Liel Abada is on the brink of departing Celtic for a new chapter with Charlotte in the MLS, with a transfer fee of £10 million reportedly agreed upon.
This move comes amid pressure from his home country to leave the club, because of a section of the Celtic fans’ support of Palestine.
Reports from Israel last week brought to light claims of Abada being harassed by Celtic fans on the streets, an allegation that Celtic manager, Brendan Rodgers, addressed by emphasising his regular communication with Abada.
He said: “I’m not aware of that. I speak regularly with Liel. It’s sadly a situation which doesn’t put him in the right frame of mind to play.” [The National]
Adding to the false narrative, Avi Luzon, the president of Maccabi Petah Tikva, tried to bring up the personal toll on Abada due to the negative interactions with fans, claiming that such treatment left Abada with no other option but to seek a move away from the club. You just have to look at the players’ social media to see that there is no abuse from Celtic fans, but instead from Israeli accounts.
He claimed: “On a personal level, Abada felt very bad with everything that was happening, including the indignation of the fans on the street towards him – more than once. The fans treated him disgustingly and left him no choice.” [SunSport]
It’s crucial to remember the strong support Abada has received from Celtic fans, notably during the Glasgow Derby in December. Following his return from injury, amidst heightened tensions between Israel and Palestine, Abada was met with an overwhelmingly positive reception from the Celtic supporters.
“The fans treated him disgustingly and left him no choice.”
The Celtic fans when Liel Abada returned from injury in December: https://t.co/jGLTXMR2gf pic.twitter.com/tkd4YBpaMO
— Josh McCafferty (@Joshmcc_05) March 5, 2024
There are only one group of fans forcing Abada out of Celtic, and it’s not the one in the stands at Parkhead.
