CELTIC boss Neil Lennon last night pleaded with the Green Brigade minority shaming his club to BIN every IRA chant.

Fans’ hero Lenny waded into the controversy over pro-IRA singing that now sees the Hoops mired in disciplinary probes from both UEFA and the SPL.

Lennon broke his silence on the storm that is surrounding the club to tell SunSport: “It’s important that we put a general message out that these chants have no place around our club. To be honest, we are better than that as a club and we always have been, we just don’t need it.

“We are and always have been a club open to all and we do not have issues around sectarianism.

“We have our own values and traditions but they do not include these chants.

“We don’t want them at matches and they MUST stop.”

Former top referee Eddie Smith, a Strathclyde Police Superintendent, had reported the chants to match delegates after Celtic’s recent clashes with Hibs and Rennes.

That has led to Smith being slated by some Celtic supporters for his actions.

Lennon brushed that row aside and instead called for the small section of fans chanting support of the IRA to look at themselves and stop dragging the club into the gutter.

He said: “The real tragedy is that we know that it is just a tiny minority of people who would choose to make these chants, but however small, this tiny minority need to stop. I know it is what the overwhelming majority of our fans want.”

The element of the Green Brigade who continue to spew out bile glorifying terrorists have led to their club facing a charge of “illicit chanting” at UEFA’s HQ on December 8.

Now Celtic must pray the intervention of the manager the Green Brigade idolise will finally make the minority within them who are now haunting the Hoops see sense.

Lennon stressed: “Obviously we can’t pre-judge any of the investigations that are now underway. Yet I know Peter Lawwell said at the AGM I was at last month that the chants had to stop and it’s important now that we reinforce that message.”

Celtic’s decision to grant a designated area within the stadium for the Green Brigade has brought criticism.

Banners unveiled there slating the deeds of our forces in the time of Remembrance last year brought the club widespread condemnation.

Now the chants backing the IRA have left Celtic in the dock but it’s understood Strathclyde Police top brass support the thinking behind having the club’s most vociferous fans in one dedicated area.

Lennon has been left deeply frustrated by the actions of those hurting his club because he feels there are many positive aspect to the Green Brigade’s backing of his team.

The Celtic manager insisted: “The irony is that the section of fans we are talking about have added a new dimension and vibrancy to Celtic Park. We know even within that section that it’s only a tiny group of fans that are involved in this.

“I feel that 95 per cent of what these fans bring to the game is positive and adds real atmosphere, but we need to make sure all the negative stuff is removed.”

As a player and now as a manager of Celtic Lennon could never once be accused of lacking passion.

Tonderful!

ONE hundred caps and a million memories.

Carlos Bocanegra stepped into football’s most exclusive club on Tuesday night.

Captain America won his 100th international cap in a 3-2 friendly win in Slovenia.

USA manager Jurgen Klinsmann and keeper Tim Howard led the tributes to the Rangers defender.

But fans’ favourite Boca, 32, insists he took more joy from the hard-fought victory in Ljubljana.

He said: “Obviously with the 100th cap for me, it was extra special. But it was all about the team. We needed a win.

“It’s a pretty cool achievement to reach 100 caps. US Soccer presented me with a nice piece of crystal before the game.

“The Slovenians also gave me a jersey and that was pretty cool. It was a nice, classy touch.

“To be honest, I’m just glad it’s over now and it’s done with.

“But when I look back on my career this will be a really special achievement. I’m really proud to have accomplished this.

“I’ve seen so much of the world while playing for the national team. I’ve been so lucky and so fortunate to be able to see the world through soccer.

“I have lived in other cultures and experienced other cultures. It’s really opened my world and broadened my horizons.

“I don’t think it would have been like this if I had stayed and played in the States.”

Home captain Samir Handanovic presented Bocanegra with a Slovenia jersey with his name and No100 on the back.

The California-born defender has played in 25 different countries since joining the national team over a decade ago.

The Gers ace made his USA debut off the bench against South Korea in December 2001 and he becomes the 12th American — and only the fourth defender — to reach the ton.

Bocanegra shared the moment with his 54,000 followers on Twitter after the midweek win.

Gers team-mate Maurice Edu came off the bench for the final 12 minutes in Slovenia to share in the occasion.

And the third American at Ibrox, Alejandro Bedoya, joined the celebrations on Twitter.

The winger tweeted: “Have to give a shout out to my team-mate for his 100th cap. It’s an amazing achievement.”

Bocanegra, who has scored 12 goals for his country, is on his way back to Scotland to rejoin Gers’ push for the SPL title.

He’s expected to be alongside Dorin Goian at the heart of the defence against St Johnstone on Saturday.

But he left the international squad with the praise of German coach Klinsmann, below left, and his team-mates ringing in his ears.

Klinsmann said: “There was a special atmosphere because it was our captain’s 100th game. It’s a very, very special moment and the team wanted to do well for him.

“He had an excellent game and is a real leader in the back four.”

Everton keeper Howard, below right, added: “We’re proud of Carlos. He’s done his country justice and made his family proud.

“He’s also made us, his teammates and friends, proud. He’s been a fantastic leader.

“A lot of the boys have said ‘We’d follow him anywhere he leads us’. He’s that type of person, he’s that type of character.

“Carlos is a fantastic defender, and as a leader, there’s not many better. He’s strong-minded.

“He should feel really good about an amazing accomplishment because he’s a world-class guy.”

Boca is on course to lead the USA to the World Cup finals in Brazil in 2014.

It could bring down the curtain on one of the most incredible careers in US soccer history.

(Scottish Sun )