There are a number of claims on social media tonight that Celtic have withdrawn tickets issued to the Green Brigade for either the next three or four matches.
For Sunday’s match at Tynecastle against Hearts it will barely be noticed with an allocation of just 561 tickets but the decision will certainly impact the home match against Atletico Madrid next week- the fixture that has probably put the decision into focus.
This season’s UEFA matches have already brought a fine for the use of Pyro away to Feyenoord with a Disciplinary Charge pending for a banner unfurled at the home match against Lazio.
Two requests to supporters to bring Palestine flags to the Atletico match has probably pushed the ultra conservative Celtic board into a corner with widespread media coverage on all reactions to the war currently ongoing in the Gaza Strip.
In 2016 Celtic were fined by UEFA over the mass displaying of the Palestine flag for a Champions League qualifier against Hapoel Be’er Sheva. Fund raising from the Green Brigade paid off the fine with over £100,000 also donated to Palestine charities but that was a one off case.
The current events look like rolling on for some time, highlighting the divisions between the Celtic board and a large chunk of the support, a relationship that requires more than three fan forums a year and occasional references to the Celtic family.
If the rumours are true about the green brigade getting banned. The board have scored a massive own goal and will pay for it. This board doesn’t get us
— Scott Doc. (@sdocherty32) October 18, 2023
There has been numerous stand-offs and disputes between the club and the Green Brigade, the most recent being in 2021 when there were very credible rumours that the club was looking to appoint Bernard Higgins as their new Security Chief.
Michael Nicholson and the board took a vow of silence on the issue, as did the Green Brigade for 30 minutes in a home match against Livingston that finished goal-less.
With Ange Postecoglou’s side still finding their feet there was an eerie atmosphere to the first half which had throwbacks to the previous season when matches were played Behind Closed Doors.
Celtic drew that match, two points were dropped which could have turned out to be vital with the title only secured in the second last match of the season.
Going on previous form there is unlikely to be any comment from the Celtic board on any decision over tickets for the Green Brigade although social media is certain to be very lively on the issue.
Brendan Rodgers has been working hard to bring the fans back closer to the club, helped massively by a win at Ibrox but this one is an issue way beyond his remit with John Paul Taylor, the club’s Supporters Liaison Officer in for a very busy time dealing with the crossfire.
As many of said numerous times, the Celtic board are the same ones that put up the barriers to the stadium during the COVID season. Up the Green Brigade.
— Matt Rhein (@mattrhein86) October 18, 2023
Ban the board, not the Green Brigade.
— Marty Vanucci (@martydeila) October 18, 2023
