Glasgow Celtic have banned their Green Brigade fans’ group from attending home matches, reports The Guardian.
Thousands of supporters around Celtic Park had defied the club’s appeal by displaying Palestine flags last Wednesday.
The club claims it is the final straw after a number of unruly actions by that section of the support.
TalkSPORT
The debate raged on Simon Jordan and Jim White’s talkSPORT show and Jamie, who claimed to be a member of the Green Brigade, was invited on to discuss it.
He said, in reaction to the ban: “We were collectively raging. This is classic from this board. This board, from the get go, have been nothing short of a disgrace. They know what our political views are. The Palestinians have had the same struggle as our ancestors, they’ve just been cast aside.”
Presenter White then questioned him over a number of allegations. He asked: “Illegal access to Celtic Park in the game against Lazio. Is that true?”
Jamie responded: “No. Where is the evidence for that?” He then admitted flares had been thrown on the pitch against Feyenoord but then bluntly denied any ‘unsafe behaviour’ at Easter Road with a simple “No.”
Jordan went on later: “But if you have that list of charges in isolation, why would anybody in the Green Brigade, why would anyone think they have an entitlement to behave in that fashion? Why would they think they can abuse members of staff at football grounds?
“They will have another side of this argument refuting and denying this and saying the real reasons why Celtic management have decided this is the time now is because of the support towards the Palestinian cause.
“They’ll say we’re entitled to our views. You are entitled to your views but not potentially entitled to your views inside a football stadium if said football club says we don’t want these demonstrations.”
Green Brigade
Alan MacLeod wrote: “After their show of solidarity with Palestine Celtic Football Club has announced it is suspending the season tickets of up to 1000 fans, effectively banning them from matches. Members of the “Green Brigade” report receiving this message.”
Reactions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Related: Private Eye Gaza/Israel front page sparks fierce debate