jest and good fun. The game against the USA was different and I was disgusted when a fine footballer like Claudia Reyna, by then a Sunderland player, got a fair amount of booes. Last night however is the worst I've witnessed at an Ireland home international. The continual booing of Arveladze were the actions of mindless scum, and it should have no place in our fans fraternity (or sorority). This link between Ireland's fans and those of Celtic is not a healthy one in my view. Fran Rooney's attempts to feed off it do not meet with my approval either. I believe a large proportion of Ireland fans do not want Celtic's entertainment group coming out at half time, nor do they wish to sing a Gerry & The Pacemakers tune in support of their national team. By the way, Status Quo may not stoke up any sectarian feelings in any of the fans, but I don't want to have to be listening to them in Dublin 4 either!
Agreed. I must say I thought the booing was very pronounced from where I was sitting in the South Terrace - I thought almost the whole crowd were at it. However, on seeing the highlights on TV3 last night the boos did seem to be a lot less widespread. There were quite a few dissenting voices around me when the booing did start and it is quite clear that a substantial amount of people do not wish to be linked to Celtic in any shape or form.
I was at first pleased by Rooneys attempts to improve the atmosphere at landsdowne but was very dissapointed when I heard they had brought over some Celtic people to do it. The FAI should distance themselves as much as possible from the Old Firm.
The worst thing are those green cards, putting words to chants on the back of them was just about the most pathetic thing he could of done, that was until he wrote instructions on how to roll the things up and use them as megaphones! Most ended up as paper airplanes from what I saw.
On RTE I didn't really notice the booing last nightm but it could have been for 3 reasons: 1. I was watching it with a few friends so it was a less than silenced mood 2. RTEs commentary team of George Hamilton/John Giles is SO sharp and witty and point things out (much more than Andy Gray/Martin Tyler - it's like an orgy between my ears!) [/sarc.] 3. RTE's production team - 'nuff said Whatever anybody thinks about the Celtic link, it almost certainly is eternal. I like the fact that Ireland has a link with an abroad club team due to similar heritage, but I don't like the scumbag-end. Ask most townies to name the Celtic line up and you'll get 3 or 4 names, tops - they aren't Celtic fans. (by the way: Douglas, Valgaeren, Balde, Myallby, Thompson, Lennon, Lambert, Maloney, Agathe Larsson, Hartson/Sutton) Dublin 4 (shudders) I was behind 2 women on the bus from D4 yesterday... I HATE THAT ACCENT! (I'm from Rathfarnham, the place with no accent)
I'm not condoning the booing, but a couple of things need to be pointed out here: 1) Arveladze plays for a club that are intrinsically and unashamedly anti-Irish and who have never in their entire history had a southern Irishman in their first team. He was playing in Ireland last night. 2) He said some naughty things in an interview before the first Georgia game in March, which did not endear him to Irish fans. 3) Our players had knives thrown at them in Georgia, I would suggest that fairly gentle booing is pretty harmless in comparison. 4) There is a very strong historical link between Ireland and Celtic and long may it continue. 5) How come nobody complained about the booing of Jaap Stam in 2001 due to (ManU) club allegiances? 6) Arveladze's religion is Georgian orthodox, Neil McCann is a Catholic, Claudio Reyna probably a Mormon or something. The greatest myth about this continued booing is that it is 'sectarian'. Using the above examples, how can it be? 7) All the players who were booed(Flo, Lovenkrands, Reyna, Arveladze) had crap games on the night. So it's obviously working! I don't fully agree with it, but people are drastically over-reacting. Would you prefer the kind of fans Turkey, Russia and our dear next door neighbours have? I know I wouldn't.
