Polish footballer given criminal record for blessing himself in Scotland, sectarian capitol of Europe?

Question

Artur Boruc, a football goalkeeper has been given a criminal record in Scotland for blessing himself during a game for his club Glasgow Celtic F.C., Supporters of the opposing team Rangers F.C. complained to police that the gesture was offensive, after a 6 month investigation the Scottish police and Crown office agreed that the gesture was offensive and inflamatory and gave Boruc a Police caution. The Catholic church has expressed alarm that the act of blessing ones self, seen in most countries as nothing more than religious reverence, is in Scotland a criminal offence, a decision which puts Scotland among the racially intolerant nations of the world. Will Spanish, Brazillian or Italian footballers playing in Scotland leave as criminals?

Answer 1

I heard this this morning. I too think it is alarming that people can now be prosecuted for believing in God. What madness. And what a waste of public money.

Answer 2

The reason Artur Boric was given charged for this act of blessing himself is this. Rangers supporters are protestant, Celtic supporters are catholic. They by large hate each other. Now Artur Boric blessed himself at Ibrox Stadium (Rangers home ground) Rangers supporters get angry at this and it can raise tempers there, so Boric was charged and convicted of being offensive and inflammatory. In Scotland there are many sectarian people both protestant and catholic. The fact that a man blesses himself has always been a bone of contention for Rangers fans. Even if it is one of their own players. Rangers first Catholic signing was under Graeme Souness, in the 80's. Before then they wouldn't really go for a catholic boy. The judges decision to uphold the complaint says more about the judge than it does Scotland. Rangers fans are like children they want everything their own way, and they cry like children when they don't. Furthermore Rangers and Celtic both have iniatives trying to reduce sectarian attitudes on both sides of the divide. You can see that Rangers fans listen to sense can't you. Rangers should be banned from european competion for this as they have already been warned by uefa about their supporters behaviour. Uefa should punish the club for the supporters attitude. Also crossing yourself is not done to aggravate anyone, no matter where you are. Blessing yourself is not done to incite anything. People who think it is are sectarian.

Answer 3

A ridiculous decision which i am sure will be looked at by the relevant authorities. A few idiots make a complaint which should have been thrown out never mind a 6mth investigation, which uncovered NO cctv footage of the alleged "blessing". Unfortunately it's what we have to put up with when mindless idiots make complaints to the Police rather than accept a defeat or win with grace. Once we get rid of the midless bigots in our society we will all get on a whole lot better. I somehow think we are stuck with this situation for a while tho.

Answer 4

Fhemi Qerimi is a dumbass if he thinks Ronaldo is fragile or perhaps he doesn't know what the word fragile means..Ronaldo is one of the toughest players in European football. Yes, he may go down easy sometimes but that hardly makes him fragile. Few players on the continent play with the intensity and physicality be plays with week-in-week out. Not to mention, he has been the most fouled player in each of the last 5-6 seasons yet he's almost NEVER injured. My top 5 most fragile players in no particular order would be: 1. Alexandre Pato 2. Arjen Robben 3. Michael Owen 4. Owen Hargreaves 5. Robin Van Persie (although he has improved massively) @Fehmi: I disagree, but even if that were true: that hardly has anything to do with fragility. Fragility is more of a players vulnerability to injury not to falling over lol.

Answer 5

I am pretty sure all religious blessings and symbols are banned from football matches in Glasgow (if not Scotland and the UK) because it continuously incited riots between the catholics and Protestants (both sides doing wrong) so if he did pray he would be breaking the law and therefore deserved to be charged, just cause u dont like a law doesn't mean u can ignore it. There are also many many catholics in Scotland so ur accusation that we have a racial intolerance to catholics is entirely wrong. U have to know the history behind the fights between the Protestants and catholics in Scotland before u can fully grasp the situation and then u would realize they are both as bad as each other.

Answer 6

It is more about the sectarian history of Celtic and Rangers than the laws of Scotland. It's a shame this kind of intolerance still exists but it runs both ways.

Answer 7

It wasn't just for crossing himself... In doing it he was provoking the crowd, and thus inciting violence. You can cross yourself as much as you want in Scotland, but if you do it to incite violence then it's breaking the law. Sectarianism in Scotland is a serious issue. Crossing yourself on a football pitch at a Rangers vs. Celtic game would be about equivalent to a Nazi salute in a Germany vs. Poland game. It is entirely valid to say that he was disturbing the peace.

Also, he only got cautioned... Not prosecuted for a crime.

Answer 8

Criminal Record Search Database : http://SearchVerifyInfos.com/Help

Answer 9

Its the Thought Police as envisaged by George Orwell, in Nineteen Eighty-Four

Answer 10

Seems to be totally OTT, but it is asensitive issue in Scotland. But I think he should not have been charged and the protestant fans are the ones who should be charged with being total intolerants.