Confront the Bams

Celtic Football Club deserve great credit for taking action against the so-called Green Brigade, a small group of Celtic fans who have essentially set themselves up as an 'elite group' - who are out to use the club and its football matches as a vehicle for their own political ends.

The straw that broke the camel's back was the wanton vandalism inflicted on Motherwell's ground (Fir Park) where they deliberately caused damage to other people's property - costing thousands of pounds which Celtic, quite rightly, will have to pay for.

The incident at Fir Park is just the latest in a long line of troubles and the club has finally decided to take tough action - the club's decision to 'confront the bams' will be supported by every true Celtic and football fan.

Celtic suspend fans after damage to Motherwell's Fir Park

Celtic have suspended 128 fans from their matches and relocated 250 season-ticket holders following damage caused to Motherwell's Fir Park on Friday.

Seats in the South Stand were damaged while smoke bombs and flares were also thrown during Celtic's 5-0 win.

The Green Brigade group of fans on Sunday said it regretted the scenes and admitted that it should have better policed its section of supporters.

“We are confident that the police and both clubs will play a full part in helping to identify those involved in what were shameful scenes”, Neil Doncaster, SPFL chief executive.

But the club have decided to move fans from Section 111 of Celtic Park.

The news came as the Scottish Professional Football League described the scenes at Fir Park as "shameful" and promised an investigation once it receives its match delegate's report within the next 48 hours.

The Green Brigade is a self-styled "ultras" group of fans known for banner displays and chanting who attend home games in Section 111 of the stadium.

Uefa opened disciplinary proceedings against Celtic following banners displayed at the Champions League game against AC Milan with a slogan depicting Scottish warrior William Wallace and IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands.

Celtic and Scottish Police have already launched their own probes into the incidents at Fir Park, with the football club already taking action following the estimated £10,000 worth of damage.

The Scottish champions said they had issued "precautionary suspensions against 128 individuals preventing them attending matches involving Celtic, pending further investigation".

These suspensions will cover matches away from home as well as at Celtic Park.

Celtic say they will also be "relocating around 250 season book holders in Section 111 to other areas within the stadium, or offering refunds covering the remainder of the season to those who do not wish to be relocated".

Flares and smoke bombs were set off at Fir Park during Friday's match

"These events were an embarrassment to our great football club and are absolutely indefensible," said a club statement.

"It is clear that there is an element which has no hesitation in bringing Celtic's name into disrepute.

"This is something the club will not tolerate and we therefore have no other option but to take this action.

"We will not allow the great name of Celtic to be damaged in this way any more. Our supporters deserve more than this."

While insisting that none of its members were involved in Friday's events, the Green Brigade admitted that it had happened in an "unofficial Green Brigade section".

The group had already been criticised by the club over political banners displayed at Celtic's Champions League game against AC Milan last month that led to Celtic being called to a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday by European governing body Uefa.

What is the Green Brigade?

• The Green Brigade is a group of self-proclaimed "anti-fascist and anti-sectarian" Celtic supporters that was formed in 2006 and has been involved in a number of controversial incidents over the past few years.
• Despite being credited with bringing noise and colour to Celtic Park during matches, some of its actions and protests have led to condemnation from the club and the football authorities.
• The most high-profile, and perhaps most controversial, was its protest against the wearing of the poppy on Celtic shirts as part of the 2010 remembrance commemorations.
• Housed in Section 111 of the stadium, it unfurled a banner that read: "Your deeds would shame all the devils in hell. Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan - No bloodstained poppy on our hoops."
• Celtic have threatened to close its section of the stadium in the past due to the group's refusal to adhere to safety regulations.

Celtic's latest statement urged the supporters to unite behind the club in taking action to "protect vigorously" what it said was a "wonderful reputation" of its fans.

The SPFL has yet to decide whether to take action and the next stage of any disciplinary action might not become clear until the start of next week.

However, it issued a statement pointing out that, under its rules, the visiting club should recompense the home club for any damage caused by their support.

Should the clubs fail to agree on a compensation figure, the league body would adjudicate on the matter.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: "We have already been in touch with both clubs and the police following the disturbances during Friday night's fixture at Fir Park.

"We absolutely condemn this type of behaviour. It has no place in the game.

"We are confident that the police and both clubs will play a full part in helping to identify those involved in what were shameful scenes.

"We expect the SPFL match delegate report to be with us within the next 24-48 hours.

"The SPFL will work closely with our colleagues at both clubs and with the police as part of a thorough investigation into Friday night's events."