As Celtic reach settlements, Rangers support’s obsession is scary

The Celtic Star

·2 de abril de 2025

As Celtic reach settlements, Rangers support’s obsession is scary

We heard yesterday that Celtic have come to an agreement in regards to the settlement paid out to victims of abuse which happened at the Celtic Boys Club over a period spanning decades…

I think all Celtic fans and anyone associated with the club will be glad that the victims have finally received some sort of monetary compensation, although we all know that this will do nothing in regards to helping them heal from the horrendous abuse that they had to endure over the years at the hands of some of the most vile characters in football.

Last night Celtic released a short statement on the settlement the brings an end to this awful situation and hopefully allows the victims to move on with the rest of their lives.

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The Celtic statement reads as follows…

Celtic Park ahead of the match between Celtic and Motherwell on 26th December 2024. Picture by Mark Runnacles Shutterstock

Celtic Football Club can confirm that a number of legal claims in the group proceedings against the Club have been resolved. We are hopeful that settlement can be reached with the remaining group members shortly. For some time, we have sought to work with the group members’ lawyers to reach a resolution. The Club acknowledges the strength of the survivors of abuse who have come forward, and hope that this resolution may help to bring them some closure. Celtic Football Club is appalled by any form of historic abuse and has great sympathy for those who suffered abuse and for their families. The Club is very sorry that these events took place at Celtic Boys’ Club. The Club takes this abuse extremely seriously because of the historic contacts between the two organisations. The abuse of young people is an abhorrent crime which has unfortunately affected many areas of society. The Club continues to work with Scottish football to make it a safe place for all young people.

Celtic Park ahead of the match between Celtic and Motherwell on 26th December 2024. Picture by Mark Runnacles Shutterstock

Unfortunately no amount of money will ever make up for the horrible experience each and every one of them went through, but let’s just hope that this may bring some acknowledgement and justice to the pain they sadly had to go through, all in the hope of making it one day as a professional footballer.

Much has already been discussed on this matter and whether Celtic are to blame. Personally I’m glad Celtic have agreed to a settlement to help the victims, morally it was the least they could do. Whether the Boys Club was a separate entity or not there is no doubting that it was extremely closely aligned to our club and Celtic should hold their hands up and admit that they should have done more over the years.

Paedophilia seemed to be rife in football during that period

Paedophilia seemed to be rife in football during that period, but the fact that so many of these depraved monsters ended up affiliated with Celtic through it’s primary youth feeder club is something Celtic should have taken a serious interest in sorting out back in the day, even if at the time it was only rumours they were hearing.

As this class action comes close to the end with most victims finally receiving some sort of compensation and the rest to be sorted over the next few weeks, a friend of mine last night told me to take a look at one of theRangers forum’s as I wouldn’t believe the stuff I was reading. When I heard which forum it was I knew it was going to be ugly but I checked it out anyway.

Ibrox. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

The sub section regarding the story surrounding sex abuse at Celtic unbelievably had over 50,000 comments. Yep you read that right FIFTY THOUSAND comments. To put in context, the story about their impending takeover, the biggest thing to happen the club in a decade has 13,000 comments.

I spent a few minutes looking through some of the comments and I was honestly shocked by some of the stuff I was reading. It was truly breathtaking the interest they were taking in this case. The strange bit is that most of it they are trying to convince themselves that they are solely out for justice for the poor innocent boys at the centre of the abuse. But let me tell you this. The vast majority of them have absolutely no care in the world for those innocent victims, and it all starts to show itself very clearly now the compensation claim has been agreed.

‘It’s just that it’s not enough to really hurt Celtic financially’

Most of the posts since the announcement of the settlement have been people frothing at the mouth that it’s only a seven figure sum. Is it because they think the victims deserve more? Nope, it’s just that it’s not enough to really hurt Celtic financially. And here we have the crux of the matter. It’s nothing to do with the victims, I was just a glimmer of light for them that perhaps the pay out would be hundreds of millions and Celtic would be in financial ruin. That’s all that mattered to them.

If it was all about the victims then surely this wouldn’t be solely focused on Celtic. There are other ongoing cases into football paedophilia across multiple clubs in Scotland, including their own, if it is indeed the same club. Does this get mentioned? What do you think? Those victims don’t matter because it won’t affect Celtic’s bank account.

They harp on constantly about ‘sporting sanctions’

If you think I’m wrong then I’ll bring up a few other examples of their warped thinking. They harp on constantly about ‘sporting sanctions’. These of course have absolutely nothing to do with the victims (even though supposedly it’s all about them getting justice). They want titles stripped. They want us thrown out of the league. You honestly couldn’t make this stuff up. A group of loathsome predators work their way into youth football and prey on innocent victims and their idea of justice is to take titles away from Celtic and have them thrown out of the league decades later. It’s utter madness.

‘How is what Celtic done not worse than failing to pay the tax man’?

The most galling take of them all that was mentioned multiple times is ‘how is what Celtic done not worse than failing to pay the tax man’? They are honestly comparing their scandalous behaviour around financial irregularities to win football trophies to a paedophile ring. I don’t even know where to start with this one. Their theory is that they were ‘demoted’ (died) because they owed a few quid here and there, but a few dodgy deals with money isn’t anywhere near on par with abuse of minors. They just don’t seem to be able to grasp the issue here.

Sexual abuse is far worse than financial irregularities

Rangers spent years upon years using illegal financial trickey to spend money they didn’t have to gain a sporting advantage. They cheated. They got caught and were rightly punished. What has sexual abuse of minors got to do with sporting advantage? Absolutely nothing. Did what happened to innocent boys at the Boys Club benefit Celtic Football Club on the pitch? Obviously not. Of course sexual abuse is far worse than financial irregularities but it has absolutely nothing to do with sporting advantage. To even try and compare the two is absolutely mental.

The level of obsession with child abuse among a large section of theRangers support is honestly scary. They bring it up constantly. It’s their go to weapon in every argument. They sing songs about it. Do they realise that the constant reminder of sexual abuse may be a trigger to some people in their own support who have been victims of it in the past? It’s strange behaviour.

They don’t care about the victims

As I have mentioned however they don’t care about the victims. It’s all about hoping that in some way it negatively affects Celtic Football Club. I implore any fans of theRangers who actually care about victims of sexual abuse to do something constructive like volunteering or contributing to charities that help victims deal with their trauma.

If you really cared that’s the action you would take. Not spend your time on social media and fan forums demanding Celtic be punished by sporting sanctions that will in absolutely no way help victims of this heinous crime.

Conall McGinty