Celtic’s Green Brigade has once again taken a strong political stance, this time calling for FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel from international competition. During a recent match at Celtic Park, the group displayed a banner reading “SHOW ‘ISRAEL’ THE RED CARD”, accompanied by a coordinated display of Palestinian flags in the stands.
The move comes amid ongoing conflict in the region, with the Green Brigade accusing Israel of committing genocide, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid. Their statement, posted on social media on Thursday morning, urged governing bodies to enforce their own statutes and take action against Israel’s participation in football.
A History of Political Displays
This is not the first time the Green Brigade has made its stance on Palestine clear. Over the years, the group has regularly displayed Palestinian flags at European matches, drawing fines from UEFA in the process. However, they have remained defiant, arguing that football should not turn a blind eye to humanitarian issues.
Their latest message highlights explicitly the impact of the conflict on footballers in Palestine, stating that 382 Palestinian footballers and 235 other sportspeople have been killed in the past 15 months. The statement also claims that Israel has destroyed 147 football facilities and prevented the sport from being played across Palestine.
FIFA and UEFA Under Pressure
The Green Brigade’s call for Israel’s suspension mirrors similar campaigns that led to Russia’s ban from international football following its invasion of Ukraine. While FIFA and UEFA have so far taken no action against Israel, pressure is mounting from various footballing groups and federations around the world.
With UEFA already sanctioning Celtic for past fan behaviour, including pyro-related offences, it remains to be seen whether the governing body will address this latest protest. However, the Green Brigade has made one thing clear—they won’t be backing down from their stance on Palestine any time soon. Nor should they.
Full statement below
