By Bill Heaney
Wear Red Day 20 is just three days away! On Friday the 16th of October 450 schools, 200 businesses and thousands of people across England, Scotland and Wales will be taking part in Show Racism the Red Card’s sixth annual fundraising campaign, Wear Red Day.
Wear Red Day falls on the same date as the Celtic v Rangers clash in Glasgow when thousands who would normally wear the green or royal blue scarves and strips will be assembled around their TV sets for that big match.
Some of them, hopefully, will wear red to show that they believe black lives matter and sectarianism should be given the boot.
The U.K will go red, as the team have iconic locations across the country planned to light up on the big day, including the London Eye.
This year they have faced challenges like never before but through these challenging times their voice is being heard.
Their spokesperson said: “We have seen the monumental global uprising of the Black Lives Matter movement after the brutal murder of George Floyd in the U.S this summer. Now it is of crucial importance that we keep up the momentum throughout October’s Black History Month and beyond, turning our words in to action.
“As such this years Wear Red Day is more important than ever, now is the time for change. We are grateful for the upsurge of support we have seen but you can continue this support and the educational work at the heart of our charity by donating so we can reach even more young people and adults in the push to eradicating racism once and for all.
“Also don’t forget to wear red and show us your pictures by using the hashtag #WRD20
You can donate by texting ‘Red’ = £1, ‘Red5’ = £5, ‘Red10’ = £10, or ‘Red20’ = £20 to 70470
*texts cost donation value + standard rate text.
Meanwhile, the Scottish SUN former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie is reporting that next weekend’s Old Firm match will have played a big part in the Scottish government’s decision to close every pub in the central belt.
They’ll have seen this is an ideal opportunity to kill two birds with one stone – keep coronavirus infection rates down while making sure those nasty football fans behave themselves.
That pair are living in a bubble and it’s nothing to do with Covid-19.
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The First Minister and the National Clinical Director have no idea how things will unfold in towns and villages all across the country next Saturday.
Their collective knowledge of all things Celtic and Rangers could be scribbled on the back of an unused beer mat.
I fear they’ll learn the hard way when this inexplicable decision to close all licensed premises backfires spectacularly.
Glasgow publican Donald MacLeod was bang on the money when he compared this nonsense to a 1920-style prohibition.
People with far greater scientific knowledge than me are at a loss to understand the benefit of putting pubs and restaurants out of business, while forcing punters to booze with their pals at house parties.
Pubs are cleaned regularly and customers are regulated by the track and trace system. They sit socially distanced under the watchful eye of bar staff, whose job it is to make sure the establishment stays on the right side of the law.
How well monitored are those who choose to have their pals round for a knees up behind closed doors?
None of it makes any sense and for the life of me, I can’t understand why the government thinks this plan will work.
But what I do understand is football in Glasgow.
So I hope the First Minister and her expert pal are reading carefully, because this is how next Saturday will unfold.
I’ll start with some simple arithmetic. Between them, Celtic and Rangers have more than 100,000 season ticket holders – proper fans who spend a lot of money following their team.
Add to that the many more who can’t afford a season ticket or choose not to go to every game but count themselves as supporters. At least another 100,000.
Throw into the mix their families, who get dragged into the occasion when the big two come face to face.
I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say approaching half a million people in Scotland will be watching the game next Saturday.
Under normal circumstances, 60,000 of them would be in Celtic Park with thousands more watching in pubs and clubs.
But this time they’ll all be stuck behind closed doors, out of sight.And anyone who thinks they’ll all be watching alone, drinking tea or lemonade, is deluded.
There will be green and blue speakeasies on every street in the land – make no mistake about that.
Loads of fans – and not just the hardcore – will pop round to a mate’s place and the drink will flow.
When the goals go in, the noise will really start and by that stage right-minded neighbours will do what they’ve been asked by the government and call the cops to put an end to the illicit gathering.
Of course it’s the poor cops – already stretched to the limit – who’ll have to sort it all out.
That’s before we even begin to consider how much infection will be spread.
I’m sorry if that sounds like a doomsday scenario but I’ve been around Scottish football long enough to know how it works.
I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think I will be.
And once the carnage has been played out, it will be back to the drawing board for the so-called experts who appear to be making things up as they go along.