Artur Boruc – Pope t-shirt hoo-haa (Apr 08)

FIFA rules state the "competition organiser" should apply sanctions to the player involved in the event of a "political, religious or personal statement" being exposed on an undershirt.

The rules also state the player’s club should face action, which could come from world football’s governing body or the SPL.

The weekend episode was not the first occasion that the Celtic goalkeeper has found himself at the centre of controversy since moving to Glasgow in 2005.

In August 2006 Boruc received a procurator fiscal’s caution for breach of the peace after making gestures at Rangers fans at Ibrox in February that year.

Strathclyde Police stressed that the caution issued to Boruc was not for blessing himself in front of the Rangers fans.

Boruc caused a stir at the end of the last Old Firm game of last season when he walked off the pitch waving a Celtic flag.

In March this year the former Legia Warsaw goalkeeper was shown a yellow card by referee Iain Brines for gesturing towards Hibernian fans after Celtic’s 2-0 win at Easter Road.

An SPL spokesman said the league are still awaiting the delegate report from McDougall, a former SFA security chief.

The spokesman said: "We have not received the match delegate’s report and it may not come in for a few days."

© Irish Examiner, 2008. Thomas Crosbie Media, TCH

The Irish Examiner

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MP REGRETS GOALKEEPER’S ’POPE’ T-SHIRT
By Ben Padley, PA Political Staff

An MP today said he “deeply regretted” the actions of Celtic goalkeeper Artur
Boruc who wore a T-shirt with the inscription “God Bless The Pope” at the
latest Old Firm game.

The DUP’s Gregory Campbell (E Londonderry) criticised the player for revealing
the design worn under his club shirt following Celtic’s 3-2 win over Rangers on
Sunday.

He said he was “saddened” that the gesture – which he said had no place in
football – had not been punished by Celtic FC.

Mr Campbell has tabled a Commons motion calling for the club to oppose actions
“that could serve to heighten tension between players as well as supporters.”

Following the incident, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said: “If it was ’God
bless Myra Hindley’, I might have a problem.”

Mr Boruc, who fans have nicknamed the “Holy Goalie” will not face censure by
the Scottish Football Association, a spokesman said today.

The spokesman confirmed that referee Craig Thomson did not include any mention
of the post-match incident in his report.

The Pole has been no stranger to controversy during his time at Celtic Park. In
August 2006 he received a procurator fiscal’s caution for breach of the peace
after making gestures at Rangers fans at Ibrox in February that year.

Boruc caused a stir at the end of the last Old Firm game of last season when he
walked off the pitch waving a Celtic flag.

In March this year the former Legia Warsaw goalkeeper was shown a yellow card
by referee Iain Brines for gesturing towards Hibernian fans after Celtic’s 2-0
win at Easter Road.

Mr Campbell’s motion states that he supports “the good work undertaken in
combating sectarianism by the Glasgow football clubs, Rangers and Celtic, but
deeply regrets the actions of Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc.”

He added: “I am saddened that this, the latest in a series of controversial
gestures by the same player which have no place in football, has not brought
censure from his club.”

His motion has so far been signed by four other MPs.

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Boruc let-off riles Gers fans

CELTIC'S "Holy Goalie" Artur Boruc will escape punishment despite his "God Bless the Pope" T-shirt antics after Sunday's Old Firm clash at Parkhead – and Rangers fans are furious.

The SFA do not view the Poland keeper's actions as provocative or inflammatory as the incident did not occur in front of the Gers support.

Boruc took his jersey off at the end of the second Old Firm clash in 11 days to celebrate a 3-2 victory which sent the Hoops five points clear of their rivals at the top of the SPL.

He then paraded about wearing a white T-shirt showing an image of the late Pope, John Paul II, and the message "God Bless the Pope".

Last night the Rangers Supporters' Trust expressed bewilderment over the SFA's inaction, and also blasted Celtic for letting Boruc off the hook.