Season ticket holders, according to Celtic’s ultras, have been banned because of their “unapologetic solidarity with Palestine.”
They oppose fascism, support human rights, and raise thousands of pounds for low-income families. However, the Green Brigade ultras of Celtic are prohibited from entering the stadium where they are based. Due to members’ disregard for club and stadium regulations, club officials suspended about 250 season tickets in the Green Brigade area of Celtic Park this week.
Following incidents involving pyrotechnics, turning turnstiles at home and away games, and violent behaviour towards stewards during last weekend’s trip to Hibernian, Celtic sent an 800-word letter to supporters. A damning dossier, that.
At Celtic Park, my seat is right above the railing that serves as the North Curve, which is the area where the Green Brigade is stationed.
I’ll be amazed by the colour and noise coming from that area as I watch. One of the liveliest football stadiums is Celtic Park, thanks in large part to the vocal support of the ultras. Their portion establishes the mood and ambience.
The 60,000-seat stadium is completely surrounded by breathtaking tifo displays, which are orchestrated by the Green Brigade for big games.
The words “stand on the shoulders of giants” were displayed at the end of the previous season alongside enormous portraits of the legendary managers Willie Maley and Jock Stein, who were seen staring at each other from opposite ends of Celtic Park.
It took a lot of imagination and labour to produce 360-degree stadium displays, but Green Brigade innovation is to be commended.
However, I have also seen ultras fight with police and stewards. Their passion for pyrotechnics and fireworks costs the club money even though it livens up European games. There are some in the wider Celtic support who do not think highly of the Green Brigade. It is not an easy relationship. Much of the Celtic faithful booed the ultras when that section disrespected a Remembrance Day silence. The primary objective of the Green Brigade, which was founded in 2006, was to revitalise Celtic Park’s waning matchday atmosphere.
With their left-leaning banners and placards endorsing everyone from striking rail workers to refugees, the ultras proudly maintain their political reputation. The Palestinian flag has long been flown by the Green Brigade.
For the past seventeen years, it has gained a lot of support by collecting money for food banks and charities. More than £12,000 has been raised for Glasgow’s low-income families this year. Green Brigade members have previously had their season passes revoked and been advised to avoid Paradise.
However, it seems that this ban is more serious now, especially since Celtic used the word “indefinite.” It is akin to being expelled from school. A teacher who is at their wits’ end dealing with a class of troublemakers.
Heavy Uefa fines are frequently imposed on Celtic for incidents involving political banners and pyrotechnics being displayed in the North Curve and during away games in Europe. Club officials have run out of patience.
Green Brigade members approached fans as they arrived at Celtic Park for last Wednesday’s Champions League match against Atletico Madrid, encouraging them to bring Palestine flags inside the stadium.
Despite the club’s warning that symbols related to events in the Middle East should not be displayed, hundreds of the flags were brought into the stadium. In the post, there will likely be another Uefa fine.
The Green Brigade functions a lot like an ultras group out of Italy. Members’ faces are obscured in pictures shared on the group’s social media accounts. Football and politics are inextricably linked. There are songs about the IRA among their repertoire, even though many of them support the club and its players.
The previous season, the Scottish Women’s Premier League’s ultras showed their support for the Celtic Women’s team by bringing colour and passion that is typically reserved for the men’s team to crucial matches.
Seeing the Jock Stein Stand full of boisterous fans supporting the women’s team with the same fervour as they would on a Kyogo Furuhashi and Callum McGregor Champions League night was a beautiful display of unity.
The Green Brigade uses the North Curve X/Twitter account to interact with its 75,000 followers instead of speaking with British mainstream media.
The group claimed that their expulsion from Celtic Park was unjust midweek.
“It is undeniable that the sanctions imposed against those affiliated with the Green Brigade are a result of the group’s unapologetic solidarity with Palestine,” a Green Brigade statement stated. It is obvious that the sanctions, particularly the collective bans, are unjust; they lack policy, procedure, and communication, resulting in people being wrongfully punished before any accusation, proof, or right of defence has been presented. Claims that the group is “rushing” stadiums are denied.
As an ultras group that is well-known for its creative and raucous support, we occasionally break the various rules put in place to keep football stadiums sterile.
The statements that “we broke in” and that “intimidating, threatening, and abusive behaviour towards staff” are vile and false, and we deny them wholeheartedly. On Sunday, November 12, Celtic will host Aberdeen at home. It is unclear if the Green Brigade will be permitted inside or will have to watch TV at home.
