Couldn't agree with Beano more. A good article in the main but a bit of revisionism and post-rationalisation from Mr E in this article re the flying of flags and association. Regardless of how idotic the association with other conflicts is, any Protestant community association of Israel was as a reaction to the sympathy that Republicans had with their fellow 'strugglers' in Palestine. In fact, you'll most likely find that this 'sympathy' on both sides started within Celtic Park or Ibrox Park in Glasgow, before it became evident on the streets of Northern Ireland.

Which brings me on to the small matter of your pic and caption, which makes it relatively easy for readers to work out which Glasgow-based football side Mr Eugenides supports. It is worth pointint out that the predominately (nigh on exclusively) Protestant Rangers fans who have been sanctioned by European football's governing body UEFA for discriminatory chanting, being fined and warned as to the future conduct if their fans. While a minority of Celtic fans' behaviour in singing songs about the IRA has been reprehensible, Celtic's fans (the club were set up by a Catholic monk as a way of raising money to feed starving Irish immigrants in 1880s Glasgow but draw their modern support from wider base than Rangers) have never had any disciplinary action taken against them or even had the threat of action. Setting aside the argument that politics has no place in sports stadia, many of the pro-IRA songs Celtic fans did sing, were songs that refer to the Irish struggle for independence and the IRA as it existed in in early part of the 20th century but through a combination of misattribution by the opposition and (some would say) idiocy by those singing along with these tunes, the signing of these songs led to association with 'The Troubles' in Northern Ireland. Indeed, you'll find yourself hearing a tune such as the "Boys of the Old Brigade" in many traditional music pubs and bars in Ireland, where it is seen as a historical folk song, that has little or nothing to do with the streets of Belfast, Derry or Armagh in the late 60's, 70s and 80s.

Regardless of the misattribution, the central point is that these songs and chants have no place in football and most are eager to see it stamped out for good. By all means, beat up on the opposition through the medium of song but why bring religion, race or background into it? Celtic have been self-policing this (with some success) for 10 years or more, whereas Rangers have been forced to act because of governing body sanction. Regardless of how or why the clubs are acting, the fact that they are is ultimately a good thing.