Get the latest Celtic news delivered straight to your inbox with our newsletter
we have newsletters
Get the latest Celtic news delivered straight to your inbox with our newsletter
We have newsletters
A Palestinian organization from the Aida refugee camp has proposed to the Celtic committee to reconsider the ban on the Green Brigade.
Hoops leaders told about 200 members of the segment that their season tickets had been suspended until later due to “repeated incidents of unacceptable behaviour” and higher fines from UEFA. The latest sanction given to Scottish Premiership bosses through European football’s governing framework here, when Celtic were fined £15,200 after fans posted “provocative messages of an offensive nature” against the Champions League match against Atletico Madrid. The sanction came after Celtic warned their supporters before the match not to display Palestinian flags against the match. to the La Liga team.
The ultras have already funded the education of Aida Celtic, a football team from the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. UEFA’s latest sanction prompted a letter from the European soccer organization calling for action from Parkhead’s management.
A reading: “On behalf of the Lajee Celtic League in Aida refugee camp, Palestine, we would like to express our gratitude to the supporters of Celtic FC and the Green Brigade for their unwavering help to Palestine. This aid goes beyond sport: it is a symbol of solidarity against the oppression of the Palestinian people.
“Our partnership with the Green Brigade allows us to welcome various groups made up of children and young people of other ages to realize their dream of turning a footballer into a renowned league, unifying and empowering communities to bring hope through of sport. As soccer is known to be a sport enjoyed around the world, our young athletes grew up playing soccer anywhere within the camp.
“With little space due to the limitations of the refugee camp and very few football pitches available, they dream of one day training professional football players and hope to have a Palestinian team identified around the world, betting as opposed to other professional groups and players. The ethics of Celtic FC and the Green Brigades mean a lot to the Palestinian people.
“Palestinians and their supporters are under excessive scrutiny through the foreign network and, now more than ever, raising the flag is considered a crime punishable by imprisonment or fines, in Palestine and in many countries around the world. It is increasingly vital to raise our flag to challenge those who continue to silence us.
“After the public display of Palestinian flags at the Celtic match on October 25, it not only gave hope to Palestinians, but also gave us the wonderful honour of being identified by an outstanding European football team and showed our others that the world knows our struggle and stands with us in those horrible times.
“However, we are saddened by UEFA’s decision to impose a fine and ban on the Green Brigade for acting for Palestine and the other Palestinians in a genocidal war at this time. This resolution not only raises concerns about the limits of freedom of expression, but also sends a strong and damaging message to Palestinians and their oppressors. We hope that Celtic Football Club will reconsider its resolve to punish the former or American teams for their cause.
Celtic were fined a total of £25,000 in the 2-2 draw in Glasgow on October 25, adding £15,000 for “provocative message of an offensive nature”. The other two fines are for “blocking public passages” (£6,900) and “lighting fireworks” (£3,000), but displaying the Palestinian flag.