Ni hibs!

[el_fletch]

Any of you part-timers heading over to the game or am i going to have to go by myself? I will if i have to!

PS C.
I see Mr Healeys done himself no favours this morn in the papers!

[Northern Ireland Hibby]

Originally Posted by el_fletch

Any of you part-timers heading over to the game or am i going to have to go by myself? I will if i have to!

PS C.
I see Mr Healeys done himself no favours this morn in the papers!

I'm not heading over for obvious reasons (you'll know all about it soon enough - nae time, nae money, nae sleep!), but if you send an email round the rest of them someone else might be. Most of the Nibbies don't read this forum.

As for Healy, I've seen his version of events but it still seems like a pretty daft thing to do...

"David Healy's agent has defended the Northern Ireland international after he mimicked an Orange marcher in Fulham's friendly against Celtic on Saturday.

Healy pretended to play a flute after coming on in the second half of the 3-1 win over the Scottish champions at Craven Cottage.

Healy's agent, Stephen Hughes, told the Daily Mail: "They (The Celtic fans) were chanting, 'Where were you on the 12th', which is the day of the Orange marching bands in Belfast. So he simply pretended to play the flute - there was no attempt to inflame the fans."

He added: "David has told me he was wearing boots with a Northern Ireland flag on the back.

"They had been made for him to celebrate being the leading scorer in the Euro 2008 qualification matches.

"The Celtic fans saw that and know he's a Rangers fan.

"Afterwards, some of the fans who had been giving him stick sent over programmes for him to sign which he did quite willingly."

[Newry Hiby]

Originally Posted by Northern Ireland Hibby

I'm not heading over for obvious reasons (you'll know all about it soon enough - nae time, nae money, nae sleep!), but if you send an email round the rest of them someone else might be. Most of the Nibbies don't read this forum.

As for Healy, I've seen his version of events but it still seems like a pretty daft thing to do...

"David Healy's agent has defended the Northern Ireland international after he mimicked an Orange marcher in Fulham's friendly against Celtic on Saturday.

Healy pretended to play a flute after coming on in the second half of the 3-1 win over the Scottish champions at Craven Cottage.

Healy's agent, Stephen Hughes, told the Daily Mail: "They (The Celtic fans) were chanting, 'Where were you on the 12th', which is the day of the Orange marching bands in Belfast. So he simply pretended to play the flute - there was no attempt to inflame the fans."

He added: "David has told me he was wearing boots with a Northern Ireland flag on the back.

"They had been made for him to celebrate being the leading scorer in the Euro 2008 qualification matches.

"The Celtic fans saw that and know he's a Rangers fan.

"Afterwards, some of the fans who had been giving him stick sent over programmes for him to sign which he did quite willingly."

i think the papers are blowing this out of proportion. Healy was only messing about with the celtic fans i for one dont think he's a bigot its just the papers looking for a story

[Northern Ireland Hibby]

Originally Posted by Newry Hiby

i think the papers are blowing this out of proportion. Healy was only messing about with the celtic fans i for one dont think he's a bigot its just the papers looking for a story

He's definately not a bigot - he just didn't think before he acted and should have known better. The whole thing's a bit draft, but the reaction of the newspapers has been rediculous, it would be different if he was a loyalist on the wind-up but since he's always been a big supporter of the IFA's 'Football for All' project IMHO I'd say it was a naive mistake.

Funny how the newspapers who over-reacted to this haven't made much comment about the fact that Healy seemed to be singled out for abuse from some in the Celtic support because he's a Nordie prod ("Where were you on the Twelfth" etc). Fair enough, Healy was daft but the issue of the OF's behaviour is glossed over yet again.

[boruc]

Originally Posted by Northern Ireland Hibby

He's definately not a bigot - he just didn't think before he acted and should have known better. The whole thing's a bit draft, but the reaction of the newspapers has been rediculous, it would be different if he was a loyalist on the wind-up but since he's always been a big supporter of the IFA's 'Football for All' project IMHO I'd say it was a naive mistake.

Funny how the newspapers who over-reacted to this haven't made much comment about the fact that Healy seemed to be singled out for abuse from some in the Celtic support because he's a Nordie prod ("Where were you on the Twelfth" etc). Fair enough, Healy was daft but the issue of the OF's behaviour is glossed over yet again.

It was meant as harmless banter from the Celtic fans just as his reaction was taken as harmless banter.

[Northern Ireland Hibby]

Originally Posted by boruc

It was meant as harmless banter from the Celtic fans just as his reaction was taken as harmless banter.

If both things are taken as harmless banter then all's good

It's the usual media folk and online tubes who have been blind to one but damning of the other (and vice versa) who have acted like idiots through the whole daft thing.