I wasn’t surprised when I received an email from the media folk at UEFA yesterday telling me that Celtic were in trouble over the banners at the Linfield match at Parkhead.
It led me to this link on their website.
Here is the UEFA statement in full:
Thursday 20 July 2017 16.21CET
Disciplinary proceedings have been opened following the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round second leg match between Celtic FC and Linfield FC (4-0), played on 19 July in Scotland.
Charges against Celtic FC:
- Illicit banner – Art. 16 (2) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations
- Kit infringement – Art. 62 (3) of UEFA Kit Regulations
- Stairways blocked – Art. 38 of UEFA Safety & Security Regulations
This case will be dealt with by the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body on 28 July 2017.
I have no idea if this would have come as a surprise to the chaps who made and displayed the banners.
When I think of their thought processes and the likely consequences for Celtic I am left with only two conclusions:
- The banner chaps DIDN’T see this disciplinary case coming when they displayed the banners.
- They DID this see this coming, but they didn’t care what sanction would be imposed on the club.
If it is (1) then Celtic Football Club has a serious Problem
However, if it is (2) then Celtic Football Club has an even more serious problem.
The supporters of the banner fraternity will scoff at the concerns of the “PLC Board”.
In doing so those folk are perilously close to the club/company dichotomy that they rightly sneer at when it is stated by a customer of Sevco.
There was a clear political case to be made for banners per se in the days of Section 31.
Thankfully, today Sinn Féin political representatives have free access to the media both sides of the Border.
Yes, there are still some in the Dublin media village who live in the Section 31 mindset, but their time is passing.
Apart from inflicting a punishment on the club which they claim to support there didn’t seem to be any serious Republican message to these banners.
The utility function seemed to be to taunt the Linfield fans by conflating Brendan Rodgers with the imagery of Republican propaganda.
I do not know what the Celtic manager thinks of the current political arrangements on this island.
Moreover, it is none of my business.
He is the Celtic manager he isn’t my TD.
For the avoidance of doubt, I have no issues with propagating an Irish Republican message.
However, in 2017 a UEFA match against Linfield wasn’t the time or the place.
What the display DID achieve was to ring the dinner gong for staunch stenographers to take a kick at the club they have a visceral hatred of.
The same chaps are, of course, complicity silent when the klan are in full voice every week at Sevco matches.
Today is the 20th anniversary of the IRA cessation in 1997.
This island is at peace because, in part, various senior participants in the conflict acted with good authority at a crucial juncture.
I was at that well-known Republican haunt in Donegal this morning, Argos in Letterkenny…
Going about my lawful business I bumped into an old buddy.
He lost a fair chunk of his youth in British prisons.
Mrs Thatcher would have called him a terrorist.
I wouldn’t.
He is also a faithful follower of the Parkhead side and I asked him if he had seen the banners in question.
Unimpressed was the best way to characterise his response.
I keep coming back to the utility function of those banners.
By my reckoning, they served no serious political purpose.
They were not breaking any state censorship on the elected representatives of the Republican Movement here in Ireland.
Moreover, they were not respectfully remembering the sacrifice of the Volunteers or the suffering of the wider nationalist population in the Six Counties.
With those explanations off the table then I’m not left with anything that is worthwhile or defendable.
What isn’t in doubt is that the folk who displayed the banner will not pay any price to UEFA for their actions.
This seems to be a very strange way to support a football club.
Then I again, I don’t get this stuff, as I’m not an “ultra”.
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Grinch, just to be pedantic, the 900 you mention is only 1.5% of capacity. I acknowledge that there are far more paying customers that the GB do not represent, but I think it looks a bit better to say that there are 98.5% who want to go see and support Celtic without all this political nonsense.
Club allow guys into the ground with huge holdalls carrying the banners. Not difficult to stop so Celtic FC carry as much if not more of the blame than the fans carrying them in.
It’s not rocket science, open the bags and read the messages then decide if they are allowed in or not.
The Worthington Group liquidators are called Begbies Traynor!
Begbies Traynor!
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/15428411.Rangers_saga_in_new_twist_as__oldcos__stalk_the_club/?ref=mrb&lp=2
They’re making this up, right?!
(Link attached solely for reference purposes, to verify the madness of this thing.)
‘In another astonishing turn in the Rangers financial saga both the old company which owned the club and the new one in control are likely to face multi-million pound claims on their assets.’
Aside from the peddling of the ‘different company’ lie, above, there’s an interesting penultimate paragraph on Aiden Early being given special dispensation to continue at Sevco despite a 5 year ban.
Incredible!
Whoever unravels this ball of densely packed wool will be vying for your position as Journalist of the Century, Phil.
Great article Phil… I hope this matter can be resolved and quickly because this has been going on 5 days now yet in 2 days time Celtic have a big game but on pages and blogs etc you wouldn’t think it!
Support Celtic, support the GB, support both but can people stop trying to take the moral highground if you don’t agree with either. I’ve seen a nasty side to some who I previously thought to be decent people who instead are choosing to abuse other supporters using vile language just because they don’t agree.. to me that’s sad.. There’s not one of us bigger than the Club and I hope that everyone will be united in cheering on the team v Rosenberg. The opposition will know there’s unrest amongst our support. Those across the Clyde are having a field day with it along with the media.. Let’s shut them up by doing our talking on the pitch.. Let’s shut them up by getting behind the Bhoys and the Manager. #COYBIG ??????
Very good responsible opinion. I agree with you.
The Green Brigade morons have done it to us again and brought us back to the levels of the great unwashed south of the city. Poor, poor judgement again. They ARE not Celtic – take your 20th century political views elsewhere please … now. Pep
The banners were wrong and no getting away from it. No amount of provacation was ever going to make them justified.
Brendan clearly states he is Northern Irish. I can’t find anything to suggest he is a republican, nor do I care. I’m fine with that. I can live with that. The provos fought just as hard to bring about peace as they did bringing the fight to the British state. The struggle in the north was (imo) a necessity at the time. Glorifying violence after the struggle is vicious and inhumane. The vast majority of Irish want peace and hopefully in due course, a united Ireland.
