GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 08: Celtic fans during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park, on January 08, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
As I said in the piece earlier today, Celtic now have an opportunity to end the Ibrox club’s season and set up a final-day title party against Hearts if we win our games before 10 May and if other results go our way.
It is a big ask of this Celtic team, but it is not impossible. With the path now clear in front of us, and with it being perfectly obvious what we have to do, this is the moment for everyone at Celtic Park to do everything they can to maximise our chances of victory.
Everyone knows where I’m going with this. The players will give their all. The manager will give his all. The fans will give their all. But what are the people running our club prepared to do to help us now? That is going to determine an awful lot about what conversation we’re having when this season ends.
The most vocal section of our fanbase is still locked out of the ground. This is not an argument now about the rights and wrongs of what the Green Brigade may have done in the past. At this point, it looks like a petty pissing match between a guy called Hargreaves and two members of the Green Brigade, and if anyone thinks that is worth jeopardising this league campaign over, then they are crazy.
I said months ago, when the story first broke that Hargreaves was the man standing between the club and a resolution of this issue, that to me it looked like the easiest choice in the world. A mere functionary, easily replaced, had allegedly given the club an ultimatum that it was him or them.
I didn’t see any decision to make in that equation. Who is he that he should make such a demand? Who is he that we should bow to it? What was going to happen if we called his bluff? Was he really going to walk out of his job? I don’t think so.
Yet we still didn’t do it.
If that is all that stands in the way here, then in truth nothing stands in the way here. It is time Celtic got together with the Green Brigade and told them, plainly, that they will be back for the run-in. This is only Tuesday. The game is not until Saturday. There is still an opportunity here for cool heads to prevail and for the common-sense solution to be put into effect, giving the team the best possible chance of getting over the line.
I do not know why we would jeopardise a league title and a potential jackpot worth tens of millions of pounds for the sake of one man’s ego. It seems to me a crazy way to go about things, and yet here we apparently are.
At this point, it would cost this board of directors nothing to do this. It would cost them nothing to bring the Green Brigade boys back home. We know, and we are not guessing here, that the Safety Advisory Group has not banned people from attending games. We know that Police Scotland cannot stop people from attending games short of those people having football banning orders.
This means the club is what stands in the way of a solution. These are people within Celtic who have taken the decision not to do this, and they will bear the full weight of the consequences if this season ends disastrously.
It seems to a lot of supporters that these people have hamstrung our efforts at every single opportunity.
Their failures in the transfer market, their failures to back Rodgers, their character assassination of the manager, which played no small part in his decision to walk out the door, all of it has been counterproductive and self-destructive to a staggering degree. This will rank among the worst decisions they could take, because it is the most obvious way left to them to maximise our chances.
Nobody believes they are keeping the Green Brigade out because of external pressure. No one believes it. The mood among Celtic supporters is clear. Even if we win the title, supporters will call these people to account for every decision they took that made it harder than it needed to be. They should not think the manager will bail them out, or that if we win the league all of this simply disappears. It does not.
Nor will the anger fade over the summer if the Green Brigade section remains closed.
There is no scenario where that does not drag all this season’s problems into the next campaign.
This matter has to be resolved in a way that brings us closer together as a club. It has to move us nearer to fixing some of the problems. It has to reconnect the club with the supporters. Fans must view the way the club treats them in a better light.
Right now they see it all through the lens of contempt.
A lot of us are going to judge them on the choice they make here.
It will not matter what the league table looks like.
This is their moment to do something positive. If they choose not to, then yes, we will hold it against them.
And if this costs us in the title race, then all hell ought to be paid.
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I’ve stated my position on the GB for weeks now, to ban your most vocal section of your support is madness. Yep I don’t like the pyros,I don’t like the pig watch rubbish, but these are also problems with other clubs Ultra fans in Scotland, and all over Europe. There is no way their clubs ban them.The only organisations who ban fans are the relevant Football Associations and that has never happened here in Scotland. Even when one Ultra group of fans habitually sing racist songs and shout sectarian chants. The SFA have never taken action.
For the Onion Bears to be in our stadium on the 10th of May, whilst our Ultra fans are collectively banned, will be another massive mistake by this Board, one of many this season.
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Absolute nonsense micmac. Real Madrid banned their far right ultras. They have practically eradicated them from the stadium and gave their area to more desirable people. Barca did similar.
You and James are asking for the GB back unconditionally. Do you have any idea of the possible dangers this could create?
You say you listened to the one sided interview of the GB spokesperson. One of the reasons they refuse to come back is because they don’t accept the security measures. The other reason is they wish to carry on their pigwatch campaign.
Imagine they got back with no police presence and somebody got seriously hurt or worse. There has already been celtic staff injured including woman during their goal celebrations. They don’t give a fuck about that.
I honestly dont think they give a fuck about Celtic. Its all about them. They terrorise the people of Glasgow alongside their cowardly onion counterparts on derby day.
Finally the GB are not banned ffs!!!
They refuse to return if they are not allowed to operate like they did at the Falkirk match. It would be gross negligence for Celtic to let them in in these circumstances.
Celtic are also culpable if they let any support from Ibrox in for the derby. Its a real recipe for disaster.
Does somebody have to die before you and like minded folk take the ultra issue seriously?
Get well soon.
