The club said around 100 fans from the ultras group took part in a “co-ordinated and orchestrated action” to “rescue” a fan that had been stopped by a steward and assaulted him and two cops
Celtic have slapped the ultras group the Green Brigade with a stadium ban after police revealed officers had been left “traumatised” by assaults at the club’s most recent home game.
Police stated that two officers and a steward were assaulted “by a large group of fans” at Celtic Park at the Scottish champions’ 4-0 win over Falkirk on October 29.
Club bosses said the incident had triggered a suspended ban on the supporters’ group which covers three home games plus away matches. Celtic released a video showing dozens of fans moving down a tunnel area next to the standing section.
But the fan group hit back on Friday night and accused the club trying to silence dissenting voices against the board, which they branded “disingenuous”.
Video released by the club shows the ultras stopping two police officers arresting a fan who they claimed ‘assaulted a member of the Celtic matchday staff’. The video shows fans flooding to a stairwell after other two other fans wave them over.
The club said a staff member had been assaulted while conducting a routine ticket check and two police officers attempted to arrest the fan at the centre of the incident.
A club statement read: “Subsequently, around 100 individuals from the Green Brigade group took part in a coordinated and orchestrated action to ‘rescue’ that individual. Many of these individuals actively sought to conceal their identity using hoods, scarves and face coverings.
“This large group verbally abused and assaulted the steward and police officers, one male and one female, in a confined space and at one point there was a risk of one of the officers being pulled to the ground and trampled in amongst the larger group.
“The action taken by members of the Green Brigade group prevented the arrest of the individual in question. Clearly, such violent and threatening behaviour is completely unacceptable.”
Celtic stated that a suspended sanction, put in place in July for “repeated serious safety and security-related breaches” of club policies, would now be enforced.
The punishment means Green Brigade members will be barred for home matches against Kilmarnock, Dundee and William Hill Premiership leaders Hearts.
They also face restricted access to away matches during the relevant period. Celtic have trips to St Mirren, Feyenoord and Hibernian before the ban ends.
The statement added: “For our staff and police to be assaulted in this way is simply unacceptable. This was a serious and violent incident which cannot be accepted and the club has no choice but to address this behaviour in the strongest terms.”
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland “utterly condemned” the “unacceptable disorder” while appealing for information. He said: “No-one should be harmed or intimidated while carrying out their duties and being assaulted is not part of the job.
“This type of violent behaviour will not be tolerated, and we are doing everything we can to trace those involved and hold them accountable. The officers and steward were left extremely shaken and traumatised by the incident and are being offered support.”
In a lengthy statement on X, the Green Brigade said: “Celtic FC has initiated a further attack on supporters by banning the Green Brigade for at least six matches.
“The ban encompasses three home and three away matches beginning with the Kilmarnock match on Sunday 9th November. We were informed of this ban at 17:46 on Friday 7th November which in of itself is unacceptable.
“During a period of consistent and growing pressure against the Celtic board, this ban is nothing more than a cynical attempt to lock-out such sentiment and buy the Celtic board some relief.”
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