Supporter Reaction to Partial Closure Statement – Mussolini’s Granddaughter has last laugh

WE promised some reaction to the Statement released last night by Celtic confirming their decision to partially close a section of the standing area on Thursday night for the Europa League match against Rennes.

Celtic’s official statement is titled Partial Rail Seating closure following safety issues yet the latest UEFA fine relates to the game against Lazio at Celtic Park and does not involve safety issues at all. That fine was for an illicit banner and illicit chants – specifically the sweary word before the name of the Italian side with the extremist supporters of the “Italian wartime leader”.

Looks like she gets the last laugh

Playing a team which has a group of supporters who openly supports fascism is a pretty unusual situation. UEFA have been trying hard to tackle this problem themselves yet they and Lazio allowed these extremists to come to Glasgow with tickets for the match. They walked down Buchanan Street before the match giving their ‘Roman salutes’ to everyone. It was offensive and a banner against their “WW2 wartime leader” (as the BBC’s Chris McLaughlin described him) and a sweary word chant sung by the just about the entire Celtic support that night, is surely not reason for Celtic to take the action they have and claim it is for safety reasons.

We know that there were flares in Rome from the Celtic support and had there been flares used at the Lazio game at Celtic Park, after the club pleaded with the supporters in that section to desist, then there could have been no complaints.

If the Celtic Board is punishing the fans – many of whom would not have been in Rome – for the flares that were let off in Rome then they should say so. Indeed it would be a better argument for the board who could say they their plea applied to all games – especially UEFA ones – which result in fines of the club. That is an arguable case.

The safety concerns two days before the game against Rennes is much harder to sell, although there are plenty among the support who see the board’s point in wanting the flares stopped, and I count myself in their ranks incidentally. But to deny supporters – many of who travel from England and Ireland – their place at a big game because of an anti-fascist dictator banner and a chant sung by the vast majority of supporters at the Celtic v Lazio match is just not right in my opinion. Here’s what fellow Celtic supporters think and it is a mixed bag of opinions, all of which have been featured.

BOARD DOUBLE STANDARDS

“The board are happy to use the UEFA rules when it suits them. Shareholders,fans and the club have been cheated out of millions of pounds and numerous titles by the Rangers, yet they are happy to ignore this and UEFA rules regarding it along with the SFA compliance.

Yet when given the bullets for the smoking gun, Lawwell and his cronies ask the shareholders to ignore this and vote against Resolution 12. What are they hiding from the fans? This ain’t going away.” Frank Evans

“It’s about time something is done about the Green Brigade, it’s just fine after fine they get the club a bad name. No need for fire works to party at Celtic Park.” Charles Magee

“Who runs Celtic the management or the Green Brigade?” Eddie Kelly

THE GREEN BRIGADE – NO ANGELS

“You have tried to make out certain members of the GB are Angels. I am fed up saying this a couple of thousand fans are not bigger than the Club. What an admission from you that you and your sons were singing that particular song. We are supposed to be a family club and we have a family section. What an example to the kids. RA songs F-the-Q fat O-B’s this one and that one. And we have the cheek to say were not the same as them across the river. Come on. This decision is not just about flares and banners. The people in that section I feel sorry for because they are being led by a handful of people who have their own agenda and it’s not a Celtic one.

“I have it on good authority it’s the overall behaviour of that section. The Lazio event was just another one of many issues. People seem to forget Celtic Football Club far bigger than a certain group of people who as I say are being used by a handful of people with their own agenda. Do the people in that section have a say on what goes on the banners that are unfurled. I think not. There’s democracy. No it will be decided by as I say a handful of people. Hail Hail.” Joseph Doyle

“Dissecting the wording of the statement or questioning it’s timing deflects from the crux of the matter, is it the right thing to do? In my book, unfortunately, it was inevitable. The colour, excitement and enthusiasm of the Green Brigade adding greatly to the atmosphere of games at Celtic Park has been consistently ruined by the arrogance and selfishness of too many individuals on too many high visibility occassions. Displaying banners” f**k UEFA”, chanting RA by young kids who nothing of the horrors of that terrible conflict, letting off pyros regardless of the dangers. Enough is enough. They think they are Celtic. They could not be more wrong.” John Wall

NEW REGULATIONS RUMOUR

“Latest partial closure of standing area. Right or Wrong – Accept or Disagree? On grapevine – next year
season ticket holders for this area to be subjected to NEW regulations concerning about how certain fans are obtaining tickets.” Jerry Woods

A PRE-EMTIVE STRIKE

“A pre-emptive ban is clever from Celtic as UEFAcould hand us one on 12 December meaning a closure for the last 16 home game.” John Walsh

FEEDBACK VIA CELTIC NOISE

“It was always coming. I wonder if any lessons will be learned?” StevieBhoy67

“Perhaps the board have taken this step in the group stages now that we are through, incase it happened again and the section in question is closed for the knock out stage by UEFA. But as I keep reminding you, I’ve been wrong before and will be again.” 50 Shades of Green