I like the GB, I’ve enjoyed most of their singing/displays over the last 10 years or so, especially with a half empty stadium (not now given the part-timers are back). Their statement is misguided though. Two wrongs don’t make a right. The club has made great strides over the years to combat the old prejudices against Celtic. Might not have done it in a particularly revolutionary manner and indeed it is still clear that Rangers/Sevco are treated quite differently by the football officials/msm. The board need to do more work here. having said that, I don’t happen to think you can seperate politics from anything tbh. I was proud of the stance the GB took on the Palestinian flags. But then I think humanity comes before football. Our club officials have taken a political stance in the past what with the tricolour situation in the 50’s and the refusal to play in the Soviet Union in 1968…But on this occasion the GB seem to be out of step even with their own sense of justice, peace and inclusivity. Protestants/Unionists/Loyalists are part of Ireland. They’re not going away. I want them to be part of Ireland but they are British. Displaying military banners threatens these people every bit as much as the famine song does the Irish in Britain. GB got it wrong this time but I’ll still be glad to see them back, hopefully with better leadership.
The banner was imbecilic but ironic that UEFA can bring charges within hours of the final whistle for one offending banner in a 60,000 crowd but do nothing regarding Supreme Court judgement on ten years of match fixing every game.
UEFA is an amateurish ‘Allo, ‘Allo farce of an organisation.
Liquidation means Liquidation.
Was no need to drag Brendan into a political banner and they knew the consequences of the other one but did it anyway. I keep hearing “Fuck EUFA” but I’m sorry without the £30 million we can’t pay for the players that gave us so much to cheer last season. And don’t think getting banned from Europe is not a possibility. Linfield are a tiny dot on the map that nobody’s heard of in world football. To anoy a few bigots with no brain we risk our good name? We all, I’m sure, want to see us dominate Scottish football for the foreseeable future and make an impact in Europe, we can only do that by being smart and acting like the massive club that we are. We are all ambassadors for our great club, the club must come first. Always.
For years myself and my family and frien his family sat in that section( not members) we have witnessed many unsavoury incidents( when they are good they are brilliant) but now we sit away from them .on one of the many occasions they were rushing the stewards to stop them removing one of the well behaved chaps as we turned round to see what was going on a member of my family got her 450 pound glasses Brocken and two black eyes from one of there missiles aimed at stewards.that was only one of many incidents we witnessed .in the early days as we witnessed this two faced monster grow we had our concerns that Celtic were not doing enough to control it.the guy who has a major roll in them would come along before kick off take funds give instructions then go away to his seat,return later to video and take photos treated like the hero( to all these young men he was manipulating) it was funny when trouble would break out he would scurry away like a rat leaving a sinking ship Celtic have allowed this monster to grow and not keep it in check.now watching them from afar when they are good it’s brilliant but after seeing them grow you just know an oops moment isn’t far away.
To make a point, humour and a thoughtful response will always undo the moron who is gobbing off at you. They are then left to challenge you on ground they are uncomfortable on, or just continue to show how moronic they really are with any response they give. These banners show no wit or brains and bring us challenging them on their ground. A big own goal in my book.
Phil
First time post, I fail to see how Celtic security were not aware of the banner? I believe the GB have early access and also a designated store in the North stand for drums etc.
Non GB attendees are lucky if they can get a brolly past security never mind the police! So my question is why was the banner not checked, there appears to be an established relationship between club/security and the GB (ie the store and allowing early access etc) and a 15ft by 20ft banner doesn’t just roll up under your arm!
I believe the club are as equally to blame as the GB in this instance and the new rule for the GB is all banners are pre approved, if there are pyrotechnics set off the in stadium CCTV is high tech enough to identify seat positions, again a simple new rule the persons name on the season book for the seat is banned for life.
On a final note, any fine arising from the authorities for the banner should be levied on the GB and if they don’t cough up don’t let them in! Harsh but the fine is likely to be significant and would be far better off going towards our various youth team initiatives.
Regards
Mike
Hi Phil
The green brigade appear to be touching on another issue which was brought to my attention by an uncle of mine from loughanure before he died.He warned me that the irish in Glasgow is diluting and it suits celtic fc and certain pub owners to be irish when it suits.I agree with safety regulations and supporting the club I the right manner but do you agree it’s not fair on the green brigade that the club move the goalposts to suit themselves at times especially when cry have made a few quid out of the irish nation in General?.
Are the green brigade aliens? Sent in like the wooden horse of Troy to tarnish and destroy the good name of Celtic without the bloodshed. Or are they a group of idiots who would give arseholes a bad name? What a senseless and reckless thing to do, especially after the first game against Linfield at Windsor Park. They could have shown better behaviour which would have enhanced the global reputation of a great team like Celtic.
No more Ultras.
Why not give the standing area to the jungle bhoys who may be 50, 60 or 70 but we know how to support our team.
Lets forget the numpties and get on with backing the bhoys.
Peter go for it!
From the Green Brigade statement 22 July 17:
“We can assure all that we will be back in Celtic Park soon enough and that we will never allow our style or our politics to ever be diluted.”
So there it is. The GB is all about politics and Celtic Park is the vehicle used to deliver their message. They will continue in their actions regardless of the harm it does to Celtic.
Anne, I completely agree with you. As an Arab it doesn’t mean I don’t have feelings towards my ” second” team or that I have forgotten my roots. If you haven’t read it, I suggest you and all this sites readers head towards the Clumpany as he has just written his best ever piece. Clumps, you may disagree but today’s was for me your best.
After the statement issued by this group, I would like to think Celtic will now realise they cannot win against such a self – interested bunch of arse holes and take appropriate action.
You cannot reason with that mentality.
Best to send them to Syria and Iraq.
See how they like being in uniform instead of sitting in living rooms drawing images of it.
The 61,100 of us are getting nowhere with the 900 numpties. Ban them indefinitely.
You want to kill the Green Brigade?!
By sending them to Syria & Iraq?!?!
Looks like Jabba’s put more than a flea in your ear and I don’t think you’ve thought this fully through.
I’ve never seen so many Celtic fans so rabid against our own support in my life, no even in the auld Jungle days when you really had to be quick on yer feet.
I can’t believe what I’m reading on the blogs these last few days.
For those who don’t know, this is the media message working on you all, ‘The Evil Green Brigade Bad Bhoys!’ on a saturated loop right into the bullseye in the middle of your reactionary ‘lizard brain’, located in the amygdala region at the back, where you don’t know what it’s up to.
