By Andrew Warshaw
December 10 – Scottish champions Celtic have taken what appear to be steps to disband their notorious Green Brigade fans group after a reported £10,000 worth of damage was caused to the away end of the ground at Motherwell’s stadium during last Friday’s league game between the clubs.
The damage was done just above where a Green Brigade banner was displayed while two green smoke bombs were thrown into the goalmouth, one of them landing yards from Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
The club have handed “precautionary suspensions” to 128 supporters preventing them from attending both home and away matches while 250 season-ticket holders housed in section 111 – the Green Brigade’s corner of Celtic Park – will be moved to other parts of the ground.
Scottish Professional Football League chief executive Neil Doncaster branded the events at Fir Park as “shameful” and vowed to help the police track down those responsible.
“It is clear that there is an element which has no hesitation in bringing Celtic’s name into disrepute,” a club statement said. “This is something the club will not tolerate and we therefore have no other option but to take this action. We will not allow the great name of Celtic to be damaged in this way any more – our supporters deserve more than this.
“Celtic has a proud 125-year history and fundamental to that history have been our fans. Our supporters enjoy a wonderful reputation earned across many years, many families and many generations. This is something we must protect vigorously.”
The Green Brigade released a statement insisting their members were not responsible for the damage but also admitting it should have self-policed the section at Motherwell’s Fir Park ground better.
Celtic have already given the self-proclaimed ultras-style group, formed in 2006, one reprieve this year after reversing a decision to shut down Section 111 following complaints about safety breaches back in August.
UEFA have already opened disciplinary proceedings against Celtic after fans unveiled banners depicting IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands and Scottish warrior William Wallace at their Champions League game against Milan last month. The UEFA disciplinary case is under the auspices of the banners being of a “non sporting nature”, but the Green Brigade claimed they had the right of political expression – and that the banners were not offensive.
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