https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-67277186

A section of the Celtic support known as the Green Brigade have had their season tickets withdrawn indefinitely by the club.

It is understood Celtic made the decision due to what it believes is the group’s consistent failure to adhere to club and stadium rules.

The Green Brigade had already been banned from receiving tickets for away games.

It recently defied pleas by Celtic not to bring Palestinian flags to matches.

The Green Brigade, which occupy the north curve of Celtic Park, traditionally organise a tifo – a choreographed display involving a large banner or image – for major games.

‘Terrific’ Celtic take belief from Atletico draw
Celtic and Rangers fined by Uefa
Celtic fined for fans’ anti-monarchy banner

The group handed out Palestinian flags and held up banners before last Wednesday’s Champions League match against Spanish side Atletico Madrid.

The flags were also waved in other parts of the stadium as well as the section occupied by the group.

Ahead of the game, the club told supporters that players and coaching staff from both sides would wear black armbands “as a show of respect and support for all those affected by the conflict”.

But it said banners, flags and symbols relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict “should not be displayed at Celtic Park at this time”.
Banners displayed at the Celtic ParkImage source, SNS
Image caption,
Free Palestine banners were displayed at Celtic Park during a match against Kilmarnock

Celtic are widely expected to face a Uefa fine over the flags.

Fans of the club have also displayed Palestinian flags at recent Scottish Premiership games against Kilmarnock – hours after Hamas launched an attack on Israel – and Hearts.

In a previous statement, the Green Brigade reiterated their “unshakeable belief” that football supporters have the right to express political beliefs.

It accused the Celtic board of being disingenuous and hypocritical over their claim that the club was apolitical, citing issues over the club’s history and the war in Ukraine.

The statement urged fans to “raise the Palestine flag on the European stage” at the Atletico match “to show the world that Celtic Football Club stands with the oppressed, not the oppressor”.

The latest headlines in Scotland

The Glasgow club was founded in the late 19th Century to help feed the poor in the east end of the city.

Sections of the fan base have previously used matches to support social justice causes and make political statements.

Many Celtic fans have long had an affiliation with the Palestinian cause, with Uefa fining the club in 2014 after fans waved Palestinian flags during a match against Iceland’s KR Reykjavik.

The Green Brigade chose to display the flag once again during their team’s 2016 Champions League qualifier against Israeli side, Hapoel Beer-Sheva – a move which landed the club a £8,600 fine.

The club have distanced themselves from the flags and banners, and both Uefa and Fifa have said that politics and football should not mix.

A Celtic spokesperson previously said that the club “recognises that our supporters hold personal views to which everyone is entitled”.

“As a club open to all, we all belong at Celtic Park. Celtic Park is where we come to support our football club,” they said.

“Recognising this, respecting the gravity of the tragedy unfolding and its impact on communities in Scotland and across the world, and in line with other clubs, leagues and associations, we ask that banners, flags and symbols relating to the conflict and those countries involved in it are not displayed at Celtic Park at this time.”

by HeWasDeadAllAlong

7 comments

  2. Aye you wouldn’t want politics creeping into Scottish football.

  3. Seems a bit harsh tbf. Never heard of a club turning against and banning their most hardcore supporters.

  5. The club is fighting a battle it can’t win. Even without the GB in the stadium, Celtic park will be covered in Palestine flags from everyone else in the stadium. The club can’t ban everyone. Well, they could, but they won’t.

  6. The club has to be seen to act otherwise they will face severe punishments themselves from UEFA/FIFA/SFA. I’m sure they are aware this will just lead to even more Palestinian flags for the rest of the season

  7. Fly the Ukrainian flag- not political

    Fly the Palestinian flag- political

    How do people even defend this?

    Said this multiple times, but people who claim to care about Ukraine, don’t care one bit about it. They only care about their interests. Luckily more and more people are starting to realise this.

    The club has also said the green brigade has caused trouble over the weekend in the hibs game. The green brigade were not in attendance as they were banned.

Leave a Reply