THE GREEN BRIGADE has issued a statement following on from the mini-pitch invasion from the standing section area on Sunday in the 2-1 win over the Rangers at Celtic Park and the banger incident at St Mirren last night that resulted in the Saints keeper having to receive treatment and almost saw the home side be taken off the park.
The Green Brigade state that they support the “sensible use of pyrotechnics” however do not support throwing these onto the park or in “the direction of people.”
“As an ultras group we support the safe, sensible use of pyrotechnics, however the launching of pyrotechnics on to the park or in any direction of people is both unnecessary and counterproductive to any aspirations of normalising its use.
“Similarly, small-scale pitch invasions – whilst largely harmless – are simply giving our detractors further ammunition at this time.
“We take particular exception to anyone who uses our name, banner or numbers as cover to indulge in behaviour which will ultimately cause our group and the Celtic support harm.”
Celtic manager Neil Lennon condemned the Banger thrower last night after the 2-0 win.
“It serves no purpose in a football ground,” Lennon stated. “I don’t see the motivation for anyone to bring a flash-bang or pyrotechnic into a stadium.
“The health and safety of the players and officials is paramount. It didn’t just spook the St Mirren keeper but some of our players too.
“Ryan was also spooked and the goalie might have burst an ear drum. It delays the game when we have scored a goal and want to get going again. It serves no purpose whatsoever.
“The club have made a real stand in condemning it at times. I don’t understand why people want to do that. There is no logic in it.
“Why does an individual want to bring that to a game? It doesn’t impress anyone, it doesn’t add anything. It just damages people – and it could have damaged a player. It damages the reputation of the good fans we have and we just don’t want it.
“It’s just totally uncalled-for at a time when we should be enjoying football and hopefully having a big celebration in a week or two.”
The St Mirren manager Oran Kearney confirmed that he considered taking his players off the park as a direct result of the banger going off near his keeper and indeed the Celtic players finishing their goal celebrations.
Kearney had already used his three substitutions and was faced with the prospect of playing with ten men and having to put an outfield player in goals due to this idiot’s behaviour.
“It is crazy to think we might have had to use an outfield player in goal,” the Saints boss stated.
“It is mad to think of how that possibly could have ended up. You are tempted to walk your team off the pitch. We have been beat tonight – the easiest thing for me to do is make a massive meal out of that and deflect away, but it is a huge deal.
“I had a brief chat with (Hladky) but had to rush out to do media stuff. We are hopeful that thankfully it hasn’t ended up more sinister than it could have.
“I am standing 50 or 60 yards away and it made me jump. So if he is a yard away or however close, I dread to think the sound that came off.”
Here’s the statement from The Green Brigade for you to read for yourselves….
Green Brigade statement on recent incidents pic.twitter.com/5qGtU5A6ME
— Green Brigade (@Green_Brigade06) April 4, 2019
