Big Jock Knew

"Big Jock Knew" is a song sung by fans of Rangers.[1] It is aimed mainly to antagonise supporters of Celtic by alleging that former manager Jock Stein was aware of sexual abuse committed by former Celtic Boys Club manager Jim Torbett during the 1960s and 1970s, and did not notify the authorities.

Background

During Torbett's trial in 1998, former Celtic Boys' Club chairman Hugh Birt claimed that Stein and the Celtic board were aware of and covered up allegations made against Torbett.[2][3] In 2017 the Daily Record reported that the BBC "had spoken to three other former Celtic Boys’ Club officials – who were employed at the time in question – who also say they were told Torbett was sacked by Stein after complaints Torbett had abused boys. But police were never called."[4]

The official club statement following the conclusion of the 2018 trial, which expressed 'deep regret' over the abuse, asserted that they only became aware of allegations against Torbett in the mid 1990s.[5][6]

Reaction

The song has provoked controversy and has been condemned by several high profile figures and organisations.[7][8] UNICEF expressed concern over the song and called for it to be banned from football games.[9] In 2007, the then Scottish Football Association Chief Executive Gordon Smith called the song "morally repugnant."[10]

References
  1. "Sectarian & abusive Hearts fans 'do not represent the club or it's values'". Scotzine. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  2. "Stein 'covered up' allegations of abuse at Celtic Boys' Club". The Scotsman Highbeam.com. 7 November 1998. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  3. "Celtic Boys' Club founder guilty of shameless indecency; Anger over allegations suggesting that Jock Stein was involved in 20-year cover-up". Herald Scotland. 13 November 1998. Retrieved 7 December 2017. Former Celtic directors Mr Kevin Kelly, 61, and Mr James Farrell, 77, said they never heard of any allegations concerning the accused and Mr Kelly, a director in Torbett's Trophy Centre business, denied ever talking to Mr Birt about the matter. Asked if Mr Stein had tried to cover-up any allegations Mr Farrell said: "He would have been playing with dynamite if he had done that. Jock would never have behaved like that."
  4. McGivern, Mark (11 April 2017). "Celtic Boys' Club sex predator Jim Torbett given second chance to abuse young players". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  5. "Celtic express 'deep regret' over Torbett child abuse". BBC News. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  6. "Celtic Football Club statement". Celtic F.C. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  7. Thompson, Bernard (24 August 2007). "More than a game". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  8. "Child Abuse is not something to use as a tool to beat rivals with in football rivalry". Scotzine. 15 December 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  9. MacDonald, Stuart (10 January 2009). "Unicef: Famine Song banned". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  10. Spiers, Graham (24 November 2007). "Reid this and weep: accusations have no place in football world". The Times. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
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