WE WON’T SAY SORRY
Green Brigade renegades refuse to back down
Renegade fan group the Green Brigade yesterday went to war with Celtic and vowed they won’t ditch their ‘ultra’ ways.
The club have shut down their section for the next two games over
safety issues, with boss Brendan Rodgers warning they face heavier punishments after flying IRA banners put them in UEFA’s sights again.
However in a statement yesterday, the group:
Refused to back down and called on the board to reverse the two-match ban.
Accused the club of compromising fans’ safety and of not taking a strong enough stance against a raf t of perceived injustices.
Claimed Celtic insulted supporters by refusing to take tickets for the game at Linfield.
They said: “We know that in the sanitised world of Scottish football the actions of an Ultra group may have consequences for our members.
“We do however completely oppose collective punishment and a blanket ban on fans in our block is disproportionate and unjust. We call on the board to revise this decision.”
Despite UEFA charges racking up fines of more than £140,000, the Green Brigade insist they have no contrition.
The statement claimed: “The Green Brigade exists to support Celtic in a positive manner and we believe that this current confrontation is unnecessary and avoidable.
“We welcome Peter Lawwell’s call for dialogue.
“One of our f irst talking points will be the unnecessary and unsafe policing operation during Wednesday’s match, which we believe must be the source of one of UEFA’s charges (blocked stairwells).
“It is bizarre and shameful the club have not only blamed fans for this charge but have cited it as a reason for the ban.
“Other pertinent issues to be addressed are the club’s response to the biggest cheating scandal to shame Scottish sport, the insulting of the Celtic support over the Linfield away debacle and negligence of the safety of those they knew would travel, and the silence over the racial and sectarian hatred directed at our player of the year and manager.”
The statement, signed off ‘until the last rebel’, added: “We can assure all that we will be back in Celtic Park soon enough and that we will never allow our style nor our politics to ever be diluted.”
Celtic last night declined to comment.