Scottish football stands at a crossroads when it comes to fan involvement | OneFootball

It seems like Scottish football stands at something of a crossroads when it comes to fan involvement. It seems decisions affecting the matchday experience have been made without the meaningful involvement of one of its most vital stakeholders – the fans…

Celtic fans celebrate Al-Ahli Saudi v Celtic, Como Cup Pre Season Football, Football, Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como, Italy – 26 July 2025. Photo Shutterstock (IMAGO)

That may finally be changing, and it’s probably about time too.

The recently formed Scottish Supporters Collective—a cross-club alliance of fans from across the SPFL—has stepped forward to demand real, tangible improvements in how supporters are treated.

Among those at the forefront are Celtic’s Green Brigade, a group whose influence and presence cannot be denied, regardless of where you stand on their methods. Love them or loathe them, what is indisputable is their passion for the game and the culture surrounding it.

Celtic supporters on the road to Hampden. Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

At the heart of the Collective’s demands are five straightforward, reasonable proposals: Fairer ticket prices and away allocations. Regular, structured dialogue between clubs and fan groups. Improved access and experiences for disabled supporters. Greater support for atmosphere-building items like drums, banners, and megaphones. A safer, more realistic approach to pyrotechnics.

‘Here is the full text of the letter hand delivered to the Scottish Football Authorities at Hampden today by representatives from clubs across Scotland. Our united message is clear – in the country with the highest per capita football attendances in Europe – respect fans.’

These aren’t particularly radical asks. They’re arguably actually the building blocks for a better football culture—one that values supporters not just as customers, but as essential contributors to the game.

Of course, the mention of pyrotechnics will raise eyebrows and voices of dissent, and there’s merit in debating that issue certainly. There will be the usual calls for crackdowns and bans. But let’s face reality, pyro is already part of the match-day fabric for many young fans. Banning it outright doesn’t remove it—it simply pushes it into uncontrolled, potentially dangerous territory.

Green Brigade tribute to James Forrest on Trophy Day. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Instead, the Collective proposes mitigating risk, taking cues from European models where designated disposal bins allow for safer use. This isn’t an endorsement of reckless behaviour—it’s an adult conversation about harm reduction, a mature approach that deserves to be considered.

It’s important to remember that football is generational. What excites and energises the current generation of fans might differ from what did the same for us. But the core remains unchanged, colour, energy, voice, identity.

We were all just as young once—just as passionate, just as loud, just as desperate to make our presence felt. This new wave of supporter culture needn’t be vilified, instead it should be brought into the discussion, that seems perfectly fair.

What’s perhaps frustrating is that, while authorities hold behind-closed-doors consultations, the very groups who fill our stands and generate the energy that makes Scottish football so special have been left without a seat at the table. That’s not just short-sighted—it’s also fundamentally wrong.

The Green Brigade, Photo The Celtic Wiki

The Green Brigade, often painted in the media as troublemakers, are in fact part of a broader movement that has achieved something remarkable, uniting rival supporters under a single banner for better treatment and a better game. In a country where football rivalries run deep, that unity should be celebrated and encouraged—not dismissed.

This is not about agreeing with every chant, banner, or action. This is about recognising that these young fans are here, they’re organised, and they care deeply. Ignoring them is not an option. They pay, they travel, they create atmosphere, and they represent the future of our game.

The Scottish Supporters Collective has shown that change can happen from the ground up. Now, the ball is in the court of the SFA and SPFL. Will they listen?

Green Brigade Annual Foodbank Collection, 2024. Image: Green Brigade

Well really, they simply have to. Because if Scottish football is truly for the fans, all fans, then everyone deserves, at the very least, a voice in the debate.

Niall J

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