You all need to get a fuckin grip and get yer focus back on righting the wrongs done by the reptiles and toads that are still cheating our game every minute we spend here arguing.
Think it’s an accident that they have their daft ‘review’ bullshit in the same week Celtic fans are acting like this ..?
Think again.
They’re winding you all up like Duracell bunnies and you’re all swallowing it whole then regurgitating it back out in war hungry madness like this.
Unbelievable.
I never thought Celtic fans could be this gullible in my life.
The GB have been great over the years … but the section equating 900 people circa 15% of stadium capacity don’t represent the other 85% of paying folks that go to Celtic Park. Phil let’s break the numbers down a little further of the 900,there are potentially 50 that are active, strategic and sway the rest with their intellect (they also have access to about 10 guys who are excellent with art packages on a MAC .Of the integral strategists of the GB (they would be easily to identify and weed out) I’m only writing this because I’m seeing a statement release which is being banded around in the usual deposits where supposed sports Journalists congregate (trust me they are laughing up their cuff at us and our stupidity) Phil let’s do a number crunch again on the section who coined the phrase “Glasgow’s Green and White” there will not be many with post codes which you are referring to…. If the GB want to push their political view find a right good pub or why not be entrepreneurial about the whole thing … buy one! The other 85% want to watch Glasgow Celtic represent Scotland in the champions league ! Please GB don’t get us all locked out (which has an air of inevitability if we keep it up ) Hard working paying folks will now miss a vital European tie and the unfurling of an “invincibles” champions flag. The GB must remember they aren’t “Invincibles” in fact they are now “Invisibles” and trust me that isn’t a good thing!
900 is 1.5% of the Stadium. Its even less than you think.,,
1.5%
Just a point, if the section is 900 people then its only 1.5% and not 15% of the capacity, so 98.5% of the fans are being dictated to be a tiny minority !
The flares display At the game v hertz,and last week I hold my hands up and say I loved both,the display AND I also belted out the Rebs with gusto (along actually with the majority of fans) they were of the time.But this is where my problem lies.The GB in my opinion,do far more good than bad,but they need to be a bit more savvy, last week was the perfect chance for them to put banners up in defence of Scott Sinclair,that would have earned them 100% approval,but the I’ll judged banners only served to give the haters ammunition
A big European night with a full house would’ve been the perfect opportunity to push the strip the titles agenda and mock and shame Doncaster & Regan. Instead the GB missed an open goal and lost the moral high ground. It’s also cost your club financially and caused reputational damage. The leading GB lads are clearly bright and well organized, they do however need to think about their displays a little harder. The Linfield display was obviously going to get Celtic in trouble so why do it, especially when there were much more relevant targets for their endeavors.
This term “haters” has become meaningless.
When I posted previously on this thread I had not actually seen the BR banner in its entirety ,now that I have ,im hard pressed to sympathise with the GB as this was an act of gross irresponsibility . Dangerous ,utterly disrespectful ,and an arrogant contempt or total lack of understanding of the possible implications and repercussions. Even if the latter , its completely unacceptable. At the very least they owe the man a sincere public apology. Fkn very pissed off with them.
I have asthma and the flares/smoke bombs at the Hearts gam last season was an idiotic, childish thing. None of them gave any thought to people who might have medical issues. The GB think they are “special” fans of our club. I have news for them. We are all special in the Celtic family.
While they do bring a special atmosphere to games, I would happily see them banned for ever if their moronic behaviour was threatening the club I have followed for 60 odd years. Where do these individuals get the idea they represent my club?
Check your season ticket boys, you’ll find that Celtic have every right to ban your ass for the purile behaviour you indulge in. Politics has nothing to do with Celtic Football Club. If you want to protest, please do so. I will defend your right to do that. But do it outside the ground.
Stop hurting the club with your moronic behaviour. It’s not big and it’s not funny,
Don’t remember you condemning the Bobby sands banner back in 2013 Phil
Don’t think you would have condemned this one either if it wasn’t just a nameless paramilitary
Brendan Rodgers was in one of those banners.
Disrespectful is the least of it.
Kenny,
One display was in commemoration, this was to incite a loyalist team supporters, and has embarrassed the club as a consequence
I have no interest or opinion on the Irish Republican movement and any political affiliations of my fellow supporters. I go, with my children, to Celtic Park to support the team, enjoy the highs and curse the lows! The Green Brigade do provide a fantastic atmosphere in the ground…but now it seems the tail wants to wag the dog and they determined to put forward their own agenda rather than the good of the club. They need to reign it in and realise they are just supporters like all of us…Celtic comes first…I remember many a phenomenal atmosphere inside Parkhead long before the Green Brigade and there will still be long after they are forgotten.
I have read many comments denouncing the GB banners/flares with a ..but but…they bring so much..its as if the ‘ordinary’ celtic supporters are in fear to offend them…tell it how it is…they were bang out of order and celtic park will still be bouncing for the big games with or without them..
If not Wednesday then when?
There are plenty of alternatives to the rebel songs and “paramilitary” banners. If the GB want to entertain us vocally, there are enough songs in our vast repertoire without lyrically visiting the Boys of the Ould Brigade, Sean South, etc. As for banners – given the conclusions of both the Craig Whyte trial, and the conclusion of the Big Tax Case, I’d have thought a banner or tifo display stating something along the lines of STRIP THE TITLES would be more appropriate. It may be an “uneasy peace” in Ireland, but it is a peace nonetheless. If the folks of Norn Iron are trying to live together peaceably, I’m sure they don’t need these sorts of reminders being thrust upon them.
Phil, I always read your articles, but have never before felt the need to reply.
In my opinion your article is spot on, the actions by the GB on Wednesday holding up the banner with the paramilitary image got the reaction and response they hoped to create. It incensed the Linfield fans, got the Celtic support singing and enraged UEFA and the SMSM
I know most of the GB are young guys and, as a Celtic supporter for all of my 58 years, they’ll think I’m one of the Da’s, but this is nothing new. We should have moved on from all the Irish political stuff from the troubles at CP years ago, most people in Ireland have.
We continually highlight and complain about the failings of the Ibrox support and OO to move into the 21st Century and not to live in the past, yet here we are doing something similar. We need to look at ourselves, not go to they’re level.
