Sixty-seven Celtic supporter groups have put their names to a statement opposing Robbie Keane’s potential appointment as manager, citing his tenure at Maccabi Tel Aviv during the ongoing Gaza conflict – and the strength of feeling isn’t going away.
As reported by BBC Sport, a statement co-ordinated by Celtic Fans for the Liberation of Palestine and endorsed by 67 supporter groups – including the Green Brigade and long-established clubs like Craigneuk Tommy Gemmell CSC – has made the opposition to Keane’s appointment formal, public, and unmistakable. The North Curve Celtic account on X published the full list of groups backing the sentiment, and it makes for significant reading.
The statement does not mince words. Celtic Fans for the Liberation of Palestine said:
“For us, Robbie Keane’s decision to manage Maccabi Tel Aviv during the genocide in Gaza is impossible to ignore. Celtic was founded by a community shaped by the legacy of genocide, displacement and famine. Our club’s roots lie in solidarity with those who suffered injustice and oppression. We cannot forget where we came from, nor turn our backs on those facing genocide today.”
They’re not wrong to invoke the founding story. This club was built by Irish immigrants who knew exactly what it meant to be displaced and forgotten. That identity isn’t decoration – it’s the reason the Green Brigade’s Free Palestine tifos fill the stadium and the reason UEFA fines have been paid with a shrug. When a significant portion of the support says a managerial appointment would be “deeply divisive”, that’s not noise. That’s the conscience of this club speaking.
Keane, 45, was appointed Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach in June 2023. Israel’s bombardment of Gaza began after Hamas-led attacks on 7 October that same year. He stayed, won a league and cup double, and later explained via the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast that he felt a deep responsibility to his staff and players. He resigned in summer 2024 before a short-lived stint at Ferencvaros. The timeline matters. He was there, he knew, and he chose to remain.
The broader picture here is one of a club still navigating fractured relationships between the board and the support. Martin O’Neill has been coy about his own future, and principal shareholder Dermot Desmond is reportedly driving the Keane talks directly – which will raise familiar questions about whether this is a serious recruitment process or a Rolodex appointment. Aiden McGeady has suggested a Keane and O’Neill partnership as a solution, though that feels more like papering over cracks than solving the underlying problem.
Sixty-seven groups. That’s not a fringe. That’s a movement. The board would do well to listen before this gets louder.
