The Green Brigade

lubo_moravcik

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

Great fans, ****e team.

Richard Hillman

The Richard Boyd-Barrett of football fans.

Gavin "shels"

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

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.

8.14 is class

Jelle1880

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

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

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

Amazing stuff.

A football club with Ultras.

You don't see that every day.

Jelle1880

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

must have been a s*it match:D

Coillte_Bhoy

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

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

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

Broxi_Bear_Eire

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RoryMac wrote: »

So which is it?

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

Jelle1880

'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.

Broxi_Bear_Eire

spiralism wrote: »

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



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.

Unirea what bollox the fans were treated like crap and were in a dangerous stadium Barcelona was not laid to waste you have been reading fairy tales again Manchester was a disgrace but laid waste to lol
I am no unionist but object to songs which glorify an organisation that killed innocents being sang love how this is turning into its all Rangers fault

spiralism

Jelle1880 wrote: »

'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.

unirea was a full out riot, barcelona was wrecked and they couldn't control ye, same deal with manchester. the reason rangers fans werent arrested in the hundreds/thousands in manchester was that the police were completely overwhelmed, it got so bad

Broxi_Bear_Eire

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

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.

This was brewing long before last years disgraceful events

Broxi_Bear_Eire

spiralism wrote: »

unirea was a full out riot, barcelona was wrecked and they couldn't control ye, same deal with manchester. the reason rangers fans werent arrested in the hundreds/thousands in manchester was that the police were completely overwhelmed, it got so bad

You are talking guff about Unirea and Barcelona you have links to prove Rangers fans wrecked these places

Jelle1880

spiralism wrote: »

unirea was a full out riot, barcelona was wrecked and they couldn't control ye, same deal with manchester. the reason rangers fans werent arrested in the hundreds/thousands in manchester was that the police were completely overwhelmed, it got so bad

Wrong and wrong.
As for Manchester: Nearly all of those arrested were done so weeks after the events, when CCTV was investigated etc, so not 'because the police where overwhelmed'.

But of course you knew that.

spiralism

Broxi_Bear_Eire wrote: »

You are talking guff about Unirea and Barcelona you have links to prove Rangers fans wrecked these places

reaction article to unirea, while maybe wrecked the place is a bit harsh, ye still caused some serious trouble

Famous reaction from barcelona sports paper "el mundo deportivo" after barcelona

Jelle1880

There was only trouble because:

1: The stewards decided to wade in for no reason at all. This lasted 5 minutes, tops.
2: People were being crushed outside due to the shambles that were the entrances.

Barcelona never expected 20.000 fans for just a group game, so there was a case of a lot of litter, that's true. But nothing was 'wrecked'

spiralism

Jelle1880 wrote: »

Wrong and wrong.
As for Manchester: Nearly all of those arrested were done so weeks after the events, when CCTV was investigated etc, so not 'because the police where overwhelmed'.

But of course you knew that.

for every person they got on CCTV i'd say two got away because they had their faces covered. To say that celtic fans in preseason behaved worse than that mob in the now infamous manchester riots is absolutely ludicrous.

Jelle1880 wrote: »

There was only trouble because:

1: The stewards decided to wade in for no reason at all. This lasted 5 minutes, tops.
2: People were being crushed outside due to the shambles that were the entrances.

Barcelona never expected 20.000 fans for just a group game, so there was a case of a lot of litter, that's true. But nothing was 'wrecked'

they were unprepared yeah, but their city was left in a mess and they were livid about it. celtic fans got along a lot better with them and were praised by the barcelona hierarchy even before the match, there's a reason for this: our fans behave abroad

Paully D

Just lock the thread FFS, more shite as usual from the Old Firm supporters. There's two Superthreads that can be used for this.

spiralism

Jelle1880 wrote: »

'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.

havent heard the first one in a long time, the GBs sing on the one road but without that stupid bigoted add on. - "North men, South men, comrades all
Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Donegal".

In the same way, you'll hear thousands singing the chorus of celtic symphony "here we go again...." but far, far less singing the part glorifying the ira, last week's old firm testament to that

as for the second, i didnt say there wasn't a few. even still, it's hardly offensive on the level of "up to our knees in fenian blood" or "the famine is over, why don't you go home"... next you lot will be after us for singing "paddy mc courts fenian army" because it has "fenian" in it, oh the irony.

given that we've been called fenians for a long time, a term that implies being in the ira basically, the minute we have tongue in cheek references to that, everybody goes mad

Pro. F

I have no doubt that Rangers fans have behaved worse than Celtic fans in recent years, but this protest does sound like double standards.

If I'm reading it correctly the Celtic fans complained a lot about objectionable songs from the opposition but now they are kicking up a fuss when their own objectionable songs are being clamped down on. If that is the truth of it then they are making fools of themselves.

lubo_moravcik

Jelle1880 wrote: »

'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.

soon there'll be no protestants doesn't get sung, if you listen you'll hear that. roamin in the gloamin also got drowned out and is no longer sung due to the lyrics 'oh it's good to be a Roman Catholic'.

