Politics and Football

I see that Celtic Football Club are threatening to take tough action against the so-called Green Brigade - a small but vocal group of supporters who try to exploit match days for their own political ends. 

Last Wednesday the Green Brigade unfurled political banners during a Champions League tie against AC Milan which will get the club into trouble again with the European footballing authority, Uefa, and is likely to result in another heavy fine.

To my mind these fans are 'Grade A' idiots and having been warned in the past the thing to do now is to withdraw their season tickets - because they clearly believe they are bigger than the club and a law unto themselves.

I was at Parkhead a few years ago when the Green Brigade staged a noisy protest in the stadium against Celtic FC marking Remembrance Day - a sombre act of respect to UK armed forces, past and present, who have lost their lives or been injured down the years.

Now I can respect someone who chooses not to wear a red poppy or decides not to mark Remembrance Day in some other way - but that's quite different from being deliberately disrespectful to others who do - a bit like disrupting a minute's silence with noisy booing and hissing.  

So I support the club in tackling the Green Brigade because a football ground is not a place for peddling political arguments - these individuals don't speak for the vast majority of fans and the GB's behaviour is costing Celtic money that should be spent elsewhere.

If they want to hold protests or political meetings, let them do so outside the stadium - although the Green Brigade knows, like me, that if they did so virtually no one would turn up. 

  
Champions League: Uefa charge Celtic over banners

Disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Celtic for an incident of "non-sporting nature" during the Champions League defeat by AC Milan.

Banners with a slogan depicted Scottish warrior William Wallace and Irish hunger striker Bobby Sands.

The case will be dealt with by the Uefa Control and Disciplinary meeting on 11 December.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell described the banner as "nothing more than clear disrespect for the club".

“The club don't want it, our manager and our team don't want it, our supporters don't want it and the football authorities don't want it - it has to stop”Peter LawwellCeltic chief executive

Celtic were previously fined by Uefa over a banner displayed during a Europa League tie against Udinese in 2011.

A penalty was imposed for supporters setting off fireworks during a Champions League qualifier this season.

Celtic have previously warned supporters in section 111 of the stadium, known to house the Green Brigade, over their future conduct or face being relocated.

The Green Brigade is a self-styled "ultras" group of fans known for banner displays and chanting and Celtic have made it "abundantly clear" that "only football-related displays would be permitted and that any political display would lead to a Uefa charge".

"There have now been a number of Uefa charges made against the club during the last three years, relating to behaviour, displays and pyrotechnics - it cannot go on any further," added Lawwell in a statement.

"Let's be very clear. Following the actions of a small minority, these charges are made against the club. It is the reputation of Celtic, our great club and our great fans which is damaged, while others carry on indulging in such behaviour.

"Our supporters do not want this any more. We are a non-political organisation, a top football club in fantastic shape, aiming to play its part as a major football club on the European stage.

"Regardless of the political views people hold, football stadia, whether it is Celtic Park or anywhere else, should not be used to promote these. This is something which all football authorities, including Uefa, have stressed for some time and something well known by all supporters.

"The club don't want it, our manager and our team don't want it, our supporters don't want it and the football authorities don't want it - it has to stop."

Ajax were earlier this month fined £21,000 for fans displaying an offensive banner at their Champions League against Celtic in Amsterdam.