The Green Brigade has issued a fierce statement condemning what they describe as a “premeditated attack” on football fans by Police Scotland after several Celtic supporters were blocked from entering the ground for Sunday’s Glasgow Derby in Glasgow’s east end…
Police Scotland stated on Sunday evening that 90 supporters were denied entry to theRangers match after refusing to comply with security searches. According to authorities, most individuals in the group were reported to the procurator fiscal. Officers defended their actions, insisting that the searches were ‘undertaken proportionately’ and within the special powers granted to them to stop fans they felt were under ‘reasonable suspicion’ of criminal activity.
A premeditated attack on football supporters by Police Scotland
However, the North Curve ultras group has hit back with a strongly worded statement, saying: “Yesterday, there was a premeditated attack on football supporters by Police Scotland. We believe their actions were unlawful and we are currently taking legal advice. The actions of the police should serve as a stark warning to all football supporters in Scotland and anyone who values civil liberties.”
“At 10am, the Green Brigade and other Celtic supporters congregated at the Celtic Social Club which is a routine practice. At this time, there was a considerable police presence. At no point was there any attempt from police officers to relay any information about concerns or expectations of how fans should move to the stadium. Similarly, there was no attempt to share information in advance through mutual channels (Celtic Football Club) as is often the case.”
‘Around 200 people were kettled on the road’
“At 10.45am, we attempted to depart for the stadium. At this point, around 200 people were kettled on the road. We were told that we were being held until all away supporters had entered the stadium and would then be moved along. After around one hour, the police informed us that we had been detained under section 60 of the public order act. The reason given was that people were concealing their identity despite the fact that most people were not wearing masks. When this was pointed out, the concern moved to hats, hoods and sunglasses. We offered to remove these items, but this wasn’t accepted.”
The Green Brigade allege that they were then instructed to adhere to a series of ‘draconian and unnecessary’ conditions in order to be released from the police containment, including:
– Submit to police detention, being held by two officers by the arms, taken from the kettle and into a further police corden.
– Submit to a full body search (including a refusal to privacy for females)
– Give full personal details
– Show ID to verify personal details
– Have hats, sunglasses, scarves and snoods confiscated- Have all of the above actions filmed, including id documents and clothing
Detained in the kettle for almost five hours, with no access to food, water or toilets, and missed the entire match
The statement continues: “Understandably, we were reluctant to comply with these draconian and unnecessary measures and were therefore detained in the kettle for almost five hours, with no access to food, water or toilets, and missed the entire match. In the end, zero arrests were made despite the huge sums of public money wasted on the operation. We have since learned through a police scotland press release that every person has been reported to the procurator fiscal despite this not being informed to us at the time.”
“While we are clearly angry at what happened, we are more concerned about a pattern of repression against supporters which is increasingly worsening across scottish football. There is a concerted effort between police, clubs, football authorities and others who seek to control the game to abolish supporter groups who do not conform to their agendas or values.”
“It is no coincidence that this police operation followed sanctions by Celtic PLC against the same people in the same week. Likewise, it is no coincidence that Celtic PLC fills its safety and security department with ex-police. In recent weeks, the SPFL – with approval of clubs introduced unprecedented collective punishment sanctions against supporters.”
In all seriousness, are people in Scotland happy with this huge amount of public resources spent to … hold people without charge for 5 hours and take their details?
Hundreds of cops getting paid a whole load of overtime for that, yet all the police moan about is cuts 🤷🏾♂️ pic.twitter.com/Ca4Qve4E0N
— Zeyn (@ZeynMo) March 17, 2025
“Scottish football has a committed, passionate, creative and overwhelmingly positive supporters’ culture. Instead of embracing this, it is routinely targeted often leading to mainly young males being unnecessarily and harshly criminalised.”
“Strangely, yesterday’s incident was exactly 12 years since the infamous ‘Gallowgate kettle’ which sparked mass demonstrations and ignited the successful fans against criminalisation campaign.”
‘We are calling for a formal review of fan engagement in Scottish football’
“In light of recent events, we are calling for a formal review of fan engagement in Scottish football with a view to implementing a formal framework for fan engagement at both a central and a club level. It is only through proper two-way engagement with supporters that supporter concerns can be efficiently managed.”
“We will begin consulting and coordinating with all interested supporters in Scotland on how to achieve this.”