Everyone who saw the banner on Wednesday knew the intended meaning of the image and I personally was amazed and disappointed at the number of Celtic supporters who joined in in the rebel songs. I know them all and have sung them in my time, but in my opinion CP is not the place to sing them. We promote ourselves as a club that is inclusive to all yet continue to sing songs that may offend or embarrass members of our own support. We have loads of songs about Celtic that can lift the crowd and push the team on let’s stick to them.
While I love the atmosphere the GB bring to the games and they’re displays they aren’t the entire Celtic support, just part of the family.
Let’s hope the current situation can be resolved and no further damage is in the future.
As Celtic fans we should hold the moral high ground. The bannermen should do one, and leave the rest of us to celebrate the great achievements of a great team built on the universal values of football. While I might support the Palestinian cause, I also support the state of Israel, and would like to see a way to bring peace to the post-colonial catastrophe that is the Middle East today. How I would further that argument by taking a banner along to Celtic Park is beyond me. I deeply condemn racism and conduct which inflames racist sentiment, but cannot see how taunting an opponent in terms other than their footballing inadequacies in the context of the game would take me one step closer to an open and free society. I dearly love Celtic FC, but cannot see how drinking myself incapable before going to a game where I then proceed to foulmouth my own team while ranting on the terraces will help increase its support by a single person. I would love to see as many people of as many different creeds and cultures as there are under the sun thronging the terraces at Parkhead. Celticism is fundamentally inclusive and egalitarian… let’s celebrate that and keep the party atmosphere going. Leave the banners furled.
Couldn’t agree more with this article. ??☘️
Ach go on, sure, give it a go, everyone loves a trier 🙂
Was at the game and as soon as I saw the banner said to my mate ” that’s us in trouble with the UEFA mob again ”
I do have a question for the Celtic board however. Why were stewards not told to remove the offending banner?
It was easily accessible and at least at half time it could have been removed.
I am proud to support Celtic and proud to support the Republican movement but the banner was a piece of stupidity that was bound to have consequences for the Club.
Perhaps we are dealing with individuals who don’t care about the consequences and are happy to see ever more serious sanctions imposed on Celtic in order to satisfy their own desire for publicity.
If it is publicity they want then let them come out and show themselves that way they can read out their Mission Statement and their beliefs . Although they claim to be around 900 I bet you most of the membership do not attend any meetings. There will be a core who make the decisions which cause all the trouble and I would be amazed if that was more than 10 who will tell the others what to do and get them to assemble these banners . Once they are in situ they will unfurled and most will just join in. I get the impression that they see themselves as the only true supporters. These political banners have no place at Parkhead in my opinion and if they think they are putting across a message of any significance I have to say it falls way short and fails badly.
The GB either badly underestimate the rest of the Celtic support or they are spoiling for a fight with anyone and everyone. I saw a hashtag on Twitter this morning, #justiceforthe900. I confess to spluttering my coffee while laughing. I thought, “what about the rest of the support son”? I really hope this gets sorted however, I don’t think there’s a quick fix.
Well said Phil!
The Green Brigade are a great asset to the club but this was a pointless mistake. It achieved nothing.
From a Belfast Tim.
In fairness Mark, we don’t know what it’s “achieved” yet.
I have no problem with Ireland’s fight for Independence. I do however have an issue with leaving bombs to injure innocent people ( on both sides ). I also have a strong dislike of anything related to the Irish Independence movement being flagrantly displayed at Scottish football grounds. ( for the avoidance of doubt, I hold the same views with regard to battles from centuries ago by guys on white horses ).
Bombing innocents and displaying banners at football grounds in no way to promote any cause., and should anyone think to do so for Scottish Independence I would no longer support the movement.
Have to agree here with Phil. Why bother with banners that will get the club into trouble that have no purpose other than to wind up the linfield fans? This isn’t a Palestinian flags political point here, it’s just a wind up.
The reality is that waving the Irish tricolour has exactly the same effect on those target fans without the hassle and possible sanctions of the banners.
Phil…Where has my post gone ? Made my first post re banner. Can’t see it here? Did it break the house rules? Can’t see why it would? Can you post it again?
Good article Phil. I need to say as a young(ish) Celtic fan – I love the green brigade but don’t see the need for the political expressions. I’m not sure if we can experience the GB without them but know Celtic won’t and can’t allow it. Let’s hope they don’t spit the dummy as it must have been made clear: no banners/dodgy banners. As for the banners not being offensive, of course they aren’t to me but others will contest. It again depends on your political leaning but we all know that UEFA won’t allow it. ‘Insanity is defined as repeating the same experiment over and over again expecting different results’
Any chance that the superstars of the GB are actually agents provocateurs?
I attended the game on Wednesday and, anticipating a downpour at the end, took along a brolly in a plastic carrier bag. Three times my bag was examined by stewards before I passed through the turnstiles. So how come the brave guys who carry flares and offensive banners can take them into the ground? The “radical” displays are crass and cack . The fireworks are dangerous. I suspect a provocation but am realistic enough to know that there are many arseholes in the Celtic support.
Right on, Cortes! How in Hell are these banners and effigies being smuggled into the Ground- Are they carried-in in pieces and then assembled on the terracing. Are the stewards in collusion? God help me if I try to get past Security with a plastic bottle of water at a sporting event here in Canada.
From the comments here and elsewhere we see an element of the Celtic support are creating division rather than being focused on celebrating our achievements on the football pitch and supporting the manager and players without any other agenda.
We have a well run club and all sections of the support need to recognise this while still holding them to account in a responsible way.
I don’t have an issue with displays of poltical allegiances at Parhead. Its part of life and appears to be tolerated in Scotland at other grounds.
UEFA do have an issue but then again the really hate blocked stairways too. To such an extent that there is hardly a club who don’t get fined for such infringements.
Its a big money maker for the corrupt UEFA.
What is the problem?
Moving up in the world with charlie and monti.
What’s this, a tag team of trolls ..?
