Celtic fury at link to BNP youth

Outraged Celtic fans vented their fury last night after a teen BNP chief was pictured posing with top figures at the club.

Vile Dean Hartley, 16, the racist party's Scottish youth leader, was snapped next to unwitting Hoops striker Anthony Stokes and chairman John Reid. The extremist, who claims to have a Parkhead season ticket, was also photographed in the trophy room and dug-out - sparking disgust on Celtic internet chatsites.

One fan, called Robert Emmet, said: "Ban the **** from Parkhead publicly and immediately."

Another wrote: "How can you support Celtic given the history and ethos of our club? The fact Celtic was built by immigrants must make them (the BNP) despise our club. Does the BNP care where the immigrants come from, do they differ from Irish to Polish to Asian? I doubt it very much."

King 0kev added: "How can someone, raised as a Celtic supporter knowing our history, attach himself to a load of right-wing fundamentalists who want to blame immigrants for everything."

Hartley, from Glasgow, was also been pictured with hated BNP boss Nick Griffin since posing with Stokes and ex-Labour minister Lord Reid.

And last night the brazen teenager said: "I support Celtic and was getting my pictures taken with the players after the matches. I know a lot of people, some relatives, who are BNP supporters and Celtic fans. What the problem with supporting a team and a political party? I've a season ticket. I pay good money for that too."

It is understood Hartley was appointed youth leader in Scotland in May. Last month he claimed at a rally in Edinburgh that he'd fought his school over a decision to ban him writing a project on the BNP.

Celtic have denied he is a season ticket-holder but refused to comment last night.

A Hoops insider said: "Obviously we can't legislate for every one of the thousands of people who come on tours every year. But the club opposes every form of discrimination, including racism."

Scottish Sun

Thanks to Zaahid for the heads-up