Bhoys and Green Brigade stand together against SPFL and Celtic | OneFootball

Celtic ultras group Bhoys Celtic and Green Brigade have strongly criticised the SPFL’s decision to impose what they call a ‘draconian’ and a ‘collective-punishment’ decision following a 500-ticket restriction on Celtic supporters for the Premier Sports League Cup semi-final clash with theRangers.

Celtic v Aberdeen, Premier Sports Cup semi-final, Hampden Park, 2nd November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

In March, the Scottish football authorities accused Celtic of breaching Rule H34 after supporters used pyrotechnics during matches against Aberdeen and theRangers in last season’s Premier Sports League Cup fixtures at Hampden, resulting in both Glasgow clubs receiving identical ticket deductions for next month’s semi-final.

Bhoys Celtic have issued a statement in response to the sanction, declaring that they will boycott the upcoming match at the national stadium.

Taking to Instagram, Bhoys Celtic statement read: “Last year, the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) introduced yet another short-sighted anti-fan initiative in their, as of yet, unsuccessful attempt to limit the use of pyrotechnics in football stadiums in Scotland.

“This ‘disciplinary process’ involves cutting the ticketing allocation given to clubs with no clear reasoning or logic on which matches are affected.

“It has been confirmed that for our match against theRangers in the League Cup semi-final on the 2nd of November, both sets of fans will have their allocations cut by 500 tickets as ‘punishment’ for the use of pyrotechnics in various Premiership and League Cup matches.”

Pyros during the Premier Sports Cup Final victory over theRangers at Hampden on 15 December 2024. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

The statement continued: “While there are differing views on the use of pyrotechnics in stadiums, it is our view that collective punishment of hundreds of fans, in all cases substantially more than those involved in the use of pyrotechnics, is yet another draconian anti-football-fan move that damages the game in Scotland, and sets a dangerous precedent that we do not wish to normalise.”

“This is particularly important as, rather than work in conjunction with supporters, the footballing authorities have instead introduced a punishment designed to have fans turn against each other. We maintain that draconian sanctions offer no long-term solution to this perceived problem. As with all fan issues, this can only be found through positive engagement and open dialogue with supporters.”

“As a result, we as a group will not be in attendance at the League Cup semi-final, despite, on this occasion, the ban not being enforced against our tickets. We refuse to entertain ‘business as usual’ while supporters of both clubs are unfairly penalised.”

The Green Brigade will also not attend the semi-final with the ultras group revealing they have received no tickets for the game.

Taking to X for their statement, it reads: “As a result of the ticket allocation reduction at the upcoming League Cup Semi-final, the Green Brigade has received no ticket allocation. Although we wholeheartedly reject the notion of collective punishment, and have regularly defied similar suspensions in the past, we will not be attending this match.

“We believe that the Celtic support is at a watershed moment for unity and capacity to enact positive change at our club. We are committed to this goal and the development of the Celtic Fans Collective which is the best available apparatus for improving the experience of all Celtic fans.

“Collective punishment is an unfair practice. It has repeatedly been used against football supporters for a variety of reasons to force conformity and sow division.”

The statement added: “Irrespective of any perceived concerns, the best solutions will always be reached through meaningful supporter engagement and not through draconian sanctions. There is a persistent, common thread running through Scottish Football of poor fan relations – with Celtic sitting top of the table.”

“In a further demonstration of a detachment from fans, fairness and transparency, Celtic FC has sold an undisclosed amount of standard tickets as Hospitality Packages for this match. Priced between £150-£300 (excluding VAT), this legalised ticket touting exposes the Club’s desire to exploit supporter demand and sow unnecessary division between fans.”

“Finally, we thank Bhoys Celtic, for another gesture of solidarity and rejection of unfair fan practices.”

Conor Spence

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