Celtic withdraw season tickets of members of Green Brigade fan group following failure to adhere to club rules

Celtic has indefinitely withdrawn the season tickets of one of their largest fan groups.

The group, known as the Green Brigade, had already been banned from receiving away tickets.

Now, the club has decided to take their season tickets at Celtic Park away, too.

It is thought Celtic made the decision due to what they deem as the group’s consistent failure to adhere to club and stadium rules, with the latest being flying Palestinian flags at a recent Champions League game.

However, that is not thought to have had a direct bearing on the decision and is rather the result of a number of incidents.

The BBC report that this includes the unsafe use of pyrotechnics at Feyenoord on 19 September, rushing turnstiles and forcing open fire exits at Motherwell, on 30 September, gaining unauthorised access to Celtic Park ahead of the Lazio game on 4 October to bring in an unauthorised banner and violent and intimidating behaviour towards stewards at Hibs on 28 October.

The fan group, which reside in the north curve of Celtic Park, typically organise a tifo – a visual or choreographed display of flags or banners – for games.

Prior to the Atletico game on 25 October, the club asked its fans not to bring in any banners relating to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The request was ignored, though and numerous Palestine flags were spotted around the ground with the Green Brigade handing out Palestine flags before the game and forming a display of their own.

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In a statement before the European clash, the Green Brigade said the ban from the club was ‘motivated by a desire to quash political expression within the Celtic support’.

It also accused the Celtic board of being disingenuous and hypocritical, citing issues over the club’s history and the war in Ukraine.

Celtic are expected to receive a fine from UEFA for the displays shown at the game having previously been punished in 2014 and 2016.

Their next outing sees them take on St Mirren, which will see members of the ‘Ultra’ group denied entrance at home on Wednesday night.

The club is five points ahead of rivals Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership.