Cybertims.com statement on Artur Boruc
We are Concerned over the wider issues that my arise from the Crowns decision to give
Artur Boruc a formal warning over his behaviour at the old firm game in
February . The decision by the Scottish courts has wider ramifications and
could in fact lead to All Scottish teams being banned from European
competition. As for the incident itself it is a sad reflection on Scotland
that any player cannot make an act of devotion to his god without criminal
charges being brought against him by the procurator fiscals office. Artur
Boruc has been making the same gesture in the same place on the pitch and
facing the same direction since he was a teenager and it is only in Scotland
that he has been victimised.
It is also a sad reflection on the people who reported Boruc to the police
that they have so low a tolerance for a religion which many of their players
follow that they feel they have to make the complaint in the first place and
the first ministers policy of “One Scotland many cultures” seems to being
ignored.
As an internet based news and content provider we are constantly in touch
with sources across the world and we are aware that Uefa are extremely
concerned over the situation and are monitoring it very closely indeed.
Because of the precedent set by the Scottish courts it is now technically
possible that any visiting team coming to Scotland on Champions league or
Uefa cup duty can be arrested and charged if they “bless themselves” and
although common sense should prevail it is entirely possible that players
could be arrested even at half time as the police will now have to act if a
formal complaint is made. Once the precedent is set it is a matter of course
that any similar complaints must be acted on by the police.
On Saturday at the Hibernian game members of our supporters club were
entertaining visitors from the USA when they met for a lunch in a Glasgow
restaurant it was pointed out that if they blessed themselves and said
“grace” before the meal they could be charged. It's all getting a bit daft
but the fact is that this is a dangerous decision made by the Crown office
who have only today informed us that the warning was for “Boruc's overall
behaviour and not just for a single incident” Back peddling but far too
late.