Celtic will be punished by UEFA because the Green Brigade only said what the rest of the world is thinking
Eric Knott 
Alan Harvey - SNS Group/SNS Group/Getty Images
Last night, during the Champions League game between Celtic and Bayern Munich, the Green Brigade unveiled a banner which is most likely going to land the club in hot water once again with UEFA.
The banner will fall most likely fall under the guise of “a provocative message of an offensive nature.”
Celtic were fined £15,000 after their Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid in 2023 after the GB unveiled another banner in support of Palestine.
The conflict in Gaza was only 18 days old at that point.
Nobody envisaged what was going to happen between that time and now.
Nobody could even imagine the absolute devastation that would be visited upon Gaza since then.
Back in 2023 many people were unsure of how to view the conflict escalating in Gaza.
Simply because they were being filled with so much propaganda, an awful lot of which has been disproved since then.
Rest assured, most right minded people know exactly how to view it today.
I think you know what I mean when I state it that way.
So, there is no doubt that when the viewing public saw the banner unveiled by the Green Brigade at Celtic Park, most people would have felt it was justified.
Because nothing can justify what has happened to the Palestinian people in Gaza in the year and a quarter since then.
Unfortunately for the Green Brigade and Celtic, UEFA will not see it that way.
The irony in all of this is that if a club showed it’s support to Israel, who were very much the aggressors in this recent conflict, UEFA would most likely not do anything.
And that stinks.
Just like they did nothing when it was categorically proven that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans incited and perpetrated the majority of the violence in Amsterdam last November.
But rest assured, as sure as night turns into day, Celtic will be fined for last night’s banner.
And that, to me, and most right minded people out there, is a travesty.
The Green Brigade themselves released a statement defending their banner, which can be seen in the below tweet:
A message to all football fans from Celtic FC Green Brigade:
“We call on football fans around the world who value life, humanity, dignity, freedom, peace and justice to be courageous and to use your platform to stand against the crimes of ‘Israel’ and stand with Palestine” pic.twitter.com/ENXBUwheUg
— Leyla Hamed (@leylahamed) February 13, 2025
Below is the rule that Celtic will be accused of breaking by UEFA:
The match organiser, together with the police commander for the match and the safety and security officer, must prevent any provocative action being taken by spectators inside or in the immediate vicinity of the stadium (unacceptable levels of verbal provocation from spectators towards players or opposing fans, racist behaviour, provocative banners or flags, etc.).
Provocation very much being the operative word.
What exactly did the Green Brigade provoke last night by telling the world to “Show Israel the Red Card”?
They didn’t need to provoke anything.
The whole world has been witness to the atrocities of Israel.
They deserve to be shown the Red Card.
But as usual, UEFA will defend the defenceless.
And Celtic will be fined to prove that point.
Strange kind of justice, isn’t it?
Then again, we live in strange times.
There was challenges to FIFA and UEFA to ban the israeli national team and israeli clubs from participating in any football competition, just as they have done to Russia over Ukraine, they can’t sanction 1 country and let another continue to break international laws.
Celtic should challenge any fine put to them , we are still allowed freedom of speech and to express ourselves in this country.
Disgusting antisemitism disguised as a political comment. Keep politics out of Paradise.
It’s time the green brigade supported the club instead of using the club to promote their ideas. We are a football club not an outlet for politics.
Well said Eric, But Israel was not the aggressor this time, they have been the aggressor for 75 years of slaughter.
When the October attack took place 260 Palestinians had already been killed in the first 10 months of the year, as they have been every year, except of course when Israel carries out their not infrequent massacres, 70 by conservative estimate in 75 years. 10 thousand children jailed since the year 2000, while thousands more maimed and killed every year. And let’s not forget, the UN, Amnesty and other independent bodies have found the jailed children face torture, abuse physical and sexual, as well as rape and murder.
I see your pal James is more outraged by an 80 year old having a few drinks and enjoying himself supporting his team, while giving one old frail women the memory of her life, while James downplays genocide.
Well done the Green Brigade, Eric, and the Celtic support not pacified by the west’s propaganda.
100% Keep that lot out too. Sick fed up of the club shelling out 10’s of thousands in fines which could be going to good causes.
John S
says:
13th February 2025 at 5:20 pm
Disgusting antisemitism disguised as a political comment. Keep politics out of Paradise.
—————
John
Obviously you are all for a corrupt evil fascist country.
Keep John S out of Pradise.
John S it’s called doing the right thing, there’s no difference between what’s going on in Palestine and what’s happening in Ukraine. This is genocide on a mass scale and is against international law, what FIFA and UEFA are doing is criminal they’re justifying what’s happening in Israel by implying that the Palestine peoples lives aren’t as important as those in Ukraine. It’s hypocrisy of the highest order how can any life be less or more important than another, the Israeli’s class Palestinians as non-human beings who are they to make that distinction? If as I suspect that Israel is banned from world football, as there’s a lot more football nations getting behind this campaign now, then Celtic should demand every penny they’ve already been fined back ad nauseum. Politics is something everyone should keep themselves informed and up to date in but you say it shouldn’t be in football but neither should a World governing body choose it’s politics on a case by case basis if they class the war in Ukraine enough to ban Russia from competition then they must make the same distinction for Israel, that’s just common sense and humanitarian, there’s no antisemitism involved here. I think you’re being deliberately obtuse for the sake of it genocide is genocide no matter the religion and the Jews more than anyone should know that after the Holocaust during the second world war, they can’t have it both ways remember Hitler tried to wipe them off the face of the earth which is what they’re trying to do to the Palestinians.
I don’t see the problem with supporting the Palestinian people Israel need to keep being condemned for it’s slaughter of the people of Palestine 🇵🇸 keep up the good work Green Brigade 💚
Vile antisemitism and an embarrassment to the club. Sick of the GB/North Curve and the immense harm they do to our reputation.
HH
Are these banners not checked beforehand by Celtic? Do these people think the fines and the hatred is worth airing THEIR politics? stop bringing my club down, no matter how just the banner is, put it on the railings outside.
Brilliant article Eric, the world knows who the bloodthirsty genocidal maniacs are, and it sure as fuck isn’t the Palestinians. There isn’t enough support inside celtic park fir the Palestinian people and their plight at the hands of the said maniacs. John s is obviously a dickhead troll and Gary Duncan worries about a fine of a few grand that could go to good causes? The victims of one of the biggest genocides in history being played out for the world to see would be one of the best causes to get behind, no doubt about it. Fair play Eric in highlighting the hypocrisy and injustice, and a superp display from the green brigade.💪🏻🍀
I’m not for this. Yes, there is plenty of injustice in the world, and a hell of a lot of wrongs to be righted – I’ve seen a life time of it. I can only admire and fully support those that see it as immoral, inhumane and want to see justice – but I don’t want the stadium being a constant platform. Celtic football club are my escape from all the atrocities we hear and see in this world, a moment’s respite if you like. Support in the stadium is for the team, plenty of avenues and outlets for support on political and unethical matters elsewhere. This is such a divisive issue, and there are no winners or losers based on support or personal opinion to be found. We need to put the club first, it’s why we’re there. UEFA/FIFA will do what they do, contradictions and the rest of it. We all know it’s corrupt.
No issues with the banner. FIFA and UEFA have archaic rules that are quite ironic given their own moral issues! The argument of no politics in football is an interesting one, each to their own opinion on this. However given how our club was founded, the background of the fans who supported it then and now it’s inevitable that political viewpoints will be given a platform, personally I say why not. Perhaps someone could say what other mainstream media outlet or major televised events give air to such comments and commentary?
Brian Thompson
says:
13th February 2025 at 6:16 pm
Vile antisemitism and an embarrassment to the club. Sick of the GB/North Curve and the immense harm they do to our reputation.
————-
Speaking of embarrassment, imagine how your family must feel being related to a fanny like yourself.
ays:
13th February 2025 at 6:37 pm
Are these banners not checked beforehand by Celtic? Do these people think the fines and the hatred is worth airing THEIR politics? stop bringing my club down, no matter how just the banner is, put it on the railings outside.
—————
Hatred?
How so?
Antisemitism is banded about to silence people. Its anti Zionisism that should be stated. Lots of Jews do not agree with what Israel is doing. Expansionism by Israel is wrong xx