| Green Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2006 |
| Type | Football Ultras Group, Football Supporters Group (Celtic F.C.) |
| Location | Glasgow, Scotland |
The Green Brigade is an ultras group consisting of fans of Celtic Football Club. The group, formed in 2006, describes itself as a "a broad front of anti-fascist, anti-racist and anti-sectarian Celtic supporters".[1]
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The group are normally situated in section 111 of Celtic Park and Celtic football club themselves were closely involved in creating the Green Brigade section within the stadium. The Green Brigade have organised various displays at Celtic matches involving banners, flags and demonstrations which have been credited with improving the atmosphere at Celtic Park.[2][3]
The group have been known to participate in pro-Irish Republican Army and Irish Republican chants.[4][5][6]
The Green Brigade were warned by Celtic that their behaviour inside Celtic Park could pose a safety risk due to standing up through matches and blocking passageways.[3] At a match against Dundee United in November 2010, there was serious disorder in the section occupied by the Green Brigade when a supporter was being ejected by stewards.[7][3] Supporters charged at the security guards and one was left with a bloody lip after a coin was reportedly thrown.[7]
In April 2011 at the Scottish Cup semi final against Aberdeen police officers attempted to remove a supporter who had set off a flare inside the stadium.[8][9] Police were unable to remove the supporter because other fans physically held onto him.[8] Four supporters were later held by police in connection with the incident.[8] More than 100 Green Brigade members walked out of the stadium in protest of the arrests.[8][9]
In April 2011 some members of the Green Brigade had not been sent season ticket renewal forms after the club had threatened to disperse the group around other sections of the stadium.[8][2]
The Green Brigade has also supported in the Show Racism the Red Card campaign that aims to tackle racism in football. [10]
At a match against Aberdeen in November 2010, the Green Brigade unfurled two banners with the words "Your deeds would shame all the devils in hell. Ireland Iraq Afghanistan. No bloostained (sic) poppy on our hoops."[11][12] This protest was against the placing of the remembrance poppy on Celtic's shirt for the 11 November 2010 match against St. Mirren and was widely reported in Scotland and throughout Britain. The Irish Independent commented that "the unfortunate misspelling did not dilute the message. In fact, it reinforced it. These people were angry, way too angry to get the spelling right."[4]
The Green Brigade released a statement concerning the protest, explaining that "Our group and many within the Celtic support do not recognise the British Armed Forces as heroes, nor their role in many conflicts as one worthy of our remembrance". The statement cited civilian deaths caused by the Armed Forces in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as Bloody Sunday, particularly the 2010 conclusions of the Saville Inquiry, highlighting the fact that the report "confirmed that 14 unarmed civilians were murdered in Derry in 1972 by the Paratroop Regiment". The statement further indicated the group's displeasure at Celtic chairman John Reid, stating that "rather than leave his politics at the door ... the former Armed Forces Minister and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Defence, has forced his onto the first team jersey".[13]
In response to the Poppy protest, Celtic said in a statement: "The Club is currently carrying out an investigation into this matter. When it is concluded, it is the Club's intention to ban those identified as responsible from Celtic Park".[14] The Glasgow Herald reported that in the weeks leading up to the incident, the Green Brigade had stepped up pro-IRA chants.[5] Celtic has been investigated by UEFA in the past for alleged sectarian behaviour including pro-IRA chants.[15] Former Celtic manager David Hay has called for singing of IRA anthems to be banned,[16] while current Celtic manager Neil Lennon has also said that IRA chants "embarrass" the club. [17]
The Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs, regarding the poppy on the club shirt, stated: "to see the jersey being used as a medium for such a divisive symbol and the message it communicates is deplorable".[18]
The Celtic Trust, an organisation that works to combine shareholdings of supporters at Celtic Park, expressed its dismay at the club's intent to ban supporters from the ground for taking part in this protest.[19] The Celtic Supporters' Association released a statement opposing the poppy appearing on club shirts.[20]
The Celtic team wore the poppy on their shirts on Remembrance Sunday in 2010 with no further outward protest from fans,[21] although the Green Brigade themselves reportedly organised a boycott of the match.[22]
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