Jock Stein denied knighthood over Celtic dismissals
Robert McAulay
Sunday July 1, 2007
The Observer
Scottish football legend Jock Stein was denied a knighthood after his Celtic players became involved in a violent brawl during an infamous Intercontinental Club Cup game.
Papers released under the Freedom of Information Act this week by the Scottish Executive show that Stein was dropped from the 1968 New Year's Honours list after violent clashes between Celtic and Argentine champions Racing Club in a replayed play-off game in Montevideo to decide the world's best club side. During the match on 4 November 1967 - their third meeting after the two-legged final ended in an 2-2 draw on aggregate - six players were sent off, four from Celtic. Celtic lost 1-0.
Stein had been expected to receive an honour for leading Celtic to a famous European Cup win in Lisbon over Internazionale in May 1967. But a letter sent by the Scottish Office to Prime Minister Harold Wilson in 1970 revealed how Stein's name was removed from the list.
It read: 'When Glasgow Celtic became the first British club to win the European Cup in 1967, we failed to recognise this with an honour for Stein to whom, as manager, a great deal of the credit was due.
'His name was I understand removed from the New Year's Honours list because of the unfortunate events in South America. The next year when Manchester United won the European Cup an immediate knighthood went to Matt Busby in the birthday list. Had we been able to move as quickly the previous year, Stein would have had his honour before the troubles in Argentina.'
The Scottish Office letter to Wilson came as Stein prepared his Celtic side for a second European Cup final in Milan against Feyenoord. It continued: 'If Celtic win for the second time, I really don't see how we can avoid an award to Stein. I think a CBE would be appropriate.'
Despite losing the 1970 final, Jock Stein was awarded a CBE that year. But Celtic fans have always maintained that Stein should have been made a knight of the realm like fellow Scot Sir Matt Busby.
In March this year, Scottish MPs Davie Marshall and Jim Devine launched a petition to have Stein awarded a posthumous knighthood for helping Celtic become the first British side to win the European Cup. Stein also won 10 Scottish League titles, nine Scottish Cups and six Scottish League Cups. He collapsed and died while managing Scotland against Wales in Cardiff in 1985, aged 62.
ANOTHER LEGEND DENIED, *******S
Robert McAulay
Sunday July 1, 2007
The Observer
Scottish football legend Jock Stein was denied a knighthood after his Celtic players became involved in a violent brawl during an infamous Intercontinental Club Cup game.
Papers released under the Freedom of Information Act this week by the Scottish Executive show that Stein was dropped from the 1968 New Year's Honours list after violent clashes between Celtic and Argentine champions Racing Club in a replayed play-off game in Montevideo to decide the world's best club side. During the match on 4 November 1967 - their third meeting after the two-legged final ended in an 2-2 draw on aggregate - six players were sent off, four from Celtic. Celtic lost 1-0.
Stein had been expected to receive an honour for leading Celtic to a famous European Cup win in Lisbon over Internazionale in May 1967. But a letter sent by the Scottish Office to Prime Minister Harold Wilson in 1970 revealed how Stein's name was removed from the list.
It read: 'When Glasgow Celtic became the first British club to win the European Cup in 1967, we failed to recognise this with an honour for Stein to whom, as manager, a great deal of the credit was due.
'His name was I understand removed from the New Year's Honours list because of the unfortunate events in South America. The next year when Manchester United won the European Cup an immediate knighthood went to Matt Busby in the birthday list. Had we been able to move as quickly the previous year, Stein would have had his honour before the troubles in Argentina.'
The Scottish Office letter to Wilson came as Stein prepared his Celtic side for a second European Cup final in Milan against Feyenoord. It continued: 'If Celtic win for the second time, I really don't see how we can avoid an award to Stein. I think a CBE would be appropriate.'
Despite losing the 1970 final, Jock Stein was awarded a CBE that year. But Celtic fans have always maintained that Stein should have been made a knight of the realm like fellow Scot Sir Matt Busby.
In March this year, Scottish MPs Davie Marshall and Jim Devine launched a petition to have Stein awarded a posthumous knighthood for helping Celtic become the first British side to win the European Cup. Stein also won 10 Scottish League titles, nine Scottish Cups and six Scottish League Cups. He collapsed and died while managing Scotland against Wales in Cardiff in 1985, aged 62.
ANOTHER LEGEND DENIED, *******S
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