Ex-Celtic boss tells Hoops fans what they should have done on Remembrance Sunday in James McLean comparison
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Martin O’Neill insists that Celtic fans should have respected the Remembrance Sunday minute’s silence.
Before kick-off in the 2-0 Premiership win away at Kilmarnock, some fans in the away end booed and sang songs during the silence. Referee Nick Walsh called the silence short, with Killie boss Derek McInnes blasting it as ‘awful.’
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Hide AdThe topic has been debated by former Celtic boss O’Neill via talkSPORT. Also a former Northern Ireland captain from Kilrea, Co Derry, he managed the Hoops from 2000 to 2005. Others must consider historical reasons why some fans in the Celtic end may have been uncomfortable about Remembrance events, but admitted the silence should have been observed.
There was also a comparison with Wrexham’s James McClean, who stood away from teammates during the silence. He said: “You should have respect for the moment… yes, just being silent. And I would go with that. But in terms of the wearing of the poppy, in terms of all of those particular things during it, there is that historical point.
“This is historical. Derek McInnes might have a point because I think there is an idea of having respect for a moment, and because it’s Kilmarnock’s home game. But this is historical. We've gone through this here before.. for a lot of Irish republicans and nationalists, the poppy does represent a bit of oppression.
“Way back, just after the First World War; in terms of the British Army; a group called the Black and Tans coming in and just running amok - these type of things have happened. And so that is historical, and that has had an effect.
“Young James McClean has taken a stance there, because of where he lives, and where he was brought up, and that's completely understandable.”
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