As for the scuffle with Stewards in Unirea http://sport.stv.tv/football/136844-rangers-blast-moronic-fans-for-unirea-fine/

Sooner you start going to games Jelle and stop spouting pish you hear on FF the better. The 'protest' yesterday wasn't only about sectarianism, the group are, among other things, highlighting Camera's being put in their faces and comments from the police who are doing it

Banners today said
NO STANDING
NO SWEARING
NO LATERAL MOVEMENT
NO AGGRESSIVE FLAG WAVING
Do you agree or disagree with any of this???
Another question, when you mention the Catholic Church there, what does BBE mean??

CSF

Lucky us, aren't we a blessed bunch? Now we get the Celtic thread, the Rangers thread and this tripe to discuss the politics of another country. Yippee!!!!

Broxi_Bear_Eire

spiralism wrote: »

havent heard the first one in a long time, the GBs sing on the one road but without that stupid bigoted add on. - "North men, South men, comrades all
Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Donegal".

In the same way, you'll hear thousands singing the chorus of celtic symphony "here we go again...." but far, far less singing the part glorifying the ira, last week's old firm testament to that

as for the second, i didnt say there wasn't a few. even still, it's hardly offensive on the level of "up to our knees in fenian blood" or "the famine is over, why don't you go home"... next you lot will be after us for singing "paddy mc courts fenian army" because it has "fenian" in it, oh the irony.

given that we've been called fenians for a long time, a term that implies being in the ira basically, the minute we have tongue in cheek references to that, everybody goes mad

Do you actually no the meaning of Fenian and before you say anything yes it has been used wrongly for years

Again I notice while you denounce what Rangers fans have sang/chanted you don't do the same with Orange Bastard or Hun would there be a reason for that

Broxi_Bear_Eire

lubo_moravcik wrote: »

soon there'll be no protestants doesn't get sung, if you listen you'll hear that. roamin in the gloamin also got drowned out and is no longer sung due to the lyrics 'oh it's good to be a Roman Catholic'.

As for the scuffle with Stewards in Unirea http://sport.stv.tv/football/136844-rangers-blast-moronic-fans-for-unirea-fine/

Sooner you start going to games Jelle and stop spouting pish you hear on FF the better. The 'protest' yesterday wasn't only about sectarianism, the group are highlighting Camera's being put in their faces and comments from the police who are doing it

NO STANDING
NO SWEARING
NO LATERAL MOVEMENT
NO AGGRESSIVE FLAG WAVING
Do you agree or disagree with any of this???
Another question, when you mention the Catholic Church there, what does BBE mean??

It means me Lubo
No I don't agree with it but I don't agree with the new laws

C'mom mate maybe at parkhead you drown out and change words but not at away games

spiralism

Broxi_Bear_Eire wrote: »

Do you actually no the meaning of Fenian and before you say anything yes it has been used wrongly for years

Again I notice while you denounce what Rangers fans have sang/chanted you don't do the same with Orange Bastard or Hun would there be a reason for that

yes, the fenians were the predecessors of the ira.

obviously i denounce orange bastard, even though the orange order are a pretty nasty, hateful organisation in themselves, but that's another discussion entirely.

hun is a term i class alongside tim, it's no more sectarian than celtic fans being called tims

A Dub in Glasgo

Paully D wrote: »

Just lock the thread FFS, more shite as usual from the Old Firm supporters. There's two Superthreads that can be used for this.

CSF wrote: »

Lucky us, aren't we a blessed bunch? Now we get the Celtic thread, the Rangers thread and this tripe to discuss the politics of another country. Yippee!!!!

Nobody is forcing you guys to come into a thread you obviously dislike to read it nevermind post in it

spiralism

A Dub in Glasgo wrote: »

Nobody is forcing you guys to come into a thread you obviously dislike to read it nevermind post in it

it is irritating, people posting in an old firm thread to give out about us or to say we're crap... im a utd fan as well and you don't see me going onto the liverpool thread saying they're crap/giving out about them talking about liverpool, for example.

This board is for all football fans, even if anybody thinks old firm fans are beneath them we have as much a right to talk about our teams and the rivalry between them as any other fans have to talk about their own team and their rivals...

CSF

Due to the uninformative nature of the thread title, I was unfortunately forced to open it out of curiosity

Jelle1880

lubo_moravcik wrote: »

soon there'll be no protestants doesn't get sung, if you listen you'll hear that. roamin in the gloamin also got drowned out and is no longer sung due to the lyrics 'oh it's good to be a Roman Catholic'.

As for the scuffle with Stewards in Unirea http://sport.stv.tv/football/136844-rangers-blast-moronic-fans-for-unirea-fine/

Sooner you start going to games Jelle and stop spouting pish you hear on FF the better. The 'protest' yesterday wasn't only about sectarianism, the group are, among other things, highlighting Camera's being put in their faces and comments from the police who are doing it

Banners today said
NO STANDING
NO SWEARING
NO LATERAL MOVEMENT
NO AGGRESSIVE FLAG WAVING
Do you agree or disagree with any of this???
Another question, when you mention the Catholic Church there, what does BBE mean??

I go over to plenty of games to know that (And this is not just at Rangers or Celtic) football fans have to deal with a lot of camera's, indiscriminate searchings by police and stewards, unfair treatment,...

And yes, that has to stop.
But it's weird how this only came about AFTER a new law was passed to supposedly combat sectarianism in and around stadiums and only AFTER Celtic fans themselves have started to feel the brunt of it.

It's almost as if they didn't expect it to backfire on themselves.

edit: The fact you see 'hun' as not sectarianism says it all, it's been proven sectarian in court.