Celtic have suspended the season tickets of members of the Green Brigade fans’ group.
Emails from Celtic to season ticket holders who are registered members of the organisation, as well as those who sit in the Rail Seating Section at Celtic Park, said there were “serious issues” with the group’s behaviour at their last two matches.
The suspension, the club said in its email, comes after a “review of unacceptable conduct concerning the (Green Brigade) group”.
The email also said the club are continuing to investigate the presence of “banners and flags used by the Green Brigade which relate to or are connected with terrorist organisations involved in the conflict in the Middle East”.
Celtic, though, say the suspension is not to do with the waving of Palestine flags.
Members of the Green Brigade were among those who defied Celtic’s wishes, and those of UEFA, by bringing in Palestine flags to their home game against Atletico Madrid on October 25.
Ahead of that game, Celtic released a statement asking that “banners, flags and symbols relating to the conflict and those countries involved in it are not displayed at Celtic Park at this time”.
Palestinian flags have regularly been waved or displayed at Celtic matches over the years. Following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, the Green Brigade held a pro-Palestine banner up at Celtic Park, an action which drew criticism.
The Green Brigade also encouraged Celtic fans to defy the club and “courageously fly the flag for Palestine” before the Atletico match.
During that game, the flag of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) — a group recognised as a terrorist organisation by the U.S. and the EU but not the UK — was seen at Celtic Park. The Campaign Against Antisemitism said the presence of the PFLP flag was “an utter disgrace” and called on Celtic to take action.
In their email, Celtic cited instances of other behaviour at matches which led to the suspension. These included the use of pyrotechnics during their match at Feyenoord in September, illegally gaining access to Celtic Park ahead of their game against Lazio to display an unauthorised banner in October, “violent and abusive” actions towards stewards at Hibernian’s stadium and the use of an unauthorised banner at the Atletico fixture.
Celtic say the suspension applies to approximately 250 fans, with the email sent out to around 3,000.
A Celtic spokesperson said: “To avoid any misunderstanding, the progressive steps taken by the club over a period of time are as a result of an increasingly serious escalation in unacceptable behaviours and non-compliance with applicable regulations, at matches at Celtic Park and away grounds over a period of time, which are creating serious safety concerns and other issues.”
GO DEEPER
Explained: Celtic fans and their support for Palestinians
(Photo: Rob Casey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