I’m not in the GB but I sit close to them, as a season ticket holder, was at linfield home game and at least 80% of the stadium revelled in the merry ploughboy and bhoys of the old brigade so let’s not be hypocrites here. I was one of the 80% and for me it was to be expected. After the away leg in Belfast which their supporters behaved like fucking animals can you really blame some of our more boisterous support. The media slant put on this is abhorrent, both games should be judged as a whole, as for uefa they can fuck right off, this tie should never have happened. And let’s really CLEAR, NO ONE BANNER MENTIONS THE IRA, ITS MEDIA SPIN
100% agree. As Phil says, and as you say as well…the media is silent went it comes to loyalist supporting clubs and take great pleasure when anything like this happens at our club. I’m seeing this though as another example of our club acting professionally which shows up again the Sevco board and their fans for what THEY are.
How incredibly indulgent of you, ‘keni’.
I recently commented on another site that I was concerned there would be efforts made from certain quarters to ban Celtic from European competition; the vitriol coming from these various sources right now is evidence that this is the case and won’t stop unless we take action ourselves.
The board are correct to have acted so swiftly although I am surprised at the speed and strength of their statement given that they have been somewhat remiss to show such overt courage to support the fans re Res12, strip the titles etc. and condemn the sectarian and racist behaviour from others particularly that shown to their own player Scott Sinclair; were I in his shoes I might feel a little let down by the club as was NL after the incident at Tynecastle.
My personal belief is that BR has made a ‘comment’ to the board at least along the lines of being concerned to be thought of as in any way aligned to the message portrayed by the recent banners: ‘They go or I go’
Some might see the banners as being maybe just a bit of excessive banter but when they appear to make a personal statement about someone else (albeit without intent) then that can become a concern for not only the individual but also his friends/family.
Phil, I know you and others have steered away from GB accusation; personally I love them and the contribution they make to the matchday experience but I really think it is time now for them to consult with Celtic rather than acting autonomously.
What’s more important, a banner that crudely alludes to Republicanism, or two teams from the same stasium, run by the same guys that killed the first one, repeatedly breaching UEFA’s own Financial Fair Play Rules ..?
You decide.
But we all now know which one’s more important to UEFA …
I didn’t mean to imply that you did Phil .The banners you refer to were flown by them. cheers John
Whilst I cannot celebrate this move by Celtic, it is the smart move.
They will go to the UEFA hearing at the end of the month demonstrating that they are taking action against the things UEFA hate the most… anything which can give their sponsors pause for thought about making the Champions League look bad… THAT is all that matters to them.
Moving forward the GB need to box clever, that same display against a SPFL game would have received the same ignoring that Bridgeton fellas knee deep in blood get at another stadium across the city. Consistently tweaking UEFA’s nose is not actually going to help Celtic in the long run, these guys love Celtic so one would hope that they would screw the nut and pick their games to display such things… at the very least. I believe the GB need a liaison officer with the club to show what banners are going to go up at matches.
I love the Green Brigade, I love all the wonderful things they have done for Celtic, in the name of Celtic and its fans. They have made some errors and it is a shame, they need to stop for the sake of the club. I don’t want them controlled or silence but they need to with the club to stop the embarrassment and costly fines.
The stupidity of the various actions by the GB is beyond belief and the fact that the Club has acted in this way should send them a very serious message. I am not naive enough to believe that politics has no place at a football match however public support of a terrorist organisation of any colour, creed or view does not need to be aired in this way. These actions only hurt the club, its manager and players, and the thousands of supporters who do not support or want to support these political statements. If seriously want to rise above the sectarian nonsense that surrounds our part of the world then we need to make a conscious effort to rise above it; to be better than them and to allow our football do the talking.
100% agree with you hail hail
It would have been great if all these well meaning Celtic supporters commenting had social media back in the 70s when bottles would often rain down periodically on our own kind then maybe we could curb the crazy banner waving we see today. Furfuxsake.
The Green Brigade for me ,presents a dichotomy insofar as in my youth I was a Jungle Bhoy ,sang all the Republican songs , and on occasion had my disagreement with Glasgows Constabulary, particularly during the period someone thought it was a good idea for them to come into the Jungle to remove Irish Tricolours, we eventually dissuaded them from this unsuccessful coarse of action.
Am I now to get all high and mighty and deny them the right to express their sentiments in whatever manner they see fit. I would say that then ,it was at the height of “the troubles” ,speaking for myself I was politically aware of the whys and wherefores and had relatives in the six counties actively involved. Thanks be the Island is now at peace and I think in a civilised society that is the very least you should expect .
I can see as Phil says its 20 years on since 1997 and the expression of support for militant Republicanism could be said to be both long since redundant and no longer relevant. An on going support for the political further advancement of Republicanism would be more in keeping with the current situation.
Towards the end of last season I had an encounter with some of the Green Brigade at an away game in a local pub, they had a Palestinian flag and were very vocal in there support for the Palestinians. I engaged with them and was taken aback by their almost complete lack of knowledge on the history of the area , the causes and complexities , and even the extent of the different factions involved . They have the fervour but if these bhoys were anything to go by then that was all they had.
I think regardless of what you think of them ,they provide a vocal level of support that when directed properly is invaluable. I also think that that in itself is a bit of an indictment against the almost dirge like atmosphere from the majority of the support, especially in the GB,s absence.
Im an auld cant now ,and going to the game represents ever more challenges and compromises , I am by and large a supporter of the Green Brigade .
The club has announced they have banned them for two games as a result of the banners flown . To me this is hypocritical of the club, the GB offence represents only ONE of the how many charges against us by uefa over the two legs, what about all the other charges ,these are down to failings on the clubs part ,who takes them to task, where are they held to account.
I think we have enough people chastising us as a club in this society , without us caning our own ,to what end ,and to the benefit of whom. uefa have fined linfield £6k ,for a similar offense that they previously made us replay on a neutral venue with a score line advantage wiped out, and to our detriment.
There has already been a run in with the GB before the linfield home game , I hope that the previous agenda is not about to rear its ugly head again. I have always and still do equate the Celtic support to “US” and I mean all of us. Be lucky Phil ,cheers John
I never mentioned the Green Brigade in the piece.
You didn’t need to..We all know what you meant. Let’s get the Board to act against the true and immediate issues held against our Club…Cheats; Liars and Corruption. When Lawell and the rest of our Board do that and expose the daily attacks on Celtic FC, then I for one, would applaud them.
