What Were They Thinking?

[ichkeria]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63242412

I mean, there are lots of chants, lots of patriotic songs …

Even after a lifetime of hearing about this sort of thing, I genuinely find this mindset baffling.

[jno]

are you upset when French teams sing about the gutters running red with aristo blood?

To say it makes no difference if you're in public or in a private room sounds like poppycock to me. Ypu can sing what you please in private even if you accept that you mustn't offend anyone by doing the same in public.

[ichkeria]

You’ve completely missed my point jno.
Which maybe I made poorly:
It was: what possesses a football team to chant about the IRA in their moment of triumph?
Did the Irish men’s rugby team do it after our great win in New Zealand?
I’m personally not exactly “upset”. I’m simply baffled at the moronic nature of it.

[Old_Geezer]

One needs to be aware that the IRA is a terrorist group, so showing support for terrorists is a valid thing to investigate, thoroughly. At the very least it brings EUFA into disrepute, and tolerating that sort of activity will inevitably have wider consequences.

[sandyRoe]

Potential volunteers for the IRA were told the path they had chosen could lead to them being killed or serving long terms in prison.
Many here in Ireland see them as patriots.
On the other side of the Irish Sea the view might be different.

[ichkeria]

And on the subject of La Marseillaise, the people whose sang impur is exhorted to abreuve the sillons have long since perished.
Unlike the many victims of the glorious “‘Ra”
Maybe instead it’s a form of Egyptian sun god worship …

[jno]

maybe they regard the IRA as heroes, as (for a while) the French regarded the revolutionaries? Or maybe they just liked the chant? I don't know, nobody seems to have said.

(I tried googling what the rugby team sang in NZ but couldn't find the answer.)

At any rate, as far as I'm concerned they can sing what they like, though they may be called on to defend themselves against public disapproval later.

[ichkeria]

They’re manager looked and sounded as bemused as I am.
Time she found another team maybe …

[douglas9401]

The other dressing room may have given a rendition of the Bobby Sands short.

Depending on what school they went to of course.

[mushroom25]

I guess the problem for UEFA and FIFA in allowing such songs, is where the line should be drawn when it comes to making overtly political statements as part of victory celebrations.

would it be ok (for instance), given Celtic's known opposition to the institution of the crown, to sing "Prince Andrew is a Sweaty Nonce"?

[davebro]

Sectarianisn runs deep - even in those with no direct experience of the "troubles". I doubt it will ever be healed.

[Old_Geezer]

I expect potential volunteers for the Islamic State would also have been told that they could be killed or imprisoned, but it didn't stop them committing evil; and very likely their supporters saw them as hero types too, even as the atrocities mounted up. We viewed it all rather differently to their supporters.

[Paigntonian]

Old Geezer: Think you'll find that the IRA, in an active sense, no longer poses a present danger and, sincerely hope that it never again does. Why you choose to say that the 'IRA is' rather than 'was' is a little odd. Or maybe you can't get over the Good Friday Agreement that, however imperfect, stopped people being slaughtered by ghastly slugs on both sides.

[ichkeria]

The most sensible option would be for someone wo have a very stern word with the team and tell them not to do it again.
These days, nothing is "private": there's always someone with a phone, and it just brings the team, and the country, into disrepute.

[Old_Geezer]

Not a question of getting over anything. Signing a paper neither negates a past, dictates a future, nor allows a leopard to change spots. It's the same organisation, and some folk still support it.

[andy-hughes]

The problem is, without knowing what the slogan actually was, it's impossible for anyone here to offer a balanced opinion on the rights and wrongs of what happened.

When Irish people get together, especially if drink is flowing, sing-songs are a natural way of them enjoying themselves.

A lot of the songs are rooted in Republican attitudes, but that's a long way from actually offering tacit support to the IRA. It's a bit like a group of people singing 'Rule Britannia' who would be aghast if anyone thought that indicated support for the BNP.

So I would have to reserve any judgement on this, not knowing what has been said, but it does once again highlight the stupidity of posting on social media without due thought of the consequences.

[perseverer]

The song was written by a member of the Wolfe Tones in 1987, and the chorus includes a repeated slogan which suggests support for a particular organisation. (If anyone actually wants to find the exact song, there would appear to be more than one sets of lyrics including the chorus.)

[ichkeria]

“The problem is, without knowing what the slogan actually was, it's impossible for anyone here to offer a balanced opinion on the rights and wrongs of what happened”

We do know: which is really why it’s proved controversial the chorus goes;
“Ooh ah up the ‘Ra”

[andy-hughes]

Ok, that's not in the link, unless I missed it.

That makes it stupid irresponsible behavior worthy of sanction.

Stupid to do it, double stupid to share it with the world.

[Peter Pedant]

// That makes it stupid irresponsible behavior worthy of sanction.//
o god Miss has got his ruler out

what about some kissy kissy forgive them Lord, they know not what they do?

Together with Hitler salutes ( unlawful in Holland and Germany)
The Dutch in Manchester (Noorde-somewhere) thought it terribly daring to Nazi salute on their way to Trafford.
I was with them for technical reasons (streets blocked)
and they cdnt believe it when I commented - "they can do what they like altho I dont approve." - I was spont assigned a Dutch steward

[Peter Pedant]

Surely it is on a par with ( which they did not) Man United on video joking about Bobby Sands as Slimmer of the Year

or telling Marcus Rashford to go and swing in a tree....