NI boss targets Republic's Gibson

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

I am not a WUM, and I don't think I'm an imbecile.

I honestly don't know who was responsible - nobody does.

If the person (s) responsible had a problem with "Catholics" playing for Northern Ireland, I don't understand why they waited until Neil Lennon had made several appearances for Northern Ireland (without incident) before issuing the threat, or why they didn't issue the threat to any of the other "Catholic" players on the Northern Ireland team at that time.

"Catholics" play for Northern Ireland at all levels - and always will.

The team was recently captained by another "Catholic".

All Northern Ireland players are supported fully by Northern Ireland fans - their religious beliefs are irrelevant.

Nobody gives a flying one where a player choses to say his prayers - or even if they say any at all.

The rest of my post was not designed to "provoke".

It was designed to highlight the fact that to presume guilt, without sound evidence, is a very dangerous game indeed.

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Ok then, what was the "threat"? Was it Neil, if you keep playing for NI you will be shot, because you have ginger hair, and we dont like people with ginger hair. Or was it a case of you will be shot because you are a crap captain. When you know what the gist of what was said, then you can safely assume, that it was from a particular people with particular beliefs whose said same people are supporters of NI, they dont make up all of them, but their friends for example could be.

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Originally Posted by Blanchflower

That's a lie. Lennon was not "routinely booed" - he was booed at only one match.

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Far from it:

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The former Leicester player has been the target of sectarian abuse at previous international matches in Belfast. Threatening messages ("Neil Lennon RIP") had been scrawled across a wall near Lennon's family home in Lurgan ahead of the game against Norway last March.

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Lennon has been subjected to jeers and boos in the past when representing his country. The last occasion came in February last year when he was booed every time he touched the ball at Windsor Park in the 4-0 defeat by Norway.

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And Anton Rogan got the same treatment as well in the past iirc

(BTW: The quoted bits are from BBC articles at the time)

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Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er

You're missing the point I'm making. Lennon was routinely booed prior to the death threat and treated despicibly by some NI fans, particulalry the Norway game. This abuse began when he joined Celtic. You seem unable to accept this. It wasn't just one incident on one evening.

I'm well aware that this was a section of the crowd and that decent minded NI fans (including yourself I'm sure) were disgusted by it but the fact remains that prior to the death threat he was given serious abuse by a large section of the NI support. It's not that hard a leap to conclude that the neanderthal that issued the threat was also an NI 'fan'.

While the IFA have done great work in tackling the sectarianism that blighted football north of the border for so long the past can't just be brushed under the carpet much as you'd like it too. Hence your denail.

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I am not missing your point, and I am not in denial.

I was at the game against Norway.

You are absolutely correct that the problem arose only when Neil Lennon signed for Celtic.

"Old Firm" bigotry raised it's ugly head.

Can you quantify two things for me please:

Apart from the Norway game, in which games Neil Lennon was "routinely booed"?

What constitutes "a large section of the crowd"?

Again, you peddle the notion that a Northern Ireland fan (s) was behind the death threat to Neil Lennon - mindful of law pertaining to slander, will you put up (by posting your evidence) or shut up.

You may not be aware of the lies told by a certain tabloid Sunday red top about Northern Ireland fans in relation to Neil Lennon - their lies cost them the princely sum of £18,000 (donated to charities).

You are perfectly entitled to think that a Northern Ireland fan (s) was behind the threat, but you cannot present it as fact.

Rather than try to brush the sectarianism that has blighted the game in Northern Ireland for too long under the carpet - I, and many others, actively get our hands dirty trying to do something about it.

This work (ongoing) has been praised wholeheartedly by Neil Lennon himself.

One thing we cannot do is change the past - what we can try and do is make a better future.

There is absolutely no denial whatsoever.

I stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone who genuinely wants to rid our beautiful game from the scourge of sectarianism and racism.

I resent those who use it to score cheap points, and ignore the mote in their own eye.

You can be assured, that the booing incidents that night against Norway upset me and many other Northern Ireland fans more than many of those who cast it up in mock righteous indignation - used in attempt to mask their own inbuilt, deep rooted, prejudices.

Ironically, it was a group of your own supporters who set up a campaign with the mantra "OK to Boo".

It's my belief, having attended Northern Ireland games for many, many years, and having attended the ROI v San Marino game at Lansdowne during the current campaign, that the vast majority of fans are simply there to support their respective teams - good, sound, people - football fans.

I also know it is the desire of many ROI fans to see a "United" Ireland team in the future.

Ask yourself the question - how does the constant vilification of the very fans you wish to be "united" with, enhance that prospect?

Try focusing on the good things that have happened, and are happening - only this week the IFA & FAI have been involved in a cross border co-operation programme in the North West area.

The Setanta Cup - friendships being forged and preconceptions being shattered.

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Ok then, what was the "threat"? Was it Neil, if you keep playing for NI you will be shot, because you have ginger hair, and we dont like people with ginger hair. Or was it a case of you will be shot because you are a crap captain. When you know what the gist of what was said, then you can safely assume, that it was from a particular people with particular beliefs whose said same people are supporters of NI, they dont make up all of them, but their friends for example could be.

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Paul,

You continue to make assumptions, without evidence.

Is it safe for me to assume that the vermin who phoned racist threats to black players in Brian Kerr's ROI squad were ROI fans?

I don't think so.

The fact is, you don't know who the person (s) who phoned the death threat to Neil Lennon "support". Neither do I.

Ok, I'm gonna close this thread until anything more happens on the topic at hand. In fact maybe a new thread could be opened when FIFA make a decision.