SKY SPORTS staff have reportedly been instructed to turn the sound levels down if Celtic fans sing offensive chants about the Queen at St Mirren tomorrow.
BT Sport had to apologise as their cameras focused on an offensive banner during Celtic’s Champions League game away to Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.
Now the Daily Mail claims that Sky Sports’ staff “have been primed to avoid a repeat” during coverage of the upcoming Scottish Premiership clash.
Ofcom regulations state that broadcasters should avoid showing any material that could cause offence to viewers.
And this fresh report states that “the regulator is understood to have provided further guidance this week that insulting material about the Queen falls into that category”.
Now Sky Sports’ production staff “have been instructed to turn down sound levels or even switch off individual microphones” if any offensive chants are heard during the Celtic game.
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St Mirren have confirmed that they will hold a minute’s applause before kick off rather than the period of silence that has been held at almost every other UK ground.
That is due to fears of mass booing from the away section.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has urged his team’s supporters to respect the planned minute’s applause.
That plea came after fans unveiled anti-monarchy banners prior to their Champions League game on Wednesday.
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One read “f*** the crown” with another reading ‘Sorry for your loss Michael Fagan’ – which was referring to the infamous intruder who found his way into the late Queen’s Buckingham Palace bedroom 40 years ago.
The anti-royal sentiments from Celtic fans have made St Mirren chiefs ditch their plans for a moment of silence in favour of a minute’s applause.
But Postecoglou said: “As a football club we’ll abide by the obligations in the most respectful way.
“We wore black armbands on Wednesday night – and that was sort of lost on people.
“If it is a minute’s applause, we will abide by that, and we’ll do it in the most respectful manner because I think that is the football club we are and want to be.
“What we always try and do is portray ourselves as a football club that is respectful and understands its obligations.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
