The Green Brigade have released a statement today firing back at Celtic for their suspension for both home and away games and refuting some of the more serious allegations levied at them by the club.
The group believe that their support of Palestine is the only reason they are being banned from stadiums. They take no responsibility and refute any wrong doing on any of the other matters, pointing the finger back at the club.
The Green Brigade will not be in attendance at the St Mirren game or for the foreseeable future. Given this statement in the public domain, it looks like there is very little scope for a conversation to take place between the GB and the club.
Using very strong language and claiming the board has brought shame on the club. The group also claim they have been encouraged by people inside Celtic to take pyro to certain games.
Here is their statement in full:
Green Brigade Statement, 01/11/23
In recent weeks, Celtic supporters have proudly stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people, while the PLC board adopt a position closer to the far-right British Government, with similar attempts to censor and sanction Palestinian solidarity. As the death toll in Gaza nears 10,000, including almost 4,000 children – the PLC board have shamed Celtic Football Club with their conduct.
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. The sanctions applied, most notably collective bans, are evidently unfair; bereft of policy, process and communication with individuals wrongfully being punished before receiving any allegation, any evidence nor any right of defence.
While we expect any fair-minded person will see through the flimsy litany of allegations (shamefully attempting to use fan media and national press to do bidding on their behalf) there are some which we would like to address.
As an ultras group, known for boisterous support and creativity, we occasionally breach the assorted regulations which are in place to sterilise football stadiums. Whether it be an anti-fascist banner against Lazio or Palestine flags against Atletico Madrid, we have no regrets in by-passing stadium security checks to produce displays which are clearly welcomed by the Celtic support as well as audiences from much farther afield. We categorically deny sinister and defamatory allegations of “breaking in” and “intimidating, threatening and abusive behaviour towards staff.
It is laughable that “unsafe behaviour” is being alleged of the Green Brigade at Saturday’s match at Hibernian, given Celtic officials were complicit in the widely-criticised security operation on the approach to the stadium which compromised the safety of our supporters. From erecting steel pens around the standing section which were later removed in interest of supporter safety, to actively encouraging pyrotechnic use at specific fixtures as means of protest at certain domestic kick off times, senior Celtic officials have repeatedly discredited their authority in this area. In the meantime, the club have instructed us not to liaise with the Supporter Liaison Officer, ironically against UEFA’s SLO guidance.
While fans remain unjustifiably banned, with hundreds hugely out of pocket for the upcoming trip to Madrid, and while the PLC board is shamefully positioned on the wrong side of history, we encourage all concerned to voice your displeasure to those within the
Club who are responsible for these decisions and sanctions:
Michael Nicholson, Chief Executive Officer – mnicholson@celticfc.co.uk
Chris McKay, Chief Finance Officer – cmckay@celticfc.co.uk
Chris Duffy, Company Secretary and Head of Legal – cduffy@celticfc.co.uk
Ronnie Hawthorn, Head of Safety, Security and Operations – rhawthorn@celticfc.co.uk
Finally, we are heartened by the overwhelming messages of support from other Celtic fans, fan groups and fan media as well as from people around the world who are following this story. While we may be absent from matches, we encourage all fans everywhere to fly the flag for Palestine.
Can the group come back from this? What is going to be the end game for the club and for the group?
