Those involved apparently wore balaclavas despite no evidence being offered. And that allowed O’Neill to compare them with the thugs on the pitch at Ibrox in March that launched a firework into the Broomloan Road full of Celtic supporters.
That statement has revived the Celtic support. Given the Collective fresh fuel. The Collective is a rallying point for supporter anger.
All of the failings we pointed out last season have now been repeated and no excuse is going to wash this time around.
It all started before the season even kicked off when the club imposed a three match suspended ban on the Green Brigade while they were preparing tifo tributes to John Clark and John Fallon.
All of the fake reasons that have been trotted out for the ban reek of the same thing – an attempt to stifle and stop the ultras from criticising the club and their treatment from Police Scotland.
“The safety certificate holder is ultimately responsible for spectator safety within their stadium.”
There is an unusually specific quote from Celtic’s interim chairman Brian Wilson when he spoke to Celtic TV recently to explain the ongoing ban on the Green Brigade.
It’s a matter for the SAG (Safety Advisory Group) and we cannot override the advice that they have given
The ban on the ultras…
It appears that four fans have been charged with Breach of the Peace with 250 Season Tickets suspended by Celtic. Some of those suspended didn’t attend the Falkirk match.
Instead of hitting the board squarely in their weakest spot – their EGOs – on the big UEFA stage, knockout tie with the world watching, they picked a low-stakes game. Why? Because they were scared. That thread alone exposes the weakness, the lack of guts.
But at a recent meeting with Glasgow City Council’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG), Police Scotland objected to the ultras returning and that position was subsequently adopted by the SAG.