So the Green Brigade have a rather different perspective on the now public fall out with the Club, somewhat at odds with the statement released by Celtic last night.
Firstly they state that the breakdown in communication occurred after the Ultras tifo criticised the board for another slow summer on the transfer front and warned of implications for such boardroom tardiness on the likelihood of Champions league qualification. ‘Don’t Sleep at the Wheel’ was the banner that seems to have caused the problem.
They also feel the Club failed to mention the knock on effect the decision to close part of the section would result in non-members of the organisation being left not only out of pocket (which the club tried to alleviate by claiming they could contact the club regarding refunds), but also through travel and accommodation costs in the main that will be non-refundable.
The Green Brigade also mention, as has been covered widely that there may well be reasons around the timing of the decision with only 3 days’ notice. It appears the Green Brigade are also suspicious of the motives and the timing with an AGM coming up and the rather uncomfortable reappearance for the Board of Resolution 12 on the agenda.
The group also take responsibility for the offensive chanting and banners even though it was sung by the majority of the stadium they accept responsibility as the chant originated from the North Curve. They make no apology for this and feel standing up to right wing extremism when it arrives in your City and your stadium is something of a duty to The Green Brigade.
They also note the club in their opinion state they are a club like no other and compare Celtic to Barcelona in this regard. They feel the club do not stand up for the views of the support when it comes to challenging ‘unethical regulations and sanctions’. Hinting I’m sure as to Barcelona’s public statement condemning the treatment and imprisonment of Catalan politicians following Spain’s rather tough sentences given to Politicians following the Catalan independence vote.
They also state the club statement has undermined or ignored a lot of their charity work including the successful annual foodbank collection-the biggest in the UK. ‘Overshadowed by the club sowing seeds of division’ is how they put it.
The Ultras also address what the club appears to be stating is the big issue (even though the most recent fines were not levied for that offence) that of Pyrotechnics. Their own view again at odds with the club is that although a divisive issue they believe there is a level of support for it from within the fan base. They also claim that its safe use is common across the world and that when they do use pyro they do so with ‘total regard for safety and seek to limit risk as much as possible’.
The Green Brigade also raise the question of overcrowding, raised again in the Club statement as an issue in their section and deflect the responsibility for that back to the club as an issue of fan migration to the area and something that should be managed by staff employed by Celtic.
Finally and somewhat surprisingly The Green Brigade advise that not only have the fans in that section been punished with the closure for the Rennes game on Thursday, they’ve also had all tickets withheld up to and possibly including the Glasgow Derby at the end of the year.
Despite the division there is a clear olive branch to the club as to how they would rather not ‘be engaged in this negative narrative’ and hope the club will ‘re-engage with fans in a meaningful manner’.
To deal with all these issues and the difference in the clubs perception of the problems and the Green Brigade’s take on things will take just that. Re-engagement in a positive manner. This is something that will need to be addressed and it will be, because this fight is almost nothing to do with anything in the Green Brigade’s statement, not really.
You see I have a lot of sympathy for the Green Brigade’s plight. I feel they are being used and a convenient pawn at the moment, though I also see the Club has genuine issues with the Green Brigade and Pyrotechnics in particular.
Looking at the issues its clear the Green Brigade feel the dissolving of dialogue happened after they produced the banner criticising the Board. I’m tempted to believe that if I’m honest, that must be rather uncomfortable viewing and certainly embarrassing on such a public stage, there are certain board members whose ego being hurt so publicly could result in a petted lip and the silent treatment.
They also believe the timing of this so close to the AGM is an issue. I have to say I agree on that also. What better way to ensure less time to debating that pesky Resolution 12 than have the floor filled with questions over issues of controlling those nasty ultras for the benefit of the ordinary fan?
If I’m weighing it up that makes sense to me. You are about to be accused of not standing up for the club, for the ordinary supporter and right across from you on a Saturday or a midweek is a ready-made counter to show you do stand up for the ordinary fan.
I also have sympathy for their observation that the Club is punishing the ordinary fan – those not involved in this fallout. The Club are doing this and it is unnecessary, and its timing again is questionable.
Why now, why not start this later for a match where tickets haven’t yet been sold and fans have paid fortunes travelling from down south and Ireland including accommodation that will now be lost?
I’d be tempted to conclude that decision also goes back to the AGM and the original breakdown in communication, after the banner criticising the Board.
Is the timing of this because they know The Green Brigade may have another anti-board pro-Resolution 12 display up their sleeves and this is another way of avoiding more public scrutiny of the subject? Is this their way of avoiding that bruised ego and uncomfortable ongoing debate?
Yes I’d say it probably does. It’s also an easy way to play divide and conquer. Hope the ordinary fans will blame the Green Brigade for missing the game and being out of pocket. Little divisional acorns can grow into big trees from such things if you cultivate it enough.
I also have great sympathy for feeling the club could have done more when fined by UEFA in this instance. Given the direction of their ire was a section of the Lazio support who are renowned for public displays of fascism and considering our own supporters were violently assaulted to their own disfigurement in Rome, would it have taken the club much to say that on this occasion we support the stand of The Green Brigade in calling it out, that they are proud they did so without violence?
No, much like Resolution 12 there’s something much more important than that. Pounds, pence and influence around the tables of UEFA decision making.
Where I do have some sympathy for the Board however is round the issue of Pyrotechnics. The Green Brigade clearly feel this can be done safely but they offer no evidence, in the statement at least of how this can be done.
If you wish to encourage debate it might at least be worth putting forward some evidence to support your claim otherwise statements like ‘total regard for safety and seek to limit risk as much as possible’ or that its safe use is common around the world look shallow and lacking in substance. The claim that many supporters are behind their use is surprising too. In my own opinion the majority of fans would like to see the back of it all.
But what strikes me here is that the olive branch is out there, that both these sides can come back together and it wouldn’t take much for them to find common ground and I think they will, because this debate isn’t a genuine fall out.
The cynic in me says the board’s ultimate end game is burying as much as possible any debate on Resolution 12 at tomorrow’s AGM. The Green Brigade will be banned on Thursday night and the board assume that will reduce the risk of chanting and banners questioning the board’s governance, something it seems they weren’t too comfortable with.
Once it’s all calmed down the board will reopen the channels of communication and the Green Brigade will be readmitted with a few half-hearted restrictions.
You see this isn’t about pyrotechnics. UEFA don’t close stadiums for that and the fines are set at an affordable rate to be able to appease sponsors while filling coffers and paying lip service to the no politics in football debate. It’s not about anti fascism banners and chants, again they don’t close stadiums for that it wouldn’t reflect well being seen to be on the wrong side of that debate.
No this issues is much closer to home. This is a local argument and it resolves entirely around Resolution 12 and the AGM tomorrow. The rest of this is a smokescreen. The timing of it all tells you all you need to know.
The timing isn’t a co-incidence. It’s convenient and it’s engineered. The best way to overcome it, is to see it for what it is. Ignore this blatant attempt to deflect and stifle debate and get Resolution 12 debated fully tomorrow. Keep it on the agenda and in the stands.
And if the Green Brigade have a banner they want airing I’m sure it can find a way in.
Niall J
