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Details
Date: November 2013
Match: 2013-11-06: Ajax 1-0 Celtic, European Cup
aka: The Holy Poley, The Pole of Righteousness
Location: Amsterdam square
Overview
| ‘The Tim pole that knocked the thug cop out’ |
This comical sounding icon has actually a serious side to it.
In the away match against Ajax in 2013 in the Champions League group stages, trouble sadly flared in the main square in Amsterdam. The earlier trouble may have been due to the local hooligan groups (actually mostly wee neds) but this gravitated to outright thuggery by certain sections of the Dutch police.
One noticeable over enthusiastic policeman was filmed viciously attacking an unarmed and unaggressive Celtic supporter. Later this same policeman was seen in a video trying to get onto a local tram as it moved only to end up smacking right into a lamppost.
This ‘assault’ by the lamppost was seen as some kind of justice, although only token. In honour of this candid camera moment, the lamppost was christened in humour as ‘The Fenian Lamppost‘ by certain of the Celtic supporters. This led to many supporters seeking it out for humorous photo opportunities.
Sympathetic Dutch supporters jumped on board and the lamppost took on a pilgrimage status. This was in the main as the events reflected the frustration and built up anger from other local supporters to the Amsterdam police force’s methods to football supporters. A whole can of worms had been opened.
The serious story was still the earlier vicious assaults by this same injured officer. No serious person felt sorry for the respective undercover officer, however the lack of accountability for his actions immediately on revelation of his actions & methods are a real slight on the Dutch justice system.
See following for greater detail of issue: 2013 – Ajax and Police abuse of power
Dutch pilgrimage to the Fenian Lamppost
Links
The Fenian Lamppost
http://staantribune.nl/the-fenian-lamppost/
Sep 2015
Net als twee seizoenen geleden spelenAjax en Celtic morgenavond tegen elkaar in Amsterdam. Rond de wedstrijd in november 2013liep het vooraf uit de hand, met een dubieuzerol voor undercoveragenten. Tijdens de schermutselingen liep een van de agenten keihard tegen een tramverkeerslicht op, wat toevallig werd gefilmd.In de nasleep van de wedstrijd werd de paal op de Dam de held van de avond bij de Celtic-supporters. Het kreeg de bijnaam ‘The Fenian Lamppost’. Fenian is een scheldnaam voor iemand van Ierse komaf, maar de fansvan Celtic hebben datwoord als geuzennaam overgenomen.Bedevaartsoord
De paal is sindsdien een bedevaartsoord geworden voor supporters van de Schotse club. Zegaan op de foto naast het verkeerslicht, leggen er bloemen neer of branden een kaarsje. Volgens de fansheeft de paal voor gerechtigheid gezorgd. De verwachting is dat veel Schottenvandaag en morgen een bezoekje zullenbrengen aan het verkeerslicht. Het is onderdeel van de rijke folkore van Celtic geworden. Een supporterheeft de paal aangemerkt als attractie op Google Maps met de omschrijving ‘The Tim pole that knocked the thug cop out’. En er bestaat zelfs een Wikilemma over het verkeerslicht.
(Duckduckgo.com translation):
Just like two seasons ago, Ajax and Celtic will play each other tomorrow night in Amsterdam. Around the competition in November 2013, things got out of hand beforehand, with a dubious role for undercover agents.
During the skirmishes, one of the officers ran into a tram traffic light, which happened to be filmed. In the aftermath of the match, the pole on dam square became the hero of the evening for the Celtic supporters.
It was nicknamed ‘The Fenian Lamppost’. Fenian is a swear name for someone of Irish descent, but the fans of Celtic have adopted that word as a nickname.
Pilgrimage The pole has since become a place of pilgrimage for supporters of the Scottish club. They take a picture next to the traffic light, lay flowers or light a candle. According to the fans, the pole has ensured justice.
It is expected that many Scots will visit the traffic light today and tomorrow. It has become part of Celtic’s rich folkore. A supporter has marked the pole as an attraction on Google Maps with the description ‘The Tim pole that knocked the thug cop out’. And there is even a Wikilemma about the traffic light.