Green Brigade Release Damning Police Scotland Statement

The Green Brigade have broken their silence following Sunday’s controversial events on London Road, where around 200 Celtic supporters were kettled by Police Scotland ahead of the derby at Celtic Park.

The group has released a lengthy statement condemning what they describe as a “premeditated attack on football supporters” and warning that the incident represents a wider threat to civil liberties in Scotland.

According to the statement, the group and other Celtic supporters had gathered at the Celtic Social Club from 10am, a routine meeting point before away games. Despite a heavy police presence at the time, the Green Brigade claim there was no communication from officers about any concerns or expectations. When the group attempted to move towards Celtic Park at 10:45am, they were immediately kettled on London Road.

The Green Brigade allege they were initially told they would be held until all away supporters were inside the stadium. However, after an hour, police invoked Section 60 of the Public Order Act, citing concerns about supporters concealing their identities—even though, according to the group, the vast majority were not wearing face coverings. Offers to remove hats and sunglasses were reportedly dismissed by police.

The statement details how those detained, including young children, were faced with draconian demands to exit the kettle: full body searches, compulsory handing over of personal details and ID, confiscation of hats and sunglasses, and being filmed during the entire process. Many chose not to comply, resulting in their detention for nearly five hours with no access to food, water, or toilets.

The Green Brigade argue the incident highlights an escalating pattern of repression aimed at supporter groups across Scottish football. They point to recent sanctions from Celtic PLC and new SPFL regulations that impose collective punishment, as part of what they describe as a coordinated effort between police, clubs, and football authorities to marginalise groups who challenge the status quo.

In their statement, they acknowledge the efforts of Celtic’s Supporter Liaison Officer, John Paul Taylor, who was present on London Road and liaised with both the police and the supporters. However, they now await a public response from Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson, demanding answers over the club’s role, if any, in Sunday’s police operation.

We at Celtsarehere are deeply troubled by the events on Sunday on London Road and the callousness of Police Scotland not only during but in the aftermath of this incident. We would implore supporters to question why any of this was needed and why Police Scotland chose to ambush a group of our supporters on their way to the stadium. Even if you’re not a fan of ultra’s culture, to say this crosses a line would be an understatement.

Below is the Green Brigade’s statement in full:

FAN REPRESSION

Yesterday, there was a premeditated attack on football supporters by Police Scotland. We believe their actions were unlawful and we are currently taking legal advice. The actions of the police should serve as a stark warning to all football supporters in Scotland and anyone who values civil liberties.

At 10am, the Green Brigade and other Celtic supporters congregated at the Celtic Social Club which is a routine practice. At this time, there was a considerable police presence. At no point was there any attempt from police officers to relay any information about concerns or expectations of how fans should move to the stadium. Similarly, there was no attempt to share information in advance through mutual channels (Celtic Football Club) as is often the case.

At 10:45am, we attempted to depart for the stadium. At this point, around 200 people were kettled on the road. We were told that we were being held until all away supporters had entered the stadium and would then be moved along. After around one hour, the police informed us that we had been detained under Section 60 of the Public Order Act. The reason given was that people were concealing their identity despite the fact that most people were not wearing masks. When this was pointed out, the concern moved to hats, hoods and sunglasses. We offered to remove these items but this wasn’t accepted.

In order to leave the police kettle, the following was expected of all individuals including young children:

• Submit to police detention, being held by two officers by the arms, taken from the kettle and into a further police cordon

• Submit to a full body search (including a refusal to privacy for females)

• Give full personal details

• Show ID to verify personal details

• Have hats, sunglasses, scarves and snoods confiscated

• Have all of the above actions filmed, including ID documents and clothing

Understandably, we were reluctant to comply with these draconian and unnecessary measures and were therefore detained in the kettle for almost five hours, with no access to food, water or toilets, and missed the entire match. In the end, zero arrests were made despite the huge sums of public money wasted on the operation. We have since learned through a Police Scotland press release that every person has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal despite this not being informed to us at the time.

While we are clearly angry at what happened, we are more concerned about a pattern of repression against supporters which is increasingly worsening across Scottish football. There is a concerted effort between police, clubs, football authorities and others who seek to control the game to abolish supporter groups who do not conform to their agendas or values.

It is no coincidence that this police operation followed sanctions by Celtic PLC against the same people in the same week. Likewise it is no coincidence that Celtic PLC fills its Safety and Security Department with ex-police. In recent weeks, the SPFL – with approval of clubs – introduced unprecedented collective punishment sanctions against supporters.

Scottish football has a committed, passionate, creative and overwhelmingly positive supporters culture. Instead of embracing this, it is routinely targeted often leading to mainly young males being unnecessarily and harshly criminalised. Strangely, yesterday’s incident was exactly 12 years since the infamous ‘Gallowgate Kettle’ which sparked mass demonstrations and ignited the successful Fans Against Criminalisation campaign.

In light of recent events, we are calling for a formal review of fan engagement in Scottish football with a view to implementing a formal framework for fan engagement at both a central and a club level. It is only through proper two-way engagement with supporters that supporter concerns can be efficiently managed. We will begin consulting and coordinating with all interested supporters in Scotland on how to achieve this.

To be clear, our concerns are not limited to practices often associated with ultras but all and any supporter issues. All supporters have the right to be heard. It is only through a formal framework that this can be achieved and ultimately lead to supporters’ common wishes being respected and interests protected.

We would like it noted that the Celtic SLO, John Paul Taylor, spent considerable time at the incident attempting to liaise and help supporters and has given a report of what happened to Michael Nicholson, CEO. We await comment from Michael Nicholson on both the club’s prior-knowledge of this police operation and its concern for supporters’ welfare.

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