Eufa has a check do they forget they delayed the first game so the halfwits could go and march about streets with banners that upsets every bhoy/ghirl in this country and others as well HH
Good post John. I can relate to many of your points and I am sure many do also
My big disappointment is that Celtic plc come down very hard on our fans when they ignore worse elsewhere including the biggest sporting scandal in U.K. Sport for which our club suffered. I understand why the club r doing this but really find it disappointing.
A wise and judicious appraisal of the problems the uninformed pose to both the wellbeing of the club they profess to support and the peace braver men and women than they gave their lifeblood to secure.
By clowning for the media, they allow the stenographers to swivel in their seats, away from the shameful scenes at Windsor Park, towards Celtic, tarnishing the team’s achievements in the process.
Within the ranks of the Celtic family, we all have a responsibility to rein in the clowns. As we enter what could be one of the most momentous seasons since 67, we should all be on-message. Get behind the team, cheer them to the rafters, and let the haters know that Paradise has no room for them.
Thanks Phil. Commonsense opinion from someone who has not shirked the risks of speaking truth to power.
As for the Green Brigade, any brigade is built on comradeship and steely discipline. I honestly hope any brigadista worth their salt will ensure that we see no repeat of the banner own-goal in the future.
Well said, i dont want this crap at Celtic!
Unless I dreamt it, the rebel karaoke had more than 75% participants all lustily singing along.
The noise was incredible ,such was the gusto for Merry Ploughboy. The banner never seemed to bother anybody at the time, except maybe those racist scum of Linfield. We all knew what was coming, but the vast majority of the crowd were roaring and singing along. Perhaps if the offending banner had Gazprom or Sony stitched into it`s fabric, we, the Celtic fans wouldn`t be arguing among ourselves. . Ilove Celtic and Green Brigade dearly, Celtic for over 60 years and will till the end, but I wish our club, were as quick to release statements condemning the disgraceful racial abuse of 1 of our players. The UEFA observer, last Friday was he deaf, or drunk on Buckfast? Show Racism Red Card? Bollocks to UEFA. That`s 2 corrupt organisations who have done nothing about racial crimes against a Celtic player. Why?
Spot on, James.
There were no strong statements from our board denouncing the terrible physical threats they’d had to endure in Belfast last week, dodging all manner of missiles while trying to play UEFA’s beloved non racist game, yet UEFA, an organisation steeped in corruption, has the temerity to come out and denounce some guys from flying a flag …?!
It’s a joke, beyond a joke, that these bandits, who haven’t said one word about Sevco’s blatant FFP infringements in their own tournaments just last month, can jump into action the moment some fool flies a daft banner …
It brings the SFA’s harsh, almost crippling, sanctions against clubs like Hamilton or Dunfermline for fielding one ineligible player, while Rangers get away with fielding scores of them over a decade, brutally back into the spotlight.
For it appears that some clubs, well, two clubs, both playing out of Ibrox, have no need to fear any sanction for anything whatsoever, no matter how wide ranging the criminality of its scope.
This post should be sent to Celtic and uefa, well said gorbalshov
Cheers!
Feel free to C&P & forward it on to them, if you think it’ll do any good.
Can’t see it myself though, tbh.
Pardon my ignorance Phil but who exactly are THEY?
I always thought that the GB and FAC had a common interest in the repeal of the OBF Act yet the GB gives those who would argue against a repeal ammunition to keep an invidious act alive? What are the views of those working on FAC?
Do THEY have internal transparent structures like the CSA or CST by which THEY can be held to account and if not should they not establish such?
Was there any thought given to the internal damage the GB would do to themselves and did FAC not have a voice in advising them or is banner creation the sole and secret action of the GB?
The act is one of stupidity but that does not mean those doing so are stupid, it means the GB is not properly constituted to stop acts of self harm never mind wider harm.
If a paramilitary banner of similar taste, was in the Linfield end, we would be revelling in moral compassness, and Phil would be calling out their Kulchurr. Immature, irrelevant banner displays makes you all just as bad as “them”, in fact it makes you worse as we always boast that we should know better. Oh wait a minute why dont you blame the Scottish Government and the “act”, that’s normally a convenient get out. Silly wee Fudz.
The banner was stupid and tasteless and the GB need to have a talk among themselves.
But the sevvies DID bring an extremely offensive banner insulting our greatest manager, which once again made claim to that fine man being an enabler of child abuse.
Please remind me what the Celtic board, the SFA or UEFA had to say about that and what their punitive actions were against either their ‘club’ or those who brought it to our ground …?
(When you get to zero you’ve found the right answer.)
Right on the button, Phil!
I agree with every word. We must drive it home to these people that such mindless and selfish behavior has no place anywhere near Celtic and Celtic Park. I fully support the action taken by the club.
I was there it was a brilliant night some people are just too thin skinned onwards and upwards good luck to the bhoys on Wednesday
My dad was a diabetic and couldn’t take so much as a sandwich into the ground so how on earth does anyone get a banner in?
To be honest, distasteful they may be but I think there are far greater things to worry about than banners and ‘illicit’ songs, if people get off on singing about being knee deep or copulating queenie well that, to quote H. Cornwall Esq, is up to their intellect, I suppose. I find it much harder to listen to, say, Billy Ray Cyrus or his god awful daughter but then I’m not remotely politically minded. That said, rules – for those who know what such things are – state that this is not acceptable so in breaking these rules, the perpetrators (NOT fans!) know full well the club will be punished. I think uefa see Celtic as a cash cow, booking Griffiths for time wasting when he was having bottles thrown at him and subsequently charging the club for having five players booked show exactly the uefa mindset! Don’t feed it.
Similarly, the far from impartial MSM. They’ve been wetting themselves over the two Linfield games and the resulting charges, delighting in highlighting just how many times the club has been charged because of fan behaviour. Doesn’t matter that the songs, banners, bib infringements aren’t as serious as thrown bottles and pitch invasions, it’s all grist to the mill. We should not be feeding them ammo to fire at us so keep politics out of sport.
Phil,
My login details seem to be filled by ‘ salad queen ‘?
Aren’t you ..?
A well thought out and strongly put piece.
Stupid, stupid, stupid people who are only attention seeking and not giving any consideration to the consequences for “their” club.
Are they really Celtic supporters? I don’t think so. However the majority of decent supporters should now cry out that enough is enough and point the perpetrators out to the Club.
I doubt if any, if not most, have ever set foot in Ireland.
