[ritchiebaby]

Just a couple of things on this subject.
1 - I'm not falling out with anybody over this and I'll fully support him in his role as Hibs' manager.
2 - I totally agree that he is a victim of outrageous venom and bile because of his religion, etc BUT he survived for 90 minutes without physical attack, until he goaded the vacuous neanderthals behind the dugout. Then he was struck by a coin from the crowd. Unfortunately, the hatred and abuse will continue, because they know he will react and they want rid of him.

I absolutely abhor violence, sectarianism, racism and intolerance no matter how it appears. I only wish Neil wouldn't play into the hands of the neanderthals, giving them what they want, and direct all of his undoubted passion towards the field of play. Alan Stubbs sowed the seeds of Hibs' revival but Neil Lennon has made us a real force to be reckoned with.

GGTTH

[0762]

I view this "issue" oppositely TBH! Neil Lennon is highlighting/exposing this problem but at great cost to himself. As Neil said himself - as a society, many people within it "laugh it off" while lotsa morons are trying so hard to gain an audience, I call it a "platform of hate"! I want to see the Scottish govt seriously involved in this, "strict liability" foisted on all footie clubs, many of whom do not control their fans properly and certainly don't take the appropriate action; also poss points deductions to consider! There are many of these bigots who infect our society and are very happy to see this "cancer" continuing without challenge. We need to "break the mould" big time and stop pussyfooting about re this subject. A passive response disnae work!!!

[hibeejim21]

Another weekend of football with instances of fans being taunted by players and managers - not one of them neil lennon though, and not one of them hit by a coin or threatened with hanging.

[turkeydinner]

James McLean at Stoke isn't doing himself many favors by publicly highlighting either, his latest rant is egging certain sections on and certainly not as poetic and intelligent in his speech as NL

[0762]

I must say I always placed McLean in the same category as Kyle "laughing boy"Lafferty - still can't figure why he suddenly changed his stance on not wearing a poppy apart from possibly being pressured by his footie club.

[1Wattie]

0762,
The wearing of poppies should not come down to pressure or lack of it by clubs on individual players it has to be an instruction from the SFA/SPFL. but we all know the club that would object to wearing one.

[ritchiebaby]

0762,
The wearing of poppies should not come down to pressure or lack of it by clubs on individual players it has to be an instruction from the SFA/SPFL. but we all know the club that would object to wearing one.

Not even in memory of the thousands of Irish Nationalists who died in the First World War?  

---

0762 - you've hit the nail on the head regarding Strict Liability. If only the relevant authorities had taken positive action to eliminate the problem instead of remaining passive, Scottish Football could be in a much better position now.

[0762]

I'd say it is a personal choice and that includes the colour of the poppy itself!! It's down to choice and beliefs rather than someone or poss an organisation bullying an individual to practise something they do not have any regard for eg Man U's player, Nemanja Matic, has stated his cultural difference to wearing a red poppy and he is not wearing one! That's fine!

[hibeejim21]

Ahhh the old poppy debate rears its heid again.

I'd say mclean and matic have valid reasons for not wanting to wear the poppy, and if any other player or club don't want to do it I don't see the problem. It's never what "remembrance" has been about anyway and I'd rather it had nothing to do with football at all like in the past.

As ever i'll make my donation and pay my tribute at an appropriate time and place. I'll leave the hysteria to others.

[0762]

Hearts finally served an SFA notice but Hibs also requested to comment but the issue is relative to players "bunching" and squabbling at the end of the match rather than STEWARDING/SECURITY NOT GOOD ENOUGH AT TYNECASTLE FFS!!!!!!