“A total stitch up between Celtic board and the Police,” Green Brigade view | OneFootball

We’ve covered the Celtic statement and the response from the Celtic Fans Collective and have provided commentary and opinion from our writers, Just an Ordinary Bhoy and Niall J. Here’s the Green Brigade perspective on what actually happened at the Falkirk game and the background to the latest flare-up between the club’s board and the Celtic ultras…

Supporter holds up a Palestinian flag prior to the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and Atletico Madrid at Celtic Park Stadium on October 25, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

In 2023, the club banned the Green Brigade to stop Palestine support at Celtic matches. They cynically attempted to suggest the ban was really for a mix of anti-social behaviours. At that time, a particularly strong allegation was threatening staff members and breaking into the stadium. Funnily enough such allegations amounted to nothing because they were false.

It’s a very similar play here. Ban the Green Brigade to stop anti-board sentiment. Chum up with their old pals in Police Scotland – this is nothing new and aided by the fact the new Head of Safety, Security and Operations (Mark Hargreaves) is fresh out the polis – to create a narrative they believe justifies the ban.

Let’s not also forget the original suspended sanction was for flying Palestine flags in the North Stand, dressed up as leaving our area without permission.

Irrespective of anyone’s opinion of what did or did not happen in this particular incident, there is absolutely zero notion of fairness or objectivity to any process or decision. There is no process known or available to fans. There has been no fans feedback taken despite it being offered.

The sanction applied is totally random, with no logical proportionality to any alleged behaviours be that the original for the suspended sentence or the new allegation, and instead dictated by the fixture calendar at the time it has been implemented.

What is not random, is choosing to apply the sanction at a time of mass impact where three home games sandwich three away games and when the board is feeling the heat. That buys the board six games where there is definitely less anti-board sentiment, starting with not having their faces front and Centre of any crowd shots.

It is a total stitch up between the Celtic board and the Police. It is astounding they have the arrogance to do this after attempting to brush the five hour detention of Celtic fans at last season’s derby under the carpet – another club/polis stitch up.

One of our lads – not a young boy or ned – was returning to the stand at half time with a cup of water in each hand. Generally speaking most stewards, particularly at that area, are familiar with our lads given we regularly move throughout the area at various times for different reasons as well as regularly speaking with supervisors and/or SLOs.

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For whatever reason with that incident the steward attempted to stop him entering the stand by physically grabbing him. This drew the attention of the cops who immediately escalated the incident by also physically apprehending him and attempting to cuff him.

We actually have photo and video evidence of this which shows who the aggressors are by pinning him against a wall. Naturally, once others learned about the incident they rushed out – which is all the video from Celtic shows.

The fact they have shared this suggests they are desperately trying to paint a picture because they have nothing of actual substance. There was a game of tug of war with our lad being held by police and he was freed. That much is true, we always have and always will attempt to protect our members from police aggression.

The female polis involved, who was one of the aggressors, seemed totally out her depth with how to handle the situation. I believe she hit a panic button which led to more cops arriving by which point the incident was over anyway bar perhaps some abuse being directed there way. The incident itself was something over nothing, totally avoidable, but the whole security operation in that area, and the environment it creates, meant that it was bound to happen.

This is something we have repeatedly been warning and pleading with the club over all season and been totally ignored. We have had one meeting about this, we sent a lengthy email about it and we have given feedback to the SLOs and steward supervisor at and following every match.

If ever we have concerns at a match we immediately raise them. We then always debrief with the SLOs following the match. I am one of the people responsible for this so I am generally well aware of what is happening plus I know the entire history of relationships and incidents like the back of my hand.

There was an agreement a couple years back with the club (and the club with Police Scotland) that there would be no police on our concourse because of the terrible relationship that exists. The agreement followed the effective and selective use of “Pig Watch” on twitter which led to their realisation it was in everyone’s interest for them to take a step back.

That agreement seems to have gone out the window this season with the introduction of Mark Hargreaves. Again, in respect of our attempts at dialogue with the club to resolve concerns over security/policing, we have refrained from using “Pig Watch” this season despite them being present every match.

The dialogue has obviously completely failed, the police presence has increased and it has led to this total stitch-up.

When the club banned us in 2023 they attempted to scapegoat me with multiple allegations – I threatened staff, I broke into the stadium, I support(ed) proscribed terrorist organisations. None of them stood up and the club folded on its attempts to ban me beyond the collective ban of the time. Crucially, there was also no charges raised despite three allegations of unlawful behaviour.

This is a very similar situation where they are attempting to lock-out a particular sentiment (anti-board) and will cynically dress it up as something else in an attempt to win over opinion.

As usual, time will vindicate us but by then the damage is already done.

MacBhoy from the Green Brigade

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Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star

Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books

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