"1) Arveladze plays for a club that are intrinsically and unashamedly anti-Irish and who have never in their entire history had a southern Irishman in their first team. He was playing in Ireland last night. " This is undoubtably true. "2) He said some naughty things in an interview before the first Georgia game in March, which did not endear him to Irish fans." What did he say? "3) Our players had knives thrown at them in Georgia, I would suggest that fairly gentle booing is pretty harmless in comparison." So we're not as bad as they are. Irrelevant. "4) There is a very strong historical link between Ireland and Celtic and long may it continue." Yes, Celtic have Irish roots, not vice versa. "5) How come nobody complained about the booing of Jaap Stam in 2001 due to (ManU) club allegiances?" That was pathetic too IMO, but at least it wasn't sectarian. "6) Arveladze's religion is Georgian orthodox, Neil McCann is a Catholic, Claudio Reyna probably a Mormon or something. The greatest myth about this continued booing is that it is 'sectarian'. Using the above examples, how can it be?" They are not being booed because of their religion, they are being booed because they play for a protestant club in a (British) club rivalry divided on sectarian lines. "7) All the players who were booed(Flo, Lovenkrands, Reyna, Arveladze) had crap games on the night. So it's obviously working!" Well why not boo every opposition player then!
NOTHING! They are the most silent boring commentary team since Eurosport went to digital. George Hamilton is a lifeless play-by-play man and John Giles on colour commentary? (ala Andy Gray, commenting on how the match is going)... Giles only comes in about 6 or 7 times a half, and he has hte most blatant comments known to man (after Doherty scored: "That's what he's there for. He's a big man that can head the ball". THAT'S IT!? If they'd had talked of the booing it would have filled a lot of the silence, but it's an Irish industry, do you expect it to be run correctly (exception: RyanAir)
Before the away leg to Georgia, Arveladze was in the Scottish press saying "I'll lead Georgia to victory against the Irish. I adore the Rangers fans and I know that seeing the Irish lose will make them very happy. It would be extra special to cause an upset against the Irish".
Ha! He backed those words up. I hope he does serious ligament damage (for stirring sectarian shite). He deserved the boos, and he's a boring player who never was (and never will be) better than "above average". That said, the quote may be untrue.
Raynas a Catholic and your right booing much better then the odd knife.And dont forget Arveladze got much worse when he blessed himself in Belfast last year...MUCH WORSE!!!!!
quote :"And dont forget Arveladze got much worse when he blessed himself in Belfast last year...MUCH WORSE!!!!!" can anyone explaine what is the about? cheers Ika
Rangers played Linfield pre-season last year (can u imagine what a big sash-fest that must have been). Arveladze blessed himself coming on to the pitch and was fiercely abused by BOTH sets of supporters for the rest of the game.
This also happened to Amoruso at Ibrox when he first joined. I believe he was actually told not to do it again as it might upset the locals. The bigotry, sectarianism and racism that surrounds that club to this day is sickening. We shouldn't allow ourselves to go down that road, which is what's happening.
If he blessed himself at a match between the two most protestant teams in the UK (Possibly the world), why was he booed? Is blessing yourself a Christian or just Catholic thing (I don't know, because I have no opinion on religion and find it a complete load, but people are entitled to their beliefs, so I rarely comment on it)
Eastern Orthodox people Bless themselves too. Andrei Kanchelskis, who ironicaly also played for Rangers, did all the time when he was with Manure. Yes this also started off as a laugh, but it has gone too far. Time for the Farcical Absurd and Inept to do something about it. Maybe if someone who has influence amongst Irish Soccer Fans (such as Dunphy) calls on the fans not to boo players with Rangers links then it could help.
Dunphy... why not Alex McLeish!? Better bet - Paul McGrath, our most popular player EVER (even more than Roy Keane!)
Emon Dunphy is a muppet!!!! everytime I see his gob on RTE it looks as if he's in the middle of a six week bender.I would go with McGrath as well or big Packie!!!
Interesting, I didn't know that. However, neither do most of Rangers/Linfield bigoted fans. As far as they're concerned, it's a Catholic symbol and he therefore deserves plenty of abuse.