It is not a small minority; yes perhaps in percentage terms of total attendance at matches, but several hundred towards a thousand is a significant number. Clear them out.
As I’ve said before during the embarrassing Palestinian show against Israelis, keep your politics away from my football club. If you want to make an impression choose an apt theatre.
If it wasn’t for the existence of such compassion for humanity’s suffering, you wouldn’t have that football club to follow at all.
So, to you, I say, Get your intolerance for our compassion out of our football club.
Because this club is more than just about kicking a ball, and Lawwell et al are quick enough to promote that message in big flashing lights when it suits them.
In your view, the Green Brigade never made an impression, with their show of solidarity for Palestine? Bollox . It received world wide recognition and £180,000 raised for Palestinians causes says differently. What was embarrassing, about showing support for people who are victims of genocide ,by a pariah state? You are entitled to your opinion, of which our former director Lord Livingstone would be delighted, but no way can you claim it never made an impression, or that it was embarrassing.
Celtic FC, in announcing the ban, specifically mentioned the match last spring where the Green Brigade had lit flares in & about their banner. I saw that at the time, and my mind was blown at the stupidity & carelessness. It is only through good fortune that deadly blaze was not ignited. Green Brigade need to get a grip
There is an issue with Celtic allowing the blocking of exits and the wearing of illegal bibs by the subs. This needs to be investigated and those responsible held accountable.
I think that you’ll find that the “Blocked Exits Issue” was caused by the very same Green Brigade who refused to clear the stairways when repeatedly requseted to do so by Police and Stewards. This is a common problem created by this group’s behaviour and belief that they can do what they want.
Well done Celtic……swift and proper response.
These eejits must have cost the club a fortune over the years.
It seems that they are prepared to throw the club they support under the bus, for what?
As others have posted nothing gives the media more pleasure than having a go Celtic.
I’ve no interest in how the fans of other clubs behave. Celtic have their own standards which have been undermined this week and with the pyro nonsense at the Hearts game. Celtic’s response has probably beaten UEFA to the punch.
Much as the GB add colour and noise they have crossed a line which I’m sure the majority of fans can see.
Clean up your act and get back to supporting the team.
Everything is positive around the playing side at the moment and Brendan has promised further improvement.
Lets enjoy the season ahead with a repeat of a treble and European football after Xmas and stop giving our many enemies the opportunity to have a go at us instead of reporting on the chaos at Ibrox.
GOD BLESS THE GREEN BRIGADE!
DON’T LET THE BOARD GET YOU DOWN!
HH
A brilliant piece.
Phil
Spot on.
What an own goal by the banner boys.
The morale high ground is ours for the taking. Why give it away with juvenile gestures which hit our club financially.
I was at the match and confirm the views of those around me were the same as being posted here.
There’s no place for those banners at our stadium.
Well done The Board on acting quickly and assertively.
Well said totally agree the singing section should remain just that a SINGING section
Hi Phil
95 percent best fan in the world
5 percent among the worst in the world
Paramilitary banners political banners
have no place at football matches
especially at our ground
we all know the origins of our club
and it’s certainly nothing to do with what’s
been displayed in those banners
after all the good things on the park and
off it.it was like a kick in the stomach for
the club and our supporters.
Being of an age when ” the jungle ” was in full flow Celtic park is now a different place, I’m proud to say there is a real diversity to our broader support and its this diversity which should be celebrated , the linfield of this world will never be able to celebrate that .
Get them tae F:;&, they’ve had there chances,
they do bring tremendous atmosphere, but why spoil it, with these banners which have nothing to to do with Celtic, cmon Celtic do more
PISH
Hi ‘Salad Queen’.
You that irritating foul mouthed troll that’s ruined the ETims comments page?
What you doing over here, apart from calling other posters’ comments ‘PISH’ like you always do?
I would bet that those who were told to hold the banners aloftby the makers could neither spell IRA nor point out Ireland on a map.
Looks like someone has cloned my name.
It’s a form of flattery you know.
Sorry but its a security flaw on Phil’s page. When I commented after you your details were still there inc email address. One for Phil fix I think!
Yet again l find myself in complete agreement with one of your pieces Phil.
When will those responsible ever learn that this gives those who wish to tarnish the name of Celtic the ammunition to do so?
Wise up bhoys we have real battles to fight.
All we have to do right now to “infuriate” those of a loyalist persuasion, is to be Celtic FC and to be Celtic FC fans/supporters.
A great deal of their ire lies in the fact that they know fine well that we have taken over No 1 spot and will be in that “pre-eminent” position for years, literally, years to come.
Here’s a question. If UEFA took SERIOUS action against Celtic, regarding this infringement, would the GB desist?
Sadly, I, for one, think not. That’s what really scares me.
Only thing I’d take issue with is why bother what the SMSM think? No matter what Celtic or our fans do that lot will find a way to criticise us! Whatever the fans decide to do the reaction of the SMSM shouldn’t have any baring on it at all!
Another cloned post have a look at Salad Queens IP Phil.
[email protected]
Never noticed till I put my last post up that appeared in my info box under messages
Celtic have closed the standing section where the G.B. congregate for two games.
This is a wake up call to the G.B. Keep it up and Celtic will re-introduce the seating only policy. More worrying is the call from the 17th century peepell and DUP members hypocritically calling for UEFA sanctions…. banning the club however unlikely…. and/or forcing the club to play future games behind closed doors!
It’s time to grow up and don’t give them any excuse to attack us.
Why not concentrate on the Stripping The Dodgy Titles campaign?
Think before you act, put Celtic First!
What are the PLC doing about the racist, verbal and physical attacks our players and fans suffer in a regular basis. Big balls when it comes to the G.B but appear complicit with their silence when our fans/players are the victims.
Whataboutery….. your comment adds no value
The cheek of you!
John’s comment is a pertinent observation on the Celtic board’s continued silence on matters of paramount importance concerning the health & welfare of our club.
No strongly worded statements on the racist hatred aimed at Scott Sinclair at Ibrox, nor the fortnightly fenian flogging, via the medium of song and pejorative dance, at the same stadium every fortnight.
Not a word in judgement, far less condemnation, on Celtic players having to dodge heavy duty batteries, coins, pool balls & golf balls at the same ground, or having a potentially violent thug confront our captain on the pitch, until he realized that Broony could, and would, knock his bigotry & stupidity into the middle of next week.
