Opposition | Celtic Games | Hearts
4th Nov 2006
[lost the pic of the article… need to find it again!]
Celtic fans hooping mad over Tory’s ‘gypsies’ jibe
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/celtic-fans-hooping-mad-over-torys-gypsies-jibe/28115996.html
By Stephen Breen
Wed 6 Dec 2006 at 15:31
A senior member of the Conservative Party was last night slammed for branding Celtic fans “gypsies”.
A senior member of the Conservative Party was last night slammed for branding Celtic fans “gypsies”.
Outraged Hoops supporter Martin McManus, from the William Orr Supporters Club in Antrim, demanded a written apology from Tory adviser Iain Gibson for making the controversial comments.
The spin doctor labelled Celts fans the “gypsy home support” in a match report on the official Hearts website after the two Scottish Premier League sides clashed on November 4.
Although the comments were removed just five minutes after the game, they sparked a furious reaction from local fans.
Mr Gibson, who plans to stand for office in next year’s May elections, has apologised for the comments.
Said the leading Tory: “It was put up right after the game and I took it down five or six minutes later before anyone at the club saw it.
“It was an incredibly stupid thing to do and I have apologised to everyone at the club. I cannot apologise enough.
“I should never have written it and something like this will never happen again.”
Mr McManus urged the Conservative Party member to meet with local supporters.
He added: “Once again we have people who should know better making derogatory remarks about Celtic.
“Maybe this man should take up the opportunity to meet with Celtic fans so that he can gain first-hand knowledge of the supporters, who come from all walks of life.
“This is a form of discrimination and these types of views have no place in any civilised society.
“I can’t believe an aspiring politician would make such comments.
“I have had a lot of complaints about these comments – this man should put his apologies in writing to Celtic Football Club if he is sincere.”
A spokesman for the Glasgow giants said: “It is extremely disappointing that an official club website should use such a phrase.”
The row comes after we revealed in September a quiz question in the Daily Record’s evening edition asked if Celts fans were known as “the taigs”?