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In 1996 Dutch striker Pierre Van Hooijdonk caused a storm when he made a grossly insensitive remark to the media while he was negotiating a new contract with Celtic.
The big forward had been a huge hit since his arrival at Parkhead from NAC Breda in early 1995 and most Celtic fans believed he was worthy of a new deal which reflected his not insufficient contribution to the club. However, Van Hooijdonk would show staggering arrogance and conceit in a remark which rightly outraged the fans of a club founded on charity.
After being offered a £7,000 a week pay, a more than fair sum and an absolute fortune for most working people, Pierre told the media: “It may be good enough for the homeless, but not for an international striker.”
The slur appalled Hoops fans and sympathy for Van Hooijdonk evaporated.
As the article from the Celtic View alludes to the player became embroiled in a ongoing argument with the club but the undoubted low point was the homeless slur. When he was eventually off-loaded to Nottingham Forest in 1997 there were – despite his undoubted talent – few fans sad to see the back of him for moral reasons.