“To be clear, our concerns are not limited to practices often associated with ultras but all and any supporter issues. All supporters have the right to be heard. It is only through a formal framework that this can be achieved and ultimately lead to supporters’ common wishes being respected and interests protected.”
Celtic SLO, John Paul Taylor, spent considerable time at the incident
“We would like it noted that the Celtic SLO, John Paul Taylor, spent considerable time at the incident attempting to liaise and help supporters and has given a report of what happened to Michael Nicholson, CEO. We await comment from Michael Nicholson on both the club’s prior knowledge of this police operation and its concern for supporters’ welfare.”
The Celtic Board responds
Last night Celtic issued a short statement concerning this disgraceful incident and other matters that happened inside the stadium where some Celtic supporters were assaulted by theRangers player after their winning goal was scored.
The Celtic FC statement reads as follows:
“Celtic Football Club has received complaints regarding the policing operation concerning yesterday’s match, specifically events away from Celtic Park.
“We are reviewing our supporters’ concerns and will be looking into these issues.
“It is important that these matters are addressed and the Club will be engaging in discussions with supporters and Police Scotland to understand the circumstances and events.
“With regards to the match at Celtic Park, we can also confirm that the Club has raised concerns regarding members of the away team engaging with Celtic supporters with the relevant authorities.”
After the match there was clear and visible evidence of damage within the stadium with hundreds of seats broken within the away end and reports of the toilets at the away end once again being badly vandalised by Scotland’s Shame.
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![Celtic Park after theRangers visit]()
- Scotland’s Shame – Celtic Park after theRangers visit. Photo social media
The hateful, racists, sectarian and fascist song book from theRangers support was a disgrace
At Celtic Park on Sunday their hateful, racists, sectarian and fascist song book was an absolute disgrace all afternoon and not a word has been said or written about it by anyone in the media, although they are somewhat understaffed at the moment as most of their pundits were on theRangers bench.
Celtic should issue a full refund to supporters affected and deduct the cost from the Police bill
One last point to mention, the Celtic supporters who were denied access to match due to the disgraceful actions of Police Scotland should have their ticket money returned by Celtic FC who can presumably deduct the same amount from any bill that they will receive for policing services rendered.
A return of away fans is perhaps not the right call after all. Celtic should review this at the end of the season and perhaps say thanks but no thanks. What do you think?
Conor Spence
I thought the police were supposed to search supporters before entering the stadium yet THE RANGERS fans had flares 🔥 how come they got into the stadium again a blind eye 👁️ will be turned because of who it is yet it was no problem keeping home fans out of the stadium what will be done nothing as usual an apology when it’s too late
Show the evidence, send ibrokes the bill and ban their scum fans from Paradise indefinitely.
Totally agree. Keep them out until they learn to behave.
I never want to see them in Celtic Park again. NEVER !
If you ban sevco fans there won’t be any police scotland inside the ground.
As they’re all therangers supporters,anyway
enough is enough ban these knuckledraggers for life, hope they have very short lives.
Bad judgement move at whoever rescinded the original ban which partly was because of their behaviour we should no take any tickets for any future games in the league at their ground
If the GB continue to act like arseholes, as they always have done, you will be treated like arseholes. Stop your nonsense and support our club properly. 50% of the police are Celtic fans however Scum are Scum.
Thank you for your reasoned and reasonable contribution. Please be assured that many Celtic supporters support your position. Support the team inside the ground, and leave all your other causes outside. Football began as a means for the working man to forget his troubles and the troubles of the wider world for a few hours a week. No club embodies that spirit more than Glasgow Celtic, let’s keep it that way.
This is much deeper and sinister than just Celtic fans or football. The Brit establishment with their Zionist Planters, are exercising these fascist powers across Britain against anyone daring to speak out about their horrors and genocides, particularly, but not limited to the Palestine holocaust. The fascists are in full flow…beware.
Although I agree that the actions of the police was definitely a massive breach of their power, the use of pyrotechnics at matches has probably given them the reasons for the searching the gb. If the pyrotechnics was to stop then maybe, hopefully, there would be nothing to stop the gb getting to the game
I should make it clear I’m not sticking up for the police in any way only stating that maybe it’s time to ditch the pyrotechnics?
How did sevco fans manage to get into the ground with no kettling to find any such items?
ACAB