What we were told beforehand would be “concourse ticket checks” turned out to be wave after wave of densely staffed and policed human barriers preventing fans moving around the stadium.
Celtic’s policy of outright hostility towards the Green Brigade and lack of communication with Celtic fans in general cannot continue.
The actions of Police Scotland were a worrying throwback to the dark days of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act when the Green Brigade appeared to be permanently targeted in order to destroy the group.
There was nothing in particular to celebrate today but in some ways there was more passion about as the players and management were given a send off that none of them will have previously experienced.
The group were made aware that the Jock Stein would not be made available due to certain safety concerns relating to this specific area, but arrangements have been made by the Club to allow the group to attend within the Rail Seating Section.
Matt O’Riley spotted the run after Leon Balogun had been dragged out of position. Kyogo took one touch to create the slightest of openings then quickly curled a perfectly placed shot beyond the dive of Jack Butland.
A new set of stadium regulations are in place but there was nothing muted about the backing by the Green Brigade from the pre-match You’ll Never Walk Alone till the final blow of the whistle.
With Celtic saying nothing on the record it is difficult to know the exact reasons for the suspension but there are a number of media outlets happily quoting their ‘Celtic sources’.
Midway through the first-half the Bhoys, seated diagonally opposite the absent Green Brigade, walked out the stadium.
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.