“It is a shame the club are doing this but it was becoming inevitable that this would happen. Something like about quarter of a million £s fines in 8 years and only a matter of time before a whole stand gets closed by UEFA. It’s a shame it has come to this.” Bridie Bhoy

“Mixed emotions for me this one…I understand why the GB have been locked out. The pyrotechnics have to stop. The club have repeatedly asked. Where it annoys me is that the board have done this because it’s hitting them in the pocket. They don’t mind allowing 800 bigoted sectarian muppets into the stadium to racially abuse our players and fans, throw objects at our players and insult our legends. They make examples of our fans and only our fans. Wish they would stick up for them now and again.” Lubos Left Peg

“Love The Green Brigade. Love their enthusiasm. Love their stance. Love their dedication. Love their charity work. However – can’t say that I condone the flares. Also, being an active Green Brigade participant doesn’t give them ‘superfan’ status…there are plenty lads and lasses who have earned that right over the years, but the Green Brigade are getting to that stage where they are acting a wee bit privileged now and starting to think that they are a bit more entitled than the average fan.

I hope I’m wrong, but this is how this showdown with the board ends. The next time Celtic face partial closure, they won’t go anywhere near the GB………They will enforce the closure in other parts of the ground to create a point of conflict between the ‘ordinary’ fans and the GB.

The GB need the support of the other fans too. Once that support is compromised because of sanctions, then it ain’t too long before the ordinary fans start to express their displeasure at the GB and their actions.” Spherical Planet

“Not shy at taking the plaudits and using them to flog merchandise, they have short memories pyros or no pyros and yes they have no place at football but neither does a spineless board who have sold out the support in favour of a corrupt SFA.” Kelly

“I am one of the biggest supportrers of the Green Brigade,,They dont need pyrotechnics or any other offending products to create an atmosphere,,for me they are the atmosphere,,but it definitely cannot keep going the way it has been, we will end up with the same reputation the scurvy mob from Ibrox have.
Peter Lawwell does not care who fills this part of the ground because he knows he CAN FILL it. So Bhoys let world football see the atmosphere you are renowned for without having to use big green bangers,let them see just how much a part of the greatest support in the world you are.” Green Sprig

“I am a 53 year old diehard who has followed Celtic all my life, been through the good times and the bad, years of dodgy decisions and downright cheating, to years of unbridaled happiness and satisfaction knowing that we are indeed the Champions. It has been brilliant and brutal at the same time but I would not have missed it for the world, but we live in different times now and we now have the GB, a band of supporters whose heart is in the right place, but there heads are often not. Listen, I believe they raise more money for good causes than any supporter group in Scotland, but they often let themselves and all the good work they do down, by pyros, banners etc, which cost the club money but also reputation, and gives the SMSM and the Ibrox mob something to beat us with, it has came to a head again today, and I for 1 cannot blame the club, for there actions. Some will say they bring colour and noise, and they do, but at a price, is it worth paying? Torrancetim

“The Green Brigade should trade mark any banners or songs that they have come up with and any commercial gain that Celtic have gained from these should be reimbursed to the group or offset against any fines..petty perhaps but one worth considering IMO.” Docco

“Docco, I don’t put up a pitch for the board because I like them, I stand their corner because I’m not sure what the alternatives are and most of us were watching Celtic in an era where the board were in complete dereliction of their duties and a complete liability. Sure, there are a 101 things the current guardians have done that have left me rubbing my chin, but when you have two polarising perspectives, then it’s often best to look for the middle ground. Once you start pitching the idea of the GB branding their creations, then the board just double down on that and start imparting their own copyright protection? It’s a vicious circle, perhaps a proper sit-down is required for all parties to be singing from at least the same book, if not the same hymn sheet.” Spherical Planet

“As I’ve said before flares are awright as long as you’ve got a nice pair a platforms tae go wie them.” Bigian65

“Maybe I’m just a paranoid, suspicious minded bawbag but the timing of this announcement stinks. Create a left field controversy to deflect from the Resolution 12 flak that is inevitably heading their way.” John Hughes

“BBC radio 5 live- Celtic announce partial ground closure due to illicit banners, obscene chants, setting off flares and the throwing of objects! There ye go! MSM going into overdrive!” Michael Duffy

Club acting before UEFA come down hard and I believe they will, for to long a minority of our support misbehaving abroad has resulted the club being fined pyros, the “F UEFA” banner etc. Now I think what the Green Brigade do for foodbanks etc is a credit to them and the Club also benefit, what the GB do for the atmosphere in match day brilliant (except the rebs) I grew up in The Jungle days where most of the singing started and on Euro nights crammed in like sardines. Seated stadia are devoid of atmosphere. But use of pyros, offensive chants and banners at home games in Euro Competitions, is a step too far. So club sending out a warning before UEFA and next disciplinary hearing.” Tartantim

“This was always going to happen at some point but when Celtic are looking to top the group I have to question the timing of this decision.” Winter

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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