Green Brigade undaunted despite two-match ban at Celtic
Celtic announced on Friday they would temporarily close the section which houses the ultras-style group after "serious incidents of unsafe behaviour"
The Green Brigade fans group have vowed to return to Celtic Park with their style and politics undiluted after being hit with a two-match ban by the club.
Celtic announced on Friday they would temporarily close a 900-capacity section of the safe-standing area which houses the ultras-style group after “serious incidents of unsafe behaviour” at their previous two home games.
The Glasgow club made their decision a day after being hit with UEFA disciplinary charges over an “illicit banner”, which displayed an individual in paramilitary clothing, and “blocked stairways” during their Champions League win over Linfield on Wednesday.
The Hoops statement also made reference to a Lisbon Lions tribute pyrotechnic display in the same section of Celtic Park during the final Ladbrokes Premiership game of last season against Hearts.
But a statement on behalf of the Green Brigade which was posted on social media and fans' forums, but not initially on the group's own website, hit out at the Parkhead board and UEFA and stated the group would refuse to let them “dictate their moral compass”.
The Green Brigade took responsibility for the pyrotechnics against Hearts and the banner display which sparked a UEFA charge but claimed the blanket ban was “disproportionate and unjust”.
The statement added: “Our decision to mark the achievements of 1967 by using pyrotechnics was not taken lightly. We took the required steps to ensure that this was carried out as safely as possible and in the knowledge that we as a group may face potential consequences as a result of it.
“We believe the scenes that day and the response from the Celtic support proved it to be worthwhile.
“We have engaged in regular dialogue with the club over this matter throughout the summer and believed to be reaching an amicable outcome, however it seems as if events outside of our control on Wednesday have impacted upon the decision which has now been reached.
“The Green Brigade exists to support Celtic in a positive manner and we believe that this current confrontation is unnecessary and avoidable.”
The group blamed the blocked stairways charge on an “unnecessary and unsafe policing operation” and posted photos of officers standing in the aisles while describing the club's decision to blame them as “bizarre and shameful”.
The lengthy statement finished: “This also will not be our first ban or forced absence from Celtic Park. The Green Brigade has not only survived through the years but we have thrived - we are currently as large and strong as we have ever been.
“We can assure all that we will be back in Celtic Park soon enough and that we will never allow our style nor our politics to ever be diluted.”
The club had said in their statement 24 hours earlier: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but the behaviour of fans in this section is posing a direct risk to the safe operation of the stadium and is also seriously tarnishing the club's hard-won reputation.
“Dialogue, engagement and communication with the Green Brigade have evidently failed at this time, given the behaviour experienced at these matches, and we are therefore left with no choice but to take action to ensure safety at the stadium.
“We hope that the action we are taking prompts recognition by those fans of the damage being done to the club and that we can resume meaningful engagement with them which would ensure a safe environment within that part of Celtic Park.