Europa, Europa: truth and tradition, history and enmity

Celtic, as we know it, is in peril. For evidence, you need only look to the television pictures of supporters leaving early against Arsenal, on a Champions League night, at Celtic Park.

Tradition, such as the kind Tevye sang of so, is when customs become the fabric of identity.

Once, long ago it seems now, Celtic supporters stayed to the end. Why? Pride, steadfastness and the traditional expression of ourselves as a club apart – faithful through and through.

Why do we applaud the opposition when they score against us with fine football? Because our identity and tradition are interlinked. We care about football as it should be played – as Willie Maley, Jock Stein, Billy McNeill and Tommy Burns dictated – the thread of constancy of our existence demands that it must be this way.

If that has often won us admiration, then let it be so for many years to come. Then we will know that we always stand for the highest ideals in the game, a position so pristine and unscratchable that our detractors can only throw filth and envy. And dirt, as we all know, is as enduring as a Scottish summer.

But tradition without memory is nothing more than habit. And sometimes it is necessary to endure the brickbats so that even harsh memories are carried forward.

“Woe unto you when all men speak well of you,” said a wise man.

Of that, we need have no fear any more than the righteous ought to expect an abundance of rewards on earth.

But we have cast our pearls before swine. Outwith British waters, Celtic have only three enemies: Racing Club, Atlético Madrid and our upcoming Europa opponents Rapid Vienna.

None know the story better than Peter Grant – how in the worst example of blatant violence, cheating, and organised deception seen in the British Isles in the past 30 years, Rapid Vienna overturned a victory based on football, courage and sportsmanship and forever sullied the name of one of Europe's greatest cities.

Eduardo? A mere mischievous boy next to Hans Krankl, who strode into Celtic Park on 7th November 1984 as one of Europe's finest players only to slither out as one of its most notorious and contemptible cowards.

Tommy Burns, it seems, was the catalyst – for challenging fairly for a ball the goalkeeper had failed to hold and for having the temerity to put Celtic 3-0 ahead, to the horror of Rapid who had thought the tie safe following their 3-1 win at home.

Soon after, the Rapid goalkeeper Karl Ehn blatantly kicked Tommy – studs first – in the groin while jumping to catch the ball. Rightly, sent off, the Rapid coaches and management took every opportunity to antagonise the Celtic players and supporters, with only a few morons allowing their temper to get in the way of decency and good sense.

The Rapid complaint was farcical – as was summed up by the original findings of the UEFA Disciplinary Committee.

To reject the protest entered by the club, SK Rapid Wien and to confirm the result of 3-0 in favour of Celtic FC
To impose a fine of 12,000 Swiss Francs on the club Celtic FC for the comportment of the spectators (in case of repition).
To impose a fine of 15,000 Swiss Francs on the club SK Rapid Wien for the conduct of the team (in case of repition).
To suspend the player Reinhard Kienast (SK Rapid Wien) for four U.E.F.A. club competition matches after his expulsion (already cautioned in a previous match of the current season).
To suspend the coach of the club SK Rapid Wien, Mr Otto Baric, for three U.E.F.A. club competition matches.
To censure the club SK Rapid Wien for the comportment of the other team officials.
To confirm the cautions administered to the players Zlatko Kranjcar, Karl Ehn and Peter Brucic for foul play.

But then we witnessed one of UEFA's greatest ever travesties. The appeal by Rapid was heard by none other than Ted Croker – Secretary of the FA – and a man who had a personal vendetta against Scottish football fans going back to his humiliation when he attempted to ban Scottish football fans from Wembley only to see tens of thousands in the stands taunting him personally.

They say you should not speak ill of the dead, therefore Croker's malicious role in the appeal that followed will be spoken of here no more.

In as absurd a reversal as has ever been seen in major football, UEFA revised its utter condemnation of Rapid and ordered a replay away from Celtic Park. Old Trafford was the venue but another 3-0 victory was never on the cards, the idiotic actions of two supporters whose frustrations boiled over – attacking Rapid players only further damaged the club, leading to the next European tie being played behind closed doors. To rub salt into the wound Raid made the UEFA Cup final that season.

Why is this important? Is it because the Rapid players of today, many of whom weren't born at the time of that shameful episode deserve to suffer? Is it because the gloating Rapid fans – and the likes of Peter Pacult, still at the club, ought to suffer violent retribution? Should we trash their city as our Glaswegian co-habitees have done with Manchester and Barcelona?

No, of course not. The reason is that any club with tradition must have players worthy of defending it. On this occasion, the proposition is very simple. Exact the finest and purest form of sporting revenge.

Or don't come back to Glasgow.






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