An apology is being demanded from the Daily Record newspaper by Celtic FC following a headline in today's edition of the paper, ahead of tomorrow's Old Firm derby between the club and rivals, Rangers.
The headline asked who is more hated at Rangers' home of Ibrox: the taxman (over continuing issues between Rangers and HM Revenue & Customs) or Celtic manager, Neil Lennon?
It comes in the wake of bomb and bullet threats sent to Lennon last season.
Says Celtic, in a statement on its website: “Clearly, given the year Neil Lennon and his family have experienced – with bombs, bullets, death threats and physical assaults – this kind of reporting is inflammatory, highly irresponsible and quite simply offensive. For this newspaper to treat the matter in this insensitive and ill-judged manner is astonishing.”
The statement adds: “Neil Lennon, his coaching staff and the Celtic players are very disappointed at this reporting and have jointly decided that they will not be co-operating with journalists from The Daily Record.
“It is only right that the newspaper delivers a suitable retraction and apology.”
Reports the BBC, during his BBC Radio Scotland football phone-in show this evening, the Daily Record's sports editor, Jim Traynor, is quoted as saying: “I am not defending [the headline]. I can't defend it. I would have pulled [it]. I think the headline is wrong. The paper will be dealing with this properly tomorrow before we address Monday's paper and we will also deal with Celtic's statement tomorrow.”
