THE BBC RESPONSE IS AS OFFENSIVE AS THE ORIGINAL COMMENTS MADE!

By Matt McGlone, June 9^th, 2011.

The response from the BBC to just under a thousand or more Celtic fans who contacted them regarding comments made at half time on the BBC Scotland Cup Final programme on May 23rd, were about as offensive and insulting as the original comments made by Rob McLean. For the avoidance of any doubt this is what McLean said:  "I'd love to go through a football show without mentioning the word "sectarian" but I feel we are going to have to at half-time because those outside that can hear the songs being sung, tell me that the Celtic supporters have been singing some sectarian songs during the first half despite Celtic going very public with their intimation that they wanted it completely stamped out. Lots of publicity for Rangers, punishment for Rangers from UEFA as well, it seems as if it is happening outside from the Celtic supporters". (Now before we go any further here, if Rob McLean is being used as a patsy or a pawn, then he is an experienced enough journalist/broadcaster to check out his facts that he is clearly accountable for!) 

For those at the match it is clear there was nothing sectarian sung! Therefore when making such a statement you really have to back it up. But he couldn’t! Some of the Celtic fans who complained got a response today from the BBC complaints department! And to be honest it was pretty pathetic! The main thrust of their reply is repeated below. This is convoluted at its best when they say:   “There is a continuing debate around the definition of "sectarian" and we accept that it would have been more accurate for our presenter to refer to "songs that some people believe to be an expression of sectarianism but which many people nonetheless find both offensive and provocative". Going by that muddled effort above it is quite clear they have a problem defining the word ‘Sectarian’ taken from any English Dictionary. Or do they wish to re-write the meaning just to suit themselves?

They also have a recording of Rob McLean’s words but they seem not to understand them either when they say:   “At the half time interval of our live television broadcast of this year's Scottish Cup Final the presenter and one of the guests briefly mentioned that sectarian singing had been heard coming from a minority of Celtic fans” .Incorrect because McLean does not use the word “Minority”, therefore why introduce it in the reply to the fans when it wasn’t said by Rob McLean in the first place? In a court of law the adding of certain words unsaid in evidence would be the difference between a verdict of guilty & not guilty! For the BBC to write such inaccuracies in replies to complaints, it raises some pretty serious issues as to their attitude to the sectarian problem in Scotland and their role within it as broadcasters! The support have done their bit and by their response we now recognise BBC Scotland for what they are. Celtic FC must now take the BBC response further, because it is unacceptable and we have to operate within this environment and be treated fairly and accurately! Anything less would be a dereliction of duty from Celtic FC to its supporters!