Since the events that led to Celtic’s latest fine, for which UEFA issued a suspended away-fan ban, we’ve played two European matches.
Remarkably, there hasn’t been the slightest hint of flares or pyrotechnics at either. When the punishment was announced, most of us were resigned to the belief that some supporters would test the limits within those very games.
Instead, there’s been an unexpected display of restraint. Let me be clear: I’m not about to congratulate people for exercising basic common sense or respecting the club—they shouldn’t need applause for doing what’s right. That said, I’m pleasantly surprised by the absence of nonsense.
This issue was raised at yesterday’s AGM, where I felt the club’s response was evasive. Their claim that they’ve “tried” to investigate ticket allocation processes for away games seemed, frankly, unconvincing. The suggestion that they lack clarity about who belongs to groups like the Green Brigade doesn’t hold up. Many fans feel that the board hasn’t done enough, and I tend to agree.
That said, some commentary on this issue has been wildly overblown. The recent debate around the booing during the Remembrance silence and the chants referencing historical grievances against the British Army descended into hysteria. Rational discussion was in short supply.
One of the most absurd contributions came from former SPL CEO Roger Mitchell on Graham Spiers’ podcast. While most of what he said was complete drivel, one point did stick: no club can afford to allow even the perception that a section of its support can freely operate outside the boundaries of acceptable behaviour.
This is crucial. Any fans who believe they’re untouchable or above reproach are deluded. If they push the club too far, I have no doubt the board will step in, and there will be only one winner in that confrontation. The club has thus far tried to avoid an all-out battle, but frustration is growing among other supporters, fed up with all this, who feel their concerns are not being addressed.
Some fans have suggested that groups like the Green Brigade should foot the bill for any fines, or that the club should impose a “pyro tax” on tickets to hammer home the seriousness of the issue. These ideas come from the fanbase, not the board, but they highlight the anger and unease within the wider Celtic community.
Let’s not kid ourselves—this problem isn’t unique to Celtic. Across the city, the Union Brats have caused similar issues. Both sets of ultras are full of people who act self-entitled and do a lot of foot stamping. The difference is that Celtic’s board and its ultras have a somewhat workable relationship, and both sides have made efforts to maintain it.
I was glad to see restraint during our recent Champions League games. I hope this continues, but it’s clear that the behaviour of certain groups remains a divisive issue. The fallout from the Remembrance silence incident—while overblown by critics outside the club—illustrates a pattern of behaviour that alienates fellow supporters.
This cannot continue. If these actions lead to a European fan ban or further restrictions on ticket allocations here at home, a showdown between the board and these groups will be inevitable. The club represents 60,000 fans, not just a few hundred. The board will not jeopardize the goodwill of the wider fanbase to appease a minority.
The European game in midweek is another chance for them to show that they are onboard with the wishes of the club and that their behaviour is in line with the needs of their fellow fans.
Ultimately, those within these groups need to remember that Celtic is what provides the identity they form around—they don’t define Celtic.
If that hasn’t sunk in, it needs to.
When things at the club are going so well surely there’s enough sense about to avoid a senseless confrontation that will put a spanner in the works.
Totally agree James with the pyro. Was in hampden last year against rangers and one of the green brigade set one off in front of us.. set fire to an older ladies hair and burnt her jacket. Wee guy ran off not a care in the world. Ban them all.
For me as an “ordinary fan” who is not a member of the Green Brigade—and, when I consider their behaviours—it constantly stirs within me ambivalent feelings and cognitive dissonance. On the one hand I find the matchday atmosphere they generate and their charitable efforts etc. laudable. Yet, on the other hand I find their actions with flares and their disregard for the best interests of the club and other fans contemptible.
Overall I believe this tension to be healthy as long as it maintains balance and equilibrium. We have no option therefore but to trust the Board to manage that balance—to keep the Green Brigade (and the Board itself) in check so to speak.
Thus, as a group of ordinary fans, it is our responsibility to oversee both. and to voice our displeasure when the need arises. So yes, “Celtic’s naughty bhoys are testing their fellow fans, not just the club”. I give consideration to these matters but I don’t let it spoil the entertainment of my matchday experience. My musings I keep for later—along with a few beers. Win, Win! Just like the team.
Any fans group, at any football club, who feel it’s incumbent on them to release statements when they don’t get to do …checks notes… whatever the fk they want, need to have their wings regularly clipped.
For all the good stuff the GB do, and there is PLENTY of good stuff, they ruin it far too often with their deliberate breaches of the season ticket T&C’s and the law – Pyro is illegal – just cut it out or get banned sin die.
Next time there’s any pyro I’d issue notice to the section/seats which CLEARLY have pyro in them will be banned sin die upon any repeat. Last chance saloon.
Not often I disagree with you James but I do on this one.
Although i disagree i can certainly appreciate your – and anyone who holds the same – position on pyro but I think you do the GB an enormous disservice when you equate them with the bunion pears across the Rd – no matter how tenuous.