Complete silence on Celtic players running a similar gauntlet of missiles at Windsor Park last week, a barrage which continued throughout the game and which barely one news outlet mentioned, far less reported in any detail whatsoever, and now we have this attack of complete mass hysteria over a daft flag?
Sorry to burst your ego balloon, Maimo, but it’s your comment that ‘adds no value’ to this discussion and you really ought to learn to mind your manners.
I take it from your comment, “Swavvy”, that your target is the board and that these banners and flares are a deliberate action to hurt them.
You have to ask yourself one question, to what end?
Is the club worth sacrificing to get at the board?
Throwing the baby out with the bath water will only serve the aims of others.
We should be revelling in our position in Scottish football at the moment, not shooting ourselves in both feet.
No, you read me wrong, Joe, I never mentioned the Green Brigade either.
However, who is responsible for our club if not the boar?
Can they be said to be doing the right thing by the club whilst allowing these animals in to wreck our toilets, singe their murderous sectarian songs and insult and abuse Jock Stein, whose character remains unimpeachable yet NOT ONCE have I ever heard PL, or anyone else connected to the club, address this issue as espoused by the sevco support.
No, the Celtic board reserve their ire for the people who have done so much for the club instead which is unforgivable in my eyes, even though I view the GB with complete neutrality.
And I fully agree that banner was wrong in so many ways, particularly when the GB could & should have seized the moment to highlight the tax scam, the cheating, the SC verdict, the stolen titles or the widespread corruption at the black heart of our game.
The GB could only get that banner in with the approval of the stewards.
The stewards are given instructions on what can & can’t pass.
The board issues these instructions.
Therefore, the inevitable conclusion can only be that this paramilitary banner with a nod to the Provos was okayed by the authorities to be allowed into the ground.
But why ..?
My deductive reasoning tells me that PL really is working for his masonic brothers in the long con/power grab for Scottish football and that this whole thing was prearranged as the next step up in the strategy to separate the biggest threat to their plans, the GB, from the rest of the Celtic support in the sanitized, and perfectly riggable, version of the game the handshakers have envisioned for the future.
Sadly there have always been a small element to the support who would prefer to revel in and romanticise a conflict which the people of Ireland would prefer to put in the past and which, thanks to the hard work and good intention of those directly involved in the conflict now is. In my experience the small element who revel in such banners did not grow up in Ireland or live through the troubles.
Indeed.
I would wager that the banner chaps have Glasgow postcodes.
We on the island of Ireland want no return to conflict.
Did you seriously type that Phil?
To deny a person legitimacy based on geographic location is the tactic of the dead club you’ve based the latter part of your career on. From Ireland. Have a wee think about that and catch a grip of yourself.
As for the rest of the middle class bland Uncle Toms wanting ‘political opinion left at the door’. You got a Tory lord voting for austerity on the board – how vocal were you lot about that? The Green Brigade may not be perfect, but they’re infinitely superior to the hawks on the board. Ask yourself who presents the greater threat to the founding ideals of our club?
I never mentioned the Green Brigade.
Bravo that man well said sir
Never posted before however phil”s comment re Glasgow postcode got me thinking. Are you really denying people’s legitimacy to have an opinion on Ireland simply because of where they live. Surely they can be of Irish descent of first or second generation or even further back to as far as gor an mor as you keep posting (a famine refugee if you will). That was a crass post. In addition let’s take a minute to reflect on the ‘offending’ banner. What exactly is offensive and to whom? Some guy in sun glasses with a camouflage jacket and a Rodgers at work emblem. Where exactly does it mention or condone IRA? Surely the sun glasses guy was a Sinn Fein (elected British mp) man rather than a Provo?
I totally agree with you there Phil. When the banner went up on Wednesday, myself and everyone around me said the same as yourself. All it does is give ammunition to the SMSM as well as one side is as bad as the other. I dont disagree with the sentiment, but not at a football match. I hope the Green Brigade collectively sort this out. I for one would hate to see them disbanded, and thats what will happen if this persists. From now on. No pyros and no para banners. Love the GB though. Great in full flow.
Which sentiment ?
So we Celtic supporter’s support our team how we perceive outsiders expect us too. We getting close to the crux of this problem here, the GB and a majority of Celtic supporter’s don’t wish to be told how to support our. We do our way and thats what makes us unique and generates the spectacular atmospheres. Wind your neck in and think about it, you want that sanitized atmosphere like they have down south. Didn’t think so…..
Sheamy, what kind of atmosphere will there be at games played in an empty stadium?
A majority or Celtic supporters don’t with to be told how to support their club, really, a majority? I’d like to hear how you back that up when the GB number less than a thousand.
“We do it our way and that’s what makes us unique”
I think you’ll find that all clubs have to do it UEFA’s way or it could be the highway.
I guess you’ll regard it as job done, should that day dawn.
Could not agree more.There are those in the Green Brigade who are turning into the WATP of the Celtic support. Their arrogance and casual thoughtlessness does nothing but harm to our Club. Like little children they only care about their own pathetic little egos.
I didn’t mention of Green Brigade or any other grouping in the piece.
I have no idea who made or displayed the banners.
But the club are taking action against the Green Brigade and the banner was in their area. Therefore contributors are stating Green Brigade.
It was a paramilitary banner and the word “Brigade” is self evident.
Why don’t they call themselves the sons of walfrid or Stein or something football appropriate instead of this military Brigade term? The troubles have been over for 20 years. It’s most inappropriate.
And yes, boring old middle class, educated and reasonable is what folks should be aspiring to. The “uncle Toms” statement is racist and offensive.
A good piece! It served no purpose but to bring more fines and potential ejection from the competition in my opinion. The Board, for once, have publically acted quickly.
The board on this issue yes have acted swiftly,but,and this does matter to many,they have been shamefully quiet on the Racist abuse aimed at Scott Sinclair or where is the promised statement on the Windsor Park debacle.Fine deal with the GB as they see fit,but defend our club and our players too
Needless own goal. The Scottish MSM have their dream headlines. We will now continue to hear how “both sides are as bad as each other”.
Aye, it’s almost like it was deliberate, it suits their bullshit so well.
Here …