"Big Jock Knew" is a song sung by the supporters of numerous Scottish football clubs, including Rangers and Heart of Midlothian. It is aimed mainly to antagonise supporters of their Glasgow rivals Celtic by stating the fact their former manager, Jock Stein, was aware of sexual abuse committed by the former Celtic Boys Club manager, Jim Torbett, and did not notify the authorities.
Reaction
The song has provoked controversy and is often condemned by numerous sources. Celtic Boys' Club chairman Hugh Birt has claimed that Stein and the Celtic board were aware of and covered up allegations made against Torbett. UNICEF expressed concern over the song and called for it to be banned from football games. The song was not originally placed on a list of banned chants by the Scottish Premier League whereas other similar controversial chants such as the Billy Boys were. In 2007, the then Scottish Football Association Chief Executive, Gordon Smith, called the song "morally repugnant."
There have been a number of high-profile mentions of it in the media. In 2007, at the end of the song "Who Knew" by Pink, Real Radio DJ Steven McKenna stated, "Big Jock". This sparked angry complaints from Celtic fans calling for him to be sacked. The radio station then issued a public apology.