Its a common attack thrown at them that they think they’re untouchable or better fans than everyone else which is just not even remotely true.
They certainly will do their own thing from time to time if they believe it the right thing to and if it goes too far in the eyes of the board then they’ll get banned as they have done many times since 2006. They are willing to take that punishment.
However what’s deemed too far is subjective & our board have used it in a sinister fashion, such as banning them fir raising the Palestinian flag in the CL…
I’m sure they were universally praised by our support and the wider world of decent minded people when they defied our board & UEFA that night, just as they were with the Match The Fine For Palestine protest which garnered international acclaim.
They dare to speak up for those without a voice. They break those rules and I’m absolutely fine with that because those rules are a disgrace.
If you accept them breaking some rules though then you’ve already crossed the rubicon & pitched your tent on the south bank.
So for me I weigh it all up, do I think the perceived bad things they do like pyro & sing rebel songs are so appalling that it’s worth losing all the good things they bring such as political activism, food bank drives, play a major role in making Celtic Park second to none for big game atmosphere? Charity football tournaments for refugees, incredible work with Palestinian charities? Sing rebel songs…
No it’s not even close for me. The loss would be keenly felt, ive seen hundreds of fans moaning on twitter about how we created an atmosphere before 2006 we don’t need the GB blah blah blah….
Thing is, of course on European nights and huns games & the odd meaningful game in a season Celtic Park could make an incredible atmosphere but outwith those games it was a morgue pre 2006 and it certainly would be again.
I’d say probably half of all clubs in Europe have pyro at games. Probably far more. I remember absolutely loving watching Scotsport Extra Time on a Friday night with Jim Delahunt & at the end Ken McRobb would spend 5 minutes doing a European football round up, it was incredible, square nets looked amazing, they were still years off being introduced in Britain, amazing players from Germany, Italy, Spain etc and i remember being blown away that almost every goal was greeted with pyro, it looked like the stadium was on fire, we as kids all talked about how incredible it looked
My point is that was the early 90s. Its not going anywhere and it’s increasing amongst UK clubs. Us rank & file fans don’t have many ways to resist & rebel against modern football. Pyro is one. You give up your season ticket in protest for one year, bang, its gone. You’re never seeing that again & the board don’t miss a beat
I used to stand in the Jungle as a young teenager, those guys, smoked fags, joints, drank anything & everything chucked emptys across heads, pissed where they stood and nobody complained. You knew if you went there thats what was gonna happen.
I’ve actually seen former denizens of the back a the jungle bitching about the GB behaviour. It genuinely takes a neck of brass to do that…
In fact most of the complaints come from that generation that got booze banned at all Scottish stadiums, took CS Gas cannisters to matches, regularly caused riots, got us chucked out Europe for bottle throwing, racially abused black players….I could go on and on.
I’m obviously not equating you with those people mate. It just pisses me off when that generation of fans in particular pontificate about the GB who are in the main an absolute credit – not just to the club but to humanity & common decency….
They lads get treated appallingly at times from our board, from police Scotland, they’re kettled for simply attending peaceful protests whilst Orange bastards get to march freely singing about Killing fenians and desecration Catholic chapels…
But they don’t let it deter them, they still make the tifos, fly the flag of the oppressed, make the political statements that will make them hated and vilified on TV, that will increase the number of their doors getting booted in by cops at 6am, having their employers notified of perceived indiscretions (protesting legally) resulting often in these guys and girls losing their jobs.
They ask for absolutely nothing in return from the celtic support, other than to hold up a bit of foil every so often to participate in another stunning full stadium tifo – which the club will monetise into merchandise and make a helluva lot more in profit from than they pay out in fines.
Nothing stops these supporters, to say I admire their indefatigability would be an understatement.
It just pisses me off when i see how they ate treated and regarded by Scotland as a whole, it absolutely guts me when I see it from our own fans.? I regularly engage fans in defence of the GB on twitter, I simply can’t let some tweets pass without
Wading in.
They think they’re better fans than everyone else, so entitled…is one in particular that riles me, I have to respond asking them to provide any evidence to back that claim up. The GB have repeatedly had to state the opposite in public communications which is ridiculous…
The hours and dedication they put into banners, tifos, charity work etc is fucking incredible but they don’t believe that makes them better fans. Maybe those accusing them of that do so because they subconsciously believe it themselves.
I have absolutely no qualms in saying anybody who puts the effort and blood sweat and tears into everything the GB do to support Celtic and build the atmosphere – as well as spend the amount of dough they do on every game is undoubtedly a better supporter than me? but you’ll never hear a GB member say it
Jesus, that reply really escalated ??
Haha bother that was some post 🙂 Keep them coming mate!
You should be a motivational speaker, Starryplough. You built right up to a crescendo and had me lifted by a new perspective at end. What a pitch. I love it man.