Green Brigade Banner Flies in Madrid Despite Ban

In a striking turn of events, the Green Brigade’s banner was spotted fluttering in Madrid’s stadium despite an official ban, overshadowing the fact that Celtic faced another heavy defeat in the Spanish capital.

Only a year after a disheartening trouncing by Real Madrid, Celtic’s fortunes did not seem to take a turn for the better as they suffered a 6-0 defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid. The game, which was marred by controversy, saw Celtic playing with ten men for a substantial portion of the match after a contentious VAR decision. The sending off of Maeda after what was initially a yellow card offence has been widely debated. Critics argue that the match might have taken a different course had the on-field decision not been overturned by UEFA officials who decided to re-referee the moment.

This decision undeniably tipped the scales, leaving Celtic in a precarious position. As the game progressed, their resistance crumbled under the strain of numerical disadvantage, leading to a cascade of goals from the Atletico side.

Yet, amidst the disappointment on the pitch, there was an unexpected development in the stands. The Green Brigade, a fervent and vocal supporters’ group known for their dramatic displays, appeared to circumvent the ban that barred them from both home and away games. Celtic imposed the prohibition citing safety issues and a series of behaviours deemed unacceptable by the club. The Green Brigade, however, has contested the claims made by the club, asserting that their support for Palestine is the real reason behind what they consider an unjust penalisation.

On Tuesday evening, to the surprise of many, the group’s banner was visible within the stadium, raising questions about its presence. Speculations abound on whether some members managed to sneak in unnoticed or if other fans took up the mantle, carrying the banner into the game in solidarity with the banned group.