Mojorism,you make it sound like a war zone, 5 charged with breach of the peace, get a grip you’re being a wee bit over dramatic.
“They’ve practically eradicted them from the stadium” isn;t a ban.
Real Madrid banned them years ago micmac, I thought I made that clear.
Totally different to this case where Celtic have told the GB for weeks if they promise to behave themselves they can get back in. At last the GB saw sense, with a bit of luck they will keep their side of the bargain, but be no surprise if they get kicked out again.
micmac you would be absolutely amazed at the type of behavior that gets watered down to a breach of the peace but generally there are no charges at all. What happened at Ibrox most will get off with it and the majority will be breach of the peace…that’s how it works.
The ultimatum from Hargreaves is “alleged.” Until it’s proved that he actually said this, then your comment about him is supposition. I have said before that Celtic survived before the GB and they will survive again if they cease to be. That’s not to say that they’re not missed, because they are. However, they are the authors of their own misfortune because they have got too big for their boots and think that they should receive special treatment, but they shouldn’t, because when all is said and done, they are only a group of Celtic fans. Don’t get me wrong, I very much admire their charitable work and their voiceverous support, but they have to realise that they should abide by the same rules as the majority of Celtic fans. As for the Board, I don’t know if what Hargreaves is alleged to have said is true, but even if it was, they should have said thanks for your input, but we’ll deal with this our way and then have a final discussion with the GB and try to thrash out a compromise. BUT there has to be give and take on both sides.
We absolutely fuckin NEED the Green Brigade back in for the final four games…
How many home games did we lose when they were there – Very fuckin few…
My only take with them is if they get Celtic fined by UEFA they should pay the said fines…
When you see how Cavenagh loves his most vocal supporters, the total opposite to Lucan it makes you pig fuckin sick…
Oops – I mentioned the word pig there !!!
Breaking News!!!!
The Green Brigade have finally agreed to abide by the rules and security measures of the stadium and will return for the next game.
TONIGHTS STATEMENT FROM CELTIC
The Club is pleased to confirm that a route has been found to lift the suspension of the Green Brigade with effect from Saturday’s game against St Mirren.
On March 27th, at a meeting of Glasgow City Council Safety Advisory Group, the Club again addressed the suspension on the Green Brigade. The SAG confirmed that it did not object to the suspension being lifted, subject to three conditions being satisfied.
These were that all applicable policies will be adhered to, including season ticket terms and conditions; agreement that members will comply with the safety and security operations; recognition that a match-by-match report will be submitted to the Safety Advisory Group, for as long as they deem it necessary.
We communicated this to the Green Brigade and asked for their unconditional acceptance. They have today responded positively by accepting these conditions, as outlined.
Celtic interim chairman, Brian Wilson, said: “I am pleased we have reached this point where suspensions can be lifted with the agreement of Glasgow City Council Safety Advisory Group on terms which apply to supporters throughout the stadium.
“On that basis, a full and united Celtic Park can get behind the team at this crucial point in the season.”
Thank Fuck they are back at the right time…
This might unite the club a wee bitty which is so so badly needed…
For whatever reason we’ve been hopeless without them…
Looks like they’ve conformed a bit…
Looks like the stewards and Police Scotland have conformed a bit as well…
Lucan and that ex cop as well…
This is fuckin good for Celtic…
The players have no excuse now for sure !
At last,common sense has broken out from both sides, Hallelujah! Celtic Park back to its best.
You can now think about buying your season ticket again micmac. A good decision from the GB to at long last agree to stick to the rules.
They knew if they didnt come on board soon there season tickets would be sold to other people. I doubt if the GB would back a ST boycott to be honest.
Yep Mojorism, makes it a bit easier, let’s hope there are changes to the structure of the club behind the scenes, especially in player recruitment.
Alot of people are saying the GB have to abide by the rules like everone else,but i think they are being policed to a different level,the problem seems to have kicked off at the falkirk game.for what i gather some fans left the section then tryed to back in passed the same stewards who let them out but then demanded a “routine ” ticket check,ive been going celtic park for over 50 years and ive never had a “routine” ticket check !
I’m guessing your entire section doesn’t behave like the GB Pat. They weren’t storming out of the section to buy a pie or use the facilities Pat. Im doubting if your section gets seriously overcrowded or is smuggling in flares and firecrackers either mate. Celtic staff have been injured in and around the GB section in more than one occasion. They seem to have finally accepted the conditions. That was all that has kept them out for so long. Hopefully they make an effort to behave themselves for the rest of the season.
I see our board are still blaming SAG for the ban. In the interest of fair treatment for all Celtic fans and healing rifts, we need transparency, the minutes of meetings with SAG should be published. If the Police or council are acting illegally it has to be acted upon. If the Police and council are in any way threatening our licence to operate when others in their jurisdiction are committing criminal acts, including trying to injure or kill people, and no action is taken we need to know why. The council chair SAG and have to ensure fairness, if they don’t then remember them at the ballot box.
SAG are there to keep people safe ffs, they are not mental football supporters taking sides. They advise football clubs where safety is an issue. The clubs have a duty to ensure the GB section is safe with no overcrowding, no fireworks and no intimidating people working in the stadium.
The GB would be the first to start greeting if any of them got injured or worse because of their section being unsafe.
If they screw the nut everything will be fine.