Was it right for Celtic to ban the BBC?

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The Celtic Star

·24 June 2023

Was it right for Celtic to ban the BBC?

Was it right for Celtic to ban BBC Scotland from yesterday’s media conference and managerial unveiling at Celtic Park?

A few eyebrows were raised when it was revealed that Celtic had banned the BBC from the Brendan Rodgers’ big day back at Paradise. I must admit I was a bit surprised and had to dig around to find out it was on the back of an article by beeb reporter Tom English.

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Peter Lawwell, Brendan Rodgers and Michael Nicholson (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Uncle Tom is fond of a anti-Celtic rant now and again (basically because up until now it’s been a free hit for him and he loves to court favour with the hordes across the city) so his attack comes of no surprise. I had a read of said article and his agenda is plain to see before your very eyes.

According to Tom, Brendan will face a tougher challenge as theRangers are a stronger side. Maybe, but stronger? Two major trophies since Rodgers was last here doesn’t make them a bigger threat. St Johnstone have won the same since Brendan left, does that make them a bigger challenge?

He also scrutinised Brendan’s European record and wasn’t kind in his assessment. Although he has a point as his European record is something Celtic needs to improve on, but Brendan’s not got the worst record. Far from it.

He finished his piece by saying that for a man who has done a lot, Brendan has a lot to prove. Really Tom? A proper Invincible Treble? A double treble? Seven trophies from seven in total during his last reign?

Brendan Rodgers. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Did he write that stuff when Walter Smith returned to Rangers in 2007? After all, first time around he faced a much weaker Celtic but his success was never diminished by Tom English or anyone else at the BBC, far from it. Did English lambast Mick Beale when the former assistant returned to the number one position for having won just one of nine trophies in his first stint at Ibrox as a coach? No, did he heck.

Walter Smith is unveiled by David Murray (L) as the new Rangers manager, at their Murray Park training ground on January 10, 2007 in Glasgow, Scotland. Smith replaces Paul Le Guen and will be assisted by former Rangers favourite Ally McCoist. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Call it bias or fishing, or whatever you want, that English article is like the man himself, clueless and misinformed. Does that article warrant a ban for the Beeb? Maybe, but some will say it has a bit of pettiness about it, just like the other mob across the city, who do it on a regular basis. We’re better than that. Or maybe the club have just had enough of cheap shots from the media. It is within their rights to ban them after all.

Let’s hear your thoughts on this…

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Celtic banning @BBCScotlandNews from Brendan Rogers’s press conference says everything about the broadcaster which can’t even be trusted to report a football appointment impartiality.

— Bill Cruickshank (@BjCruickshank) June 23, 2023

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