Green Brigade
| Formation | 2006 |
|---|---|
| Type | Ultras group, football supporters group (Celtic F.C.) |
| Location |
|
The Green Brigade is an ultras group consisting of supporters of the Scottish football club Celtic.
Background
The group were formed in 2006 and describe themselves as a "a broad front of anti-fascist, anti-racist and anti-sectarian Celtic supporters".[1] They are normally situated in section 111 of Celtic Park; Celtic football club 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]
The group have been known to participate in, and often start, pro-Irish Republican Army and Irish Republican chants.[3][4]
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.[5] Supporters charged at the security guards and one was left with a bloody lip after a coin was reportedly thrown.[5]
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.[6][7] Police were unable to remove the supporter because other fans held onto him.[6] Four supporters were later held by police in connection with the incident.[6] More than 100 Green Brigade members walked out of the stadium in protest of the arrests.[6][7]
In April 2011 some members of the Green Brigade were not sent season ticket renewal forms after the club threatened to disperse the group around other sections of the stadium.[6][2]
After the last match of the 2011-12 season Celtic manager Neil Lennon presented the SPL trophy to the Green Brigade by placing it in front of the section where they sit. He later said, "I just wanted to say thank you to them because they have, week in, week out, created a great atmosphere. They sing non-stop. They add colour. Sometimes they are a little bit controversial but in the main they have behaved themselves impeccably and they have changed the culture of the stadium. It’s a fun place to come for the supporters and the atmosphere in the big games has been fantastic. They are the catalyst for all of that."[8]
Poppy protest
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 bloodstained poppy on our hoops."[9][10] This protest was against the placing of the remembrance poppy on Celtic's shirt for the 11 November 2010 match against St. Mirren.
The Green Brigade 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".[11]
The Glasgow Herald reported that in the weeks leading up to the incident, the Green Brigade had stepped up pro-IRA chants.[3] Celtic has been investigated by UEFA in the past for alleged sectarian behaviour including pro-IRA chants.[12] Former Celtic manager David Hay has called for singing of IRA anthems to be banned,[13] while current Celtic manager Neil Lennon has also said that IRA chants "embarrass" the club. [14]
References
- ^ Roddy Forsyth (25 November 2010). "tbc". Telegraph. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ a b "Celtic's warning to Green Brigade". Evening Times. 29 April 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
- ^ a b "Veterans anger as celtic stage half time protest against poppies". The Glasgow Herald. 8 November 2010. Cite error: The named reference "two" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ "Celtic Park Anti-Poppy Banner Protest: Football Club Promises Life Bans For Fans Involved | UK News | Sky News". News.sky.com. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
- ^ a b "Fan group Green Brigade told by Celtic they face having season tickets confiscated". Daily Record. 28 November 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
- ^ a b c d e "Celtic's 'Green Brigade' in stand-off with police over flare at cup tie". The Scotsman. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
- ^ a b "Cops and Celtic fans in stand-off". The Sun. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
- ^ "Celtic boss Neil Lennon pays tribute to Hoops support as SPL party gets into full swing at Parkhead". Daily Record. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- ^ BBC News (8 November 2010). "TBD". BBC. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ Evening Times News (9 November 2010). "TBD". Evening Times. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ Visitor (9 November 2010). "Green Brigade Statement on the Poppy Protest". E-Tims Online Fanzine. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
- ^ "UEFA inquiry into Celtic sectarian chants". Daily Telegraph. 29 March 2011.
- ^ "HAY: Ban these songs". The Sun. 23 April 2011.
- ^ "Neil Lennon: Cut out sectarian singing". Evening Times. 18 May 2011.