The Green Brigade

lubo_moravcik · 25-09-2011 2:02am #1

A group of Celtic fans who have brought some great noise, colour and atmosphere to Celtic Park. A 60,000+ seater stadium can seem like a bit of a morgue at times, these Bhoys and Ghirls have changed all that though.

Today they had a protest, for the first 50 minutes they were silent, holding up banners at different stages during the 50 minute period.
Have a wee watch for yourself, then see how the atmosphere changes once they come alive.

Forza Green Brigade, UTLR

Cill Dara Abu · 25-09-2011 2:04am

Great fans, ****e team.

Richard Hillman · 25-09-2011 3:15am

The Richard Boyd-Barrett of football fans.

Gavin "shels" · 25-09-2011 3:20am

What was the protest over? I've great respect for the GB since they formed, I also liked that they sorted out the Jungle Bhoys fools who robbed a Briogaid Dearg logo there a few seasons back!

This is more impressive though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9KFqUz8Jks

a joint protest this week by the two clubs due to the Swedish FA moving the match for TV. 10 minutes of slience and then get the match stopped just after half time due to the Swedish FA banning flares.

Coillte_Bhoy · 25-09-2011 4:24am

Gavin shels wrote: »

What was the protest over?

Stement issued by the GB

Today we held a silent and visual protest against the criminalisation of the Celtic support, both from the ‘Offensive Behaviour at Football…’ Bill and the disproportionate policing that we and the wider Celtic support currently face.

While the new legislation will likely have a direct effect on our group – particularly as the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland are demanding that it specifically refers to banners and displays – it extends beyond just us and all Celtic fans will be affected.

The proposed new legislation denies football fans the right to freedom of expression and treats us all completely differently from others in society. This is despite there being very little disorder at football matches – and certainly far less than at music concerts or at bars and clubs around the country.

It comes on the back of a season when our manager was attacked by bigots because he comes from an Irish nationalist background. The response of the politicians has been to draft a law that, according to Justice Committee chair Christine Graham, is designed to target the Celtic support for our Irish identity and for singing songs in support of Irish nationhood. It looks like the bigots have won.

The protest was a massive step for our group to take. We want nothing more than to back our team for 90 mins and give them our support, especially on the back of defeat at Ibrox last week. But we feel this issue goes far beyond one half of football and that if the Celtic support doesn’t begin to influence the debate around policing and the new law then we, like many other Celtic fans won’t be there to support the team – we’ll be banned and possibly jailed.

In many ways, though, this is already happening. We currently have three members awaiting trial for ‘offences’ committed at the first game of last season. Their alleged crime was holding a a banner that, days later, bigoted elements of the Scotland’s Shame support complained about after seeing on the internet. The case has been doggedly pursued by the Procurator Fiscal, who has appointed a Fiscal more used to murder trials to take charge of the prosecution. We’ve also had members and others in section 111 arrested on made-up charges and instantly banned from every game in Scotland while their case drags on through the legal system – the police don’t even need to consult the courts to do this now.

At every match we’re filmed constantly and subjected to petty intimidation, like strange police officers greeting you by your first name. And it’s not just us – at every away match the police are filming fans coming off buses, in pubs and at stadiums and fans are given full-body searches at grounds. At the recent home game with Motherwell a fan was arrested and dragged out of the main stand by several police officers for singing ‘go home ya huns’. Fans arriving home from Sion in the early hours of the morning were greeted by a welcoming party from Strathclyde Police, there to say hello and take their pictures.

The time has now come for our club to stand up for our fans and use their considerable influence and voice to defend us from disproportionate policing and discriminatory new laws. It is also time for the support to come together and oppose policing and laws that seeks to silence us and treat us as part of a problem that, if it exists, is not of our making.

We won’t roll over to a political agenda that seeks to criminalise us and we call on all fans and fan organisations to join us and protest against the criminalisation of the Celtic support.

Bobeagleburger · 25-09-2011 8:18am

8.14 is class

Jelle1880 · 25-09-2011 8:29am

Richard Hillman wrote: »

The Richard Boyd-Barrett of football fans.

More like the George Galloway of football fans.

Once again they try to turn something which is aimed at all Scottish football fans into some sort of 'woe unto us' propaganda.
Criminalisation of the Celtic support ? Bollocks, it's the criminalisation of all Scottish football fans.

They asked for a crackdown on sectarianism, well they got it and now they don't like it (probably because they thought it wouldn't affect them).

edit: This is not about their support for the club, they've grown into the biggest group in the UK and support their team, which is always good.
But that doesn't take away that I have big problems with their political stance.

HalloweenJack · 25-09-2011 9:46am

Gavin shels wrote: »

protest this week by the two clubs due to the Swedish FA moving the match for TV. 10 minutes of slience and then get the match stopped just after half time due to the Swedish FA banning flares.

Great to see, especially that both sides worked together.

I saw something similar at a Rayo Vallecano match a few years back. Their ultras held a silent protest for the first fifteen minutes than they all walked out and left a banner behind saying "No to modern football" or something along those lines.

A Dub in Glasgo · 25-09-2011 9:50am

Great protest and a great statement from the Green Brigade

Jelle1880 - the GB are not going to highlight how the legislation and more 'robust' policing affects fans of other clubs, that is up to the fans of other clubs to sort out. It is facile to dismiss the GB protest because they concentrate on Celtic fans. What we are witnessing is not a crackdown on sectarianism and anyone with a bit of knowledge about how this law is being put together and implemented will know that.

stovelid · 25-09-2011 10:10am

Amazing stuff.

A football club with Ultras.

You don't see that every day.

Jelle1880 · 25-09-2011 10:25am

A Dub in Glasgo wrote: »

Great protest and a great statement from the Green Brigade

Jelle1880 - the GB are not going to highlight how the legislation and more 'robust' policing affects fans of other clubs, that is up to the fans of other clubs to sort out. It is facile to dismiss the GB protest because they concentrate on Celtic fans. What we are witnessing is not a crackdown on sectarianism and anyone with a bit of knowledge about how this law is being put together and implemented will know that.

Of course it's not a crackdown on sectarianism, it's merely a way for certain politicians to show how tough they are.
But there's only one group which through the years has waged a campaign to have certain songs banned, and it's come back to bite them in the arse.

homerjay2005 · 25-09-2011 10:57am

must have been a s*it match:D

Coillte_Bhoy · 25-09-2011 11:34am

stovelid wrote: »

Amazing stuff.

A football club with Ultras.

You don't see that every day.

Thats not what the thread is about. You do know that? Of course you do, but have a chance to get a dig at Celtic, you couldnt possibly pass it up, could you? Hvae you anything to say on the substantive point?

Coillte_Bhoy · 25-09-2011 11:35am

homerjay2005 wrote: »

must have been a s*it match:D

Not the game of the season, i'll give you that but cracking atmosphere

bohsman · 25-09-2011 12:00pm

Sounds as bad/worse than what is happening over here. Have they started pepperspraying kids yet?

Broxi_Bear_Eire · 25-09-2011 12:09pm

In many ways, though, this is already happening. We currently have three members awaiting trial for ‘offences’ committed at the first game of last season. Their alleged crime was holding a a banner that, days later, bigoted elements of the Scotland’s Shame support complained about after seeing on the internet

Dear me are they actually so stupid as to be surprised when after there complaining to all and sundry someone has done the exact same to them the mind boggles it really does.

Jelle1880 · 25-09-2011 12:35pm

Exactly, they have turned it into a tit for tat situation, and then are surprised when people actually complain about their actions.

Also, including 'bigoted elements of the Scotland's Shame support' doesn't really make a strong point for impartiality.

spiralism · 25-09-2011 12:38pm

Jelle1880 wrote: »

Exactly, they have turned it into a tit for tat situation, and then are surprised when people actually complain about their actions.

Also, including 'bigoted elements of the Scotland's Shame support' doesn't really make a strong point for impartiality.

i don't think they're trying to argue impartiality, they're the celtic ultras, it's pretty apparent. they were making a stand, it's up to other clubs to follow suit. wouldn't be too surprised if TBO made a similar protest before long

Broxi_Bear_Eire · 25-09-2011 12:44pm

spiralism wrote: »

i don't think they're trying to argue impartiality, they're the celtic ultras, it's pretty apparent. they were making a stand, it's up to other clubs to follow suit. wouldn't be too surprised if TBO made a similar protest before long

Again if Celtic fans had not went running to whoever they could at every turn this would not be happening I think you will find groups like TBO have already stated they are against this law as it stands but will fight fire with fire

Jelle1880 · 25-09-2011 12:48pm

spiralism wrote: »

i don't think they're trying to argue impartiality, they're the celtic ultras, it's pretty apparent. they were making a stand, it's up to other clubs to follow suit. wouldn't be too surprised if TBO made a similar protest before long

Rangers supporters in general have already made comments on it, even having a Mark Dingwall (Owner of FollowFollow) on the debate which was televised.

Needless to say, the arguments pro-legislation were completely destroyed time and time again, while Cunningham and her cronies like Speirs couldn't get further than 'But you're a bigot blablabla', it doesn't seem to stop them unfortunately.
So I applaud all clubs and fans taking a stance against it, but not when it reeks so obviously of double standards.

spiralism · 25-09-2011 12:48pm

Broxi_Bear_Eire wrote: »

Again if Celtic fans had not went running to whoever they could at every turn this would not be happening I think you will find groups like TBO have already stated they are against this law as it stands but will fight fire with fire

could you blame us for "running at every turn"? last year was as bad as it's ever been and our manager nearly got killed multiple times

RoryMac · 25-09-2011 12:50pm

Broxi_Bear_Eire wrote: »

Again if Celtic fans had not went running to whoever they could at every turn this would not be happening I think you will find groups like TBO have already stated they are against this law as it stands but will fight fire with fire

What? If Celtic fans had not complained about some Rangers songs none of this would have happened? You don't think Rangers actually being found guilty on 3 or 4 occasions by UEFA had any part to play??

C'mon both sets of fans have issues to resolve but to blame all of this on Celtic fans complaints is head in the sand stuff.

Broxi_Bear_Eire · 25-09-2011 12:51pm

spiralism wrote: »

could you blame us for "running at every turn"? last year was as bad as it's ever been and our manager nearly got killed multiple times

Of course last year was despicable but please Celtic fans started complaining at least three years ago so don't use last year as an excuse

Jelle1880 · 25-09-2011 12:53pm

Now it's 3 or 4 occasions ?
2 occasions, 1 of which it's still not explained what songs were exactly the cause.

This has lead to TBB being banned at Ibrox, but that wasn't enough for some.
They kept blasting the media with stories of bigotry, sectarianism,... without having much proof.

Then the SNP steps in, makes a draconic law which affects Celtic fans too and all of a sudden it's not so nice anymore, as their own songs are under scrutiny too.

Broxi_Bear_Eire · 25-09-2011 12:53pm

RoryMac wrote: »

What? If Celtic fans had not complained about some Rangers songs none of this would have happened? You don't think Rangers actually being found guilty on 3 or 4 occasions by UEFA had any part to play??

C'mon both sets of fans have issues to resolve but to blame all of this on Celtic fans complaints is head in the sand stuff.

No its not its because Celtic fans complained that UEFA got involved The head in the sand stuff is coming from your side as far as this goes mate.

As for both sets of fans having issues to resolve I totally agree with you

RoryMac · 25-09-2011 12:58pm

Broxi_Bear_Eire wrote: »

Again if Celtic fans had not went running to whoever they could at every turn this would not be happening I think you will find groups like TBO have already stated they are against this law as it stands but will fight fire with fire

Broxi_Bear_Eire wrote: »

No its not its because Celtic fans complained that UEFA got involved The head in the sand stuff is coming from your side as far as this goes mate.

As for both sets of fans having issues to resolve I totally agree with you

So which is it?

Wolfe Tone · 25-09-2011 1:02pm

That was class. Ridiculous trying to blame celtic for this, if Rangers fans hadnt have sang the songs in the first place we wouldnt be having this conversation.

Its an overreaction by politicians but given what has happened to Lennon over the last year it was pretty much inevitable, hopefully protests will force a rethink.

Jelle1880 · 25-09-2011 1:03pm

RoryMac wrote: »

So which is it?

Is UEFA the only one who you can complain to then ?

edit: I just saw that Graham Speirs is supporting the GB in their actions.
What a fud, he was on the panel in the discussion about the law, he was completely in favour of it back then, going as far as saying that even thinking sectarian thoughts (So not even saying them) should be punishable.

spiralism · 25-09-2011 1:07pm

Broxi_Bear_Eire wrote: »

Of course last year was despicable but please Celtic fans started complaining at least three years ago so don't use last year as an excuse

Three years ago was around the time the famine song was in full airing

RoryMac wrote: »

What? If Celtic fans had not complained about some Rangers songs none of this would have happened? You don't think Rangers actually being found guilty on 3 or 4 occasions by UEFA had any part to play??

C'mon both sets of fans have issues to resolve but to blame all of this on Celtic fans complaints is head in the sand stuff.

but then again, how dare we complain about that, we're evidently just as bad as a team that's faced two crackdowns from uefa on racism/sectarianism and that left two cities (barcelona, manchester) and a stadium in romania (unirea) to waste on their european adventures because we sing nationalist songs, of which not many bear reference to the pira and of which none whatsoever encourage hatred against the unionist community.

Broxi_Bear_Eire · 25-09-2011 1:09pm

RoryMac wrote: »

So which is it?

They complained to UEFA They complained to the Irish Government they complained to basically anyone they could

Jelle1880 · 25-09-2011 1:11pm

'Soon there'll be no Protestants at all' isn't hateful ?
'Just like me and you, he's a provo too' ? Aye, very nationalist.

As for your comments about Manchester, Barcelona and Unirea (There was hardly damage, just a scuffle with stewards. You know, like the GB have done on several occasions ?): Yawn.
Wasn't it Celtic who had more fans arrested this pre-season that all of Manchester 2008 ?
Must be those bigoted police officers in England.

edit: Not to forget the Catholic Church BBE.

The Green Brigade

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