Eyal Berkovic

Celtic was a big mistake for me, that's for sure. Celtic never understood me ,
and I for sure never understood them. It was a club with an image which was full
of its own self importance and role in the world. The club was going through a
troubled time and when manager John Barnes got the sack, my days there were
numbered. It's hard to say this but I feel that I have to point out that Celtic,
certainly at that time did not react well to people who they did not consider
were 'one of them". I am Jewish and proud of my religion and background, Barnes
and Ian Wright felt the same as me, and they were quickly ostracised when
results went against us. After one midweek game which we lost, Wright and Barnes
were subject to really disgraceful racial abuse in the car park. It was at that
point I knew I had to get out. I found it really disconcerting having to play in
front of a huge crowd where many fans had PLO flags and celebrated terrorist
actions. They were backing an organization which, after all, wanted the
destruction of the State of Israel. How could I give one hundred percent for
such a club with an ethos like that?
The Celtic Rangers games were utter madness, and I had to remind myself for
which club I was playing! I always stood up for the sovereignty of the nation
and the right of law. Celtic seemed to be going for the opposite, by supporting
terrorist groups from Spain, Ireland, the Middle East and Africa. It was
crazy!".

As if to underline Berkovic's anger, was the fact that shortly after his
departure from Celtic, (the man who released him) Martin O'Neill signed John
Hartson who had assaulted the slight Israeli at a training session when both men
played for West Ham. Even a quick glance on youtube years later, does nothing to
dampen the sheer brutality of the unpremeditated attack on Bekovic.

"The signing of somebody like John Hartson by Celtic did not come as a surprise
to me. It was a marriage made in heaven. The fans finally had found somebody who
embodied everything they stood for, and I for one was not astonished that he
went onto become a cult figure at their club."



Never knew about this interview, it's been posted about a bit since the whole Biton stokes thing.
Gives another